MiG-21BIS Exhaust Nozzle
MiG-21BIS interior

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Phil Parsons

Eduard's 1/48 scale MiG-21 bis Exhaust and Interior are available online from Squadron.com

MiG-21BIS Exhaust Nozzle

The MiG-21BIS has the R-25 engine which has flame stabilizers of a circular shape which significantly differ from the previous R-11/13's, with their combination of star-shaped and circular flame stabilizers.

The main advantage over the standard kit supplied items is the single piece afterburner can. This eliminates the requirement to clean up any seams.

While this Brassin set if for the Eduard MiG-21BIS kit; it may, with some surgery, be a useful addition to your other 1/48 MiG-21 kits.

MiG-21 bis interior

This is a mini kit on its own, so where do I start?

Firstly the seat is 99.9% the same as the one previously reviewed (BRASSIN 648 031). Five A5 pages of instructions take you through a very detailed rebuild of the BIS cockpit using resin and PE. As a modeller you are spoilt for choice with the instrument panel, Eduard gives you three construction options:

The first is a resin one that you would paint and dry brush to bring out the detail.

The next (see the photos that show the instrument panel with translucent dial faces) requires you to drill out the resin instrument faces and then place PE behind with the instrument dial. This is probably my choice, nice detail in three dimensions.

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Thumbnail panels:

The final option is to build the layer up using PE only, a little more 2 dimensional, but will still look nice as the colour PE instrument panel is very nicely done.

As I said, the whole tub is replaced with resin and PE, this is one set that requires the canopy open to show off the detail within.

The final part of the construction is to detail the canopy, again, all very nicely done; the only issue that I would like manufactures’ to address when they provide PE for the canopy is to provide masks that cover the canopy insides, most do a masking set that covers the exterior, but not the interior where you have attached most of the PE that requires undercoating and painting. The masks in this Brassin set are for the HUD only.

Bonus items again include a helmet and what looks to be a clip pad.

The detail is outstanding, and like a lot of aftermarket items, once the fuselage is closed up, not a lot is visible however, you know it’s there. With all the attention to detail it’s a pity that there is not even a generic painting guide, ejection seats do not change colour too much from original manufacturing. Yes cockpits vary but again a single option would be nice, especially when trying to match the colour of the PE.

All in All these Brassin sets will add an amazing level of detail to your MiG-21. Highly recommended. http://www.eduard.com/blog/brassin-sets-for-mig-21bis/

Thanks to Eduard for the samples.

Review Text Copyright © 2012 by Phil Parsons
Page Created 30 April, 2012
Last updated 1 May, 2012

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