What kit would you suggest for the best MiG-31 in 1/72 and 1/48?

In 1/48 there are only two. Lindberg made one a long time ago, which isn't very good (speaking in terms of fit and detail). The other one is Collect-Aire, which is a resin kit. I can't speak to the quality of that, but don't get me started on Collect-aire...

jb

In 1/72 Zvezda and/or Condor. Depends on which you happen to like more. I prefer Zvezda.

why?
Is it something GOOD about zvezda, or something BAD about condor/icm?

In 1/72 there´s Zvezda and ICM, I think the ICM has a better silhoutte. Revell has good detail but lacks in the nose form.
In 1/48 there are the ones above listed, plus Revell has released a new box but I don´t know if it´s a reboxing of an earlier kit.

I *think* the 1/48 Lindburg is the 1/48 Revell, IIRC.

If you go to the "Search" area of ARC and type in either "Mig-25" or "Mig-31" in the "Keyword" area, you will come across this thread titled "Best 1/72 Mig-25 and Mig-31?":


http://s102164210.onlinehome.us/forums/ind...Mig-25&st=0


Some good info found there ! I went with the Eastern Express Mig-31 as I could not find a Condor or ICM boxing over here in the US (Eastern Express/ICM is a rebox of the Condor kit) and I also bought the new Revell kit (a rebox of the Zvezda kit). I also was given an old boxing of a Revell Mig-31 kit (the one to avoid), which is not very good accuracy wise, but seems to dry fit quite nicely (as I understand it, the old Revell kit was also reboxed by Zhengdefu). I plan on building all the kits together once I complete the kits currently on my workbench.

Based on what I see in the Eastern Express (ICM/Condor) and new Revell (Zvezda) boxes, I like the new Revell kit! The decals are great, it seems a bit more detailed, and the fit is decent based on dry fitting. I just do not like the deep panel lines . Then again, I find that the panel lines on the Eastern Express kit are very shallow/faint and not well defined and the decals are not all that great. Fit is pretty good though on the EE kit though it seems less detailed IMHO.

Personally and without getting too complicated, either the Condor/Eastern Express/ICM Mig-31 kits or the Zvezda/new Revell kits will do just fine for all but the expert Mig-31 fan.

Here is another web site worth looking at:

http://www.internetmodeler.com/2006/januar...s/icm_mig31.php

HTH and good luck with the project.

Regards,
Don

Short answer, Zvezda has better detail parts, Condor has better panel lines.

Nope, they were different animals with Revell getting slightly better marks. But both are rather poor MiG-31s since they were both made with incomplete data on the actual jets. The nose shape is the biggest knock on the Revell kit IIRC. As for Zhendogfood kits, they aren't reboxes of other people's stuff, but copies. As such the 1/72 MiG-31 is probably a copy of the Revell kit, but it is going to be worse due to the copying process.

Best 1/72 Mig-31 kit: Revell (Zvesda kit with much better decals and instructions)

I would say that's pretty much the final word. The Zvezda decals are rather miserable, there's not much stenciling for instance. Not hard to apply though, as far as I remember. And the instructions... very Soviet-like, not the level you could expect from such a nice kit coming the modern era Russia.

So, the Revell boxing of the Zvezda kit's the winner. Pity that I have already one Zvezda finished on my shelf. Otherwise I would acquire the Revell 31 straight away.

Here is my build of the ICM kit. Third place at JaxCon 2004. It was a bit of work and took a fair amount of putty. But as you can see, it builds up nice enough.