Academy 1:72 scale M-21 Fishbed full build kit review

Academy 1:72 kit review after I finished the whole thing.

[@modelermark172]

You did a great job bringing out the best in this old kit! Back in the day, when model kits were becoming more detailed and sophisticated, my local IPMS chapter would have, "Out-of-the-Box Contests," where the only thing the builder could add was aftermarket decals. These contests focused on basic building and painting only. Something like your MiG-21 would have been a hands-down winner! Also, for modelers of the 1960's - 1970's, this MiG-21, (as well as the Hasegawa MiG-17, IMC's MiG-21D, and the Airfix MiG-15 and 21,) was about it for Soviet aircraft in 1/72nd scale. It was even worse for 1/48th scale modelers, who only had the ancient and undersized Hawk MiG-15. It wouldn't be until 1976 when Monogram came out with a decent MiG-15 in 1/48th scale, and Revell came out with a MiG-21PF in 1/48th scale a year later. (Though I never got the chance to build them, both Aurora and Lindberg came out with spurious "MiG-19's" in the mid-1950's, that seemed based on the German Focke-Wulf TA-183 Huckebein.) But again, pickings were rather slim . . . . I still remember the excitement in 1978 when Hasegawa came out with their MiG-25 Foxbat soon after a Soviet Pilot defected to Japan.) They would follow-up with a MiG-23, and a MiG-27, shortly afterwards. Around the same time, Czechoslovakian KP kits started appearing on hobby shop shelves near the end of the Cold War, and choices got so much better. Thanks for sharing this with us! 4th like.

[@calvingifford9442]

Your MiG-21 turned out splendid! Not very detailed but not very expensive at all. I've done a number of these, usually I will at least superglue a pen cap in the end to stop the 'See Through' effect. Next one will get a little bit of a cockpit added, thanks to some bits left over from Eduard kits. BTW, a couple I did with the canopy painted a silver-blue mix with the gear up on old Airfix stands like they were a gate guard. Works pretty good. Have a great week!

[@RichardsModellingAdventures]

Looking good. A game changer for me was switching to Tamiya LP paints, especially the semi gloss and gloss clear coats

[@mackthemaker9518]

Your going to want an Eduard MiG-21PF/PFM/MF or Zvedza MiG-21bis if you want the later model MiGs like you’re looking for.

[@NothingNowhere-vu5oq]

Really good job. The metal finish turned out really well. I haven't tried a metal finish yet. I would be curious to see what you do with the BF109 E or the F5E Tiger II. I'm currently working on a 1/32 Dragon BF 109E-4B, that I will attempt to paint with the Geschwader Adjutant JG54 scheme, which looks intimidating, as well as a Trumpeter MiG3 Late in 1/48, both of which are black based and ready to mottle in preparation for base coats. I'm roughly at the same level as you, and I'm learning as well. Looking forward to your next build. Good luck.