MiG-21bis in 72nd scale

[ya-gabor]

How about a 72nd scale MiG-21bis (or be it 48th or any other scale)?

 

OK, let’s take it step by step.

 

First of all we have to clear in minds what is exactly a MiG-21bis?

 

The bis in the name implies that it is a “second”, “reborn” version (to take just few of the meanings of the bis) but in Soviet aviation terminology it always meant a re-think, completely re-engineered version of an already existing aircraft type. Of course there were other names also given to this aircraft, like in GDR service the SAU was often used, referring to the SAU system in the aircraft. In Hungary Type 75AP name was given to the latest version with the Poljot system. It was a completely local identification made up from 75A which is the export version of the basic bis, and the P referring to the Poljot system. This 75AP was applied for identifying and differentiating from the Lazur equipped “standard” 75A. The Soviets simply called it 75 with the Poljot system. But I am sure there are other exclusive / local designations in other parts of the world also. 

 

In case of the Fishbed family of aircraft the MiG-21bis was a last re-think of the basic airframe idea started in February 1971 order for upgrading two soviet aircraft types to a completely new standard. One of them was the MiG-21. Internally it had most system replaced in comparison to previous versions like the MiG-21MF (Type 96) or Types 15 and 50.

 

THE INTERNAL CHANGES OF COURSE HAD EFFECT ON THE OUTER LOOK OF THE AIRCRAFT apart from the structural changes made to the airframe.

 

It is exactly the same as changes to a Spitfire, a Mustang or a Me 109 nose section with introduction of a new engine, new service panels, new bigger or smaller bumps, new cooler intakes. . . Do they look different? Of course! And some kit producers take great care to make the differences accordingly, produce brand new sprues for them and try to communicate even a few inch movement of a small fuel filler cup to one or other direction / position.

 

What about the MiG-21bis?

 

From the forward nose all the way to the tail new equipment was introduced. New radar, new radar cooling, new electronics including navigational equipment, new cover panels, new fuel system, new fuel tank, new gun ammo box, new weapons . . .   and a brand new engine at the very other tail end. Should we as modellers care about this? Well, if one cares so meticulously about differences in a Spitfire, Phantom or Mustang then a modeller would expect to have similar care for this aircraft also.

 

ALL AND EVERY INTERNAL CHANGE IS VISIBLE on the outer surface (which is interesting from a modelling point of view). Just like on a Spitfire or an F-16 the introduction of new engine, radio equipment or wing armament resulted in new panels, bumps, ejector ports. . .      

 

This was the first basic step, next time let’s get further down this road, step by step.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Memphis]

Is Eduard going to release the MiG-21bis in 1/72?

[habu2]

Was expecting an in progress build report here.....

[ya-gabor]

12 hours ago, Memphis said:

Is Eduard going to release the MiG-21bis in 1/72?

 

Привет Memphis,

 

Yes, they are going to release a kit with the LABEL   MiG-21bis in 72nd scale. Just as with the 48th scale kit it is going to be a hybrind between the MiG-21MF (or in your case MiG-21C /CM)  with the "big" №7 fuel tank added to it from the MiG-21bis.

The kit includes four sprues from the MiG-21MF released half a decade ago. Plus ONE new sprue added with some details of the MiG-21bis.

The "new" kit could be already on sale at the Moson show in April this year.

 

 

9 hours ago, habu2 said:

Was expecting an in progress build report here.....

 

 

Hi Habu2,

 

Yes, it is a build in progress report of a MiG-21bis. But first it is important to clear some historic points about the aircraft to understand what is built.

Actually it was a long build started many years ago. 

Also as indicated in the topic it is NOT FROM BOX build since there is no real MiG-21bis kit at the moment or in the near future on the market.   : (  : (

 

Best regards

Gabor

[ya-gabor]

Some fresh news of this planned MiG-21bis. Just to show what is going on in the background for a more complete picture.

 

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Memphis]

On 3/10/2025 at 10:23 AM, ya-gabor said:

Привет Memphis,

 

Yes, they are going to release a kit with the LABEL   MiG-21bis in 72nd scale. Just as with the 48th scale kit it is going to be a hybrind between the MiG-21MF (or in your case MiG-21C /CM)  with the "big" №7 fuel tank added to it from the MiG-21bis.

The kit includes four sprues from the MiG-21MF released half a decade ago. Plus ONE new sprue added with some details of the MiG-21bis.

The "new" kit could be already on sale at the Moson show in April this year.

Hello, Gabor.

The Bis has a different fuselage than the MF and S/SM, I remember. Or do I not right? The Bis has a different engine (R-25-300), it is more high air flow engine than the R-11-300 and R-13-300 after modernization for the MF and the S/SM. The air duct area has to be larger. At least around the cockpit. It is a strange decision. 

[ya-gabor]

The brand new MiG-21bis kit will include just one single new sprue to represent this late version Fishbed. It is Sprue „K” 70170. Let’s see what really new on this sprue in comparison to Sprue J8230 which was included in the 2011 48th scale MiG-21bis kit.

 

Actually in a sense there is more but also less. There is more in that a new pair of air to air missiles are provided. The R-3R radar guided missiles are included along with the appropriate APU-13U2 launch pylons. (by the way they were already available in the aftermarket range for many years in 72nd scale)  There is also a pair of flare dispenser, the ASO-2 version or something which should look like it. Unfortunately the shape is off, but as usual this is just a MINOR problem.

 

Of course there is the main fuselage halves. If you remember in 2011 the company boss was defending the irrelevance of the different nose shape by saying that in 48th scale the difference can be measured in fractions of millimetre. So there is absolutely no point in making what they called “Gabor’s nose” at a very high expense for the company. Modellers should be happy with a MiG-21MF fuselage and nose shape. . .

 

It is interesting that now in the much smaller 72nd scale at a considerable expense to the company after all they decided to make that “Gabor’s nose” on the fuselage. If it was not worth making in quarter scale why was it suddenly important in 72nd where it is even less noticeable and can be measured just in microns!?!?

Basically the same antenna sets are included, like the “Pion” antennas of the RSBN system. There is one under the nose and one on top of the fin. A complete separate “Pion” antenna is also provided. It is the same as in the 48th scale version.

 

More soon

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Memphis]

2 hours ago, ya-gabor said:

course there is the main fuselage halves. If you remember in 2011 the company boss was defending the irrelevance of the different nose shape by saying that in 48th scale the difference can be measured in fractions of millimetre. So there is absolutely no point in making what they called “Gabor’s nose” at a very high expense for the company. Modellers should be happy with a MiG-21MF fuselage and nose shape. . .

Your information has probably reached too many people to dismiss it.
I'm not going to buy another MiG (I have the MF kit), but the Afghan war variants might interest me.

[ya-gabor]

So the new kit will have one new frame “K” plus all the old sprues from the 7 year old MiG-21MF “Interceptor” kit. Which is the later version of the MF manufactured in Aircraft factory №21 in Gorki. Here is the frame and also a list of the parts. This is the moulding tool for the outer side of the sprue, that is where most of the surface details are.

The inner half of the mould is less “exotic” although it also has some interesting details. The third part is the slide mould insert for the one piece fuel tank/fin Part K3 inside.

 

Frame K 70170  parts list:         (same as . . . Refers to identical parts made for the 48th scale kit back in 2011)

 

Part 1 Antenna                                                                                    Same as J20

Part 2 Small                                                                                        Same as J23

Part 3  one part №7 fuel tank with fin including rudder                   Same as J1 + J27

Part 4  Small antennas                                                                       Same as J12

Part 5  “Pion” RSBN antenna under the nose with no “wings”         Same as J26

Part 6  R-3R  Air to Air missile

Part 7  2 ASO-2 flare dispensers

Part 8  Engine afterburner flame holder rings

Part 9   R-3R  Air to Air missile

Part 10  Fuselage left side

Part 11  Fuselage right side

Part 12  Radio compartment cover & di-icing alcohol cover

Part 13  Instrument panel cover under the windshield                      Same as J6

Part 14  Instrument panel without surface details for photoetch parts

Part 15  Instrument panel with surface details

Part 16  Intake ring

Part 17  Tail section

Part 18  Tail

Part 19 APU-13U2 missile launch rail

Part 20   Croatian antenna                                                                Same as J21

Part 21

Part 22   Solo “Pion” RSBN antenna with “wings”                            Same as J16

Part 23   Small intake on the nose                                                    Same as J17

Part 24   Small antenna                                                                     Same as J13

Part 25

Part 26  APU-13U2 missile launch rail

Part 27 Croatian antenna base                                                          Same as J4

Part 28  Small                                                                                     Same as J14

Part 29 “Pion” RSBN antenna on top of fin without “wings”             Same as J10

Part 30  “Pion” RSBN antenna on top of fin                                   Same as J11

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Thadeus]

Ok I didn't get that plant difference in MF boxings. So the "Fighter Bomber" and "Interceptor" boxings have actual different parts? I remember seeing some aftermarket parts for the exhaust area.

[ya-gabor]

3 hours ago, Thadeus said:

Ok I didn't get that plant difference in MF boxings. So the "Fighter Bomber" and "Interceptor" boxings have actual different parts? I remember seeing some aftermarket parts for the exhaust area.

Hi Thadeus,

 

Yes, in princilple the "FIghter Bomber" version represents the Moscow aircraft factory №30 manufactured so to say "Standard" MiG-21MF (Type 96) which was built for export (also).

In Eduard ID system the "Interceptor" represents the Gorkiy factory №21 (the big MiG factory, OK one of them but this is a long story . . . ) built MiG-21MF's (according to some sources Type 93) but for example the Czech refer to it simply as "Greys". 

 

The manufacturer tried to communicate this at the time of release with very little success, showing/explaining the differences in the company monthly publication ONLY. Instead of using the true names, or differenciating by where they were manufactured, they rather opted to give the boxes fantasy names (Fighter Bomber and Interceptor) creating a bit of confussion. (As it can be seen for example from your question.)

 

There are several differences between the two versions, which the kit manufacturer tried to represent in the kits, hence giving parts with different details. (We are talking here ONLY about 72nd scale kits! in 48th they did not make any difference). So the plastic inside the "Fighter Bomber" and the "Interceptor" is not the same!

 

Of course there are modellers who say: "For me it looks like a MiG-21" for them it does not matter at all . . .  : )  : )  : )

 

 

Best regards

Gabor 

[ya-gabor]

What are the actual new parts or true 100% MiG-21bis parts on this new Frame “K”?

 

Let’s start from the nose area. Part K12 is the combined forward radio compartment cover plus the Alcohol bottle cover panel. In 48th scale the Alcohol cover was a separate part or to be more precise two parts. Two versions of the cover were given in 48th scale, the “early” Part J8 and the “late” version Part J5. Since the breakdown of parts for the line of kits in 72nd scale had a different setup (one piece nose cover) for the new 72nd scale MiG-21bis the same combined part was designed. The alcohol cover was redesigned for the early 21bis version. Here start one of the problems.

 

As indicated before everything is connected with everything and since the MiG-21bis has brand new equipment, a new radar with new cooling system including the far bigger combined Alcohol container. The Alcohol bottle is much larger which interferes with the radio compartment cover after of it. So the shape of the cover was modified by the Mig designers and since it had different “black boxes” inside they had different circular access panels in comparison to those for the MiG-21MF. I am speaking here of course about the real full size aircraft.

 

What do we have on Part K12?

At the front a new Alcohol cover (ala early 21bis) followed by a straight forward copy of the MiG-21MF radio compartment cover. Part K12 is a HYBRID between MF and 21bis. Well basically it is a downscale of the same “minor mistake” as on the 48th scale 21bis kit where they left the original MF cover for the MiG-21bis kit.

 

Is K12 a simple copy of the earlier MF kit?

Well not exactly, somewhere on the way one of the circular panels was left off from the engraving file for the anode. This is a very simple technological mistakes in production which could have been avoided with a little attention by the tool maker. Only the fast-lock screw head of that panel was engraved.

Oh well, the circular access panels are all wrong anyway for a 21bis version!

There is nothing new under the sun. Forgetting panel lines can happen. On frame 70140A (“Interceptor” version which will be included for this MiG-21bis kit) there are similar “minor” problems of forgetting panel lines in production. So get out the engraver tool and . . .

 

The company boss suggested that I will create/see problems with or on the kit.

Here is what he wrote in March issue of his company publication:

. . . „I am sure that Gabor is already sharpening his teeth to chew this kit apart and spit it out, but there will be no Gabaresque issues with the intake this time around” . . .

 

I don’t have to invent anything, the company does it all for us.   : )   : )   The silly blunders are served on a silver plate by the company!  : )   : )

 

I hear you ask: Why didn’t you contact the company directly with the details?

Well, as a matter of fact I did.

Back in 2011 ALL AND EVERY DETAIL, MEASUREMENT, PHOTO . . . WAS PROVIDED TO THEM to help with design. Including the cover of the radio compartment on the MiG-21bis the way it was on the real aircraft.

 

Stay tuned there is more to come.  : )  : )

 

Best regards

Gabor

[Memphis]

Well. It's better than nothing. Nowadays, not many people know the details of the design of certain modifications.
I would like to see UM/US more than Bis. But Bis is also good news.

[ya-gabor]

16 hours ago, Memphis said:

Well. It's better than nothing. Nowadays, not many people know the details of the design of certain modifications.
I would like to see UM/US more than Bis. But Bis is also good news.

 

I am sure eventually there will be a manufacturer who will make a decent, right scale and in all its details true replica of the MiG-21U / US / UM two seat versions of the Fishbed. But for the moment don’t expect it from the Czech aftermarket manufacturer!

 

As for the MiG-21bis. This is the best that they could do by using existing sprues from previous MiG-21MF sets with the addition of a single Frame “K”.

 

Best regards

Gabor

[ya-gabor]

After a look at details of parts for the front of the aircraft let’s have a look at the other end of it.

 

Everything is related to everything else and MiG-21bis differed from its predecessors by having a new engine, the R-25. It looks very different from the R-11’s and R-13’s of earlier Fishbed versions. Here I am speaking not about how the engine looks like from the outside and its performance parameters but more about the inside or to be more precise what is visible of it from the outside, looking up its tail end. What is visible of it on a model, after all this is what should interest us.

 

The R-25 engine had a new set of constriction petals which make up the ring at the very end of it. It was new and had new colours but what is far more noticeable is the inner walls of the burner duct. They had a very distinct heat protection shield running all the way to the front (looking from the after end), to the afterburner flame holder rings. It is very similar to what the J-79 engines look like with that perforated wavy inner surface. In comparison to this the earlier MiG-21 engines had a tube with plain surface, welded from sheets of heat resistant alloy.

 

The R-25 engine also had a distinct set of three afterburner flame holder rings, once again very similar to those in the J-79 engine.

 

So what do we get on Frame “K” for our new MiG-21bis kit to represent the R-25?

There is a new part here which was not addressed in the 48th scale kit at all. Part K8 is the “crown” so to say of the flame holder rings.

For the afterburner duct one has to go back to Frame “D” 70140  the “common” for all versions sprue with a lot of different MiG-21 parts. Of course for the earlier versions on Frame “D” one will find parts D49 and D54 for the engine burner duct assembly. Since the earlier versions used the plain surface duct they have unfortunately little reality to represent the R-25 engine of the MiG-21bis.

You can say that little of the burner duct will be visible on the finished model. Yes. You could be right, but then again you have Part K8 for the afterburner flame holder rings which is buried far deeper inside that “black hole” and far less visible and still it was produced.

Surely the manufacturer decided to cut corners in preparing this MiG-21bis kit and said let’s use what we have on that Frame “D” for the duct itself. No point in making those fairly big parts brand new and true representation of the R-25, no one will see the difference anyway.

Here is what the afterburner duct of a real MiG-21bis looks like and what will be provided in the kit. Do you see any difference???

 

The solution in the 48th scale kit was that after a time one was able to buy from this aftermarket company an “upgrade” photoetch set to make it look a little closer to a MiG-21bis. Later on, even at a higher price a resin R-25 engine was offered separately but overall this increased the amount the modeller pays even further making a “cheap” injection moulded kit not so cheap after all.

I would imagine that the same will happen here. Just one question: Has anyone tried to make all those waves on the photoetch and then bend it into a tube and fit it inside the burner can? Even in 48th scale it is challenging, what will it be like in 72nd scale?

 

One can say, “But the kit hasn’t been released yet so how can you tell”? All we can go by at the moment are the official company statements over the years, the presentations at shows/trade fairs dealing with the kit, the openly talked about plans for this kit, officially released images of the sprue in making. Now either this is just a cunning plan for global misinformation of other manufacturers and modellers worldwide or it is in fact the truth of what is to be released in this kit.

 

Of course it is possible that images of Frame “K” were only a fiendish ploy, and in reality several new sprues with all the correct MiG-21bis details were prepared in secret . . .  : )  : ) 

I for one would be the happiest modeller if this was true!!!  : )  : )

 

Best regards

Gabor  

[Memphis]

On 3/16/2025 at 10:53 AM, ya-gabor said:

 

I am sure eventually there will be a manufacturer who will make a decent, right scale and in all its details true replica of the MiG-21U / US / UM two seat versions of the Fishbed. But for the moment don’t expect it from the Czech aftermarket manufacturer!

I know how it works: I just need to start building (I have an Eastern Express MiG-21UM and some additional sets) with using drawings and Eduard announces it.