During the 60's and 70's, when one thought of Russian fighters, one generally thought of the Mig-21. It was being fought in the skies over North Vietnam and the Middle East. It was being sold to just about every developing nation that could afford to maintain it. Though the PF is no longer being used, its older brethren still occupy positions of importance in many air arms around the world. Not a bad legacy for what is basically a short range interceptor, a role it performs admirably.

Academy's kit of the Mig-21 was widely anticipated. Strangely, it has not sold as well as what was hoped. Not sure if it is because of the subtype chosen or what it is, but there are still plenty of these kits to be found on the shelves, three years after being brought out.

The first thing you notice when opening the box is that there are no more than two sprues per bad. This ensures that bits don't get broken off the sprues and that there are not a lot of scratched parts. (are you listening, Hasegawa?) The parts are all up to the expected standards of the day and are nicely engraved. There are few ejector pin marks in difficult places and no flash. The clear bits are nice and clear. The one drawback I have seen is that the wheel well bumbs above and below the wing are staggered. I don't think they are supposed to be.

Academy offers several options. First is the choice of early or late PF versions. The early version had a narrower fin. You can also display the canopy open or closed. The seat can be posed with the seat safety switch up or down. The ailerons and flaps are separate, but rarely is a Mig seen on the ground with these in any position other than level. You can also position the speedbrakes open or closed. There are a number of underwing/fuselage options as well. The PF only had two wing stations and one fuselage station. Normally there is a fuel tank on the fuselage, but you can install a 20mm cannon pod should you wish. The wing station has early AAM-2s or two sizes of rocket pods available. It is obvious from the way things are laid out that other models of the Mig-21 were planned, but I don't recall any of them reaching fruition.

The instructions are quite well done with color callouts giving FS 595 numbers where applicable. You have five decal options. Two early PFs from the North Vietnamese AF in overall natural metal,  another earlyl PF from the Chinese Communists, a later PF from the Egyptian AF in a four color camouflage scheme and a later PF in Soviet service, in a five color camo scheme as shown on the box art. Decals are quite well done and in register. Judging from other Hobbycraft decals, they will work well, though some colors may be a bit transparent. 

Overall a very nice looking kit that should look nice on your shelf.

Review kit courtesy of me and my wallet!

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