Hi Guys!
I’ve been contemplating starting something different to get me out of my modelling funk. I came across a 1/48 Mig 21 in my stash, it’s the old OEZ kit. The kit can be built as an SMT/BIS. My problem is that I don’t know the difference between the variants.
If you’ve built this kit I would be eager to her you oppinions.
Well the BIS was the ultimate variant of the Mig 21 but I think most of them are retired now, but the SMT? I have only heard of the Mig 29 SMT which is a super advanced fighter, I have not heard of the Mig 21 SMT I can guess it is possibly Romanian as they still fly the Mig 21.if there is an SMT it must have been produced in the 90’s as an upgrade on the BIS. Thats an odd one. I have never heard of this kit but I know the Mig 21 well, I would say go with the BIS as it was a cold war version and you should have your pick of many air forces that way.
I built that kit many years ago in the MiG-21MF variant. I recall that the kit featured several different spines for different versions, and it also had a fair amount of ordnance. I did mine in Iraqi livery circa the Iraq-Iran War of the 80s.
Gary
Issydog,
The MiG-21 is my favorite cold war jet. I also have that kit in my stash, while not the most accurate kit it is cool none the less. the Bis, SMT, MF and few of the other varients are mostly identified by there spine, from behind the canopy to the root of the rudder, they vary in width and height.
John
The SMT had an extra thick spine to carry extra fuel. I’ve read it was not very successful as it altered the flying characteristics in a negative way, so not many where built. Eduard offers the SMT in their mig line up though. Most stayed in Soviet service due to their non-success.
Can I assume that the 21’s depicted on Aeromaster’s Cold War Fishbeds are the Bison version? The decal set does not state.
If that is the sheet with the NMF Soviet & Czech Fishbeds, I believe that thoe are MF/Fishbed Js. The version before the SMT and Bis. The spine was not thick all the way to the rear. You should be able to make a MF from that kit.
S sapfir radar
M modernised
T extra fuel
Bis laterversions with upgradd radars avionics and other airframe chsnges such as ditching the two fuel tanks of the smt
Im building and aeromaster rebox of the oez kit now. Its not nice. Im building it next to an academy mig 21 pf for the nmf group build.
Ill post some ref drawings tomoz showing and explaining the differences of the main types for you. The mig 21 wiki is very comprehensive but not many good pics, but really explains the varients well.
pics as promised, click on them to open bigger versions so yo can read them.
Screenshot_2013-01-18-00-27-53 by omgpainful, on Flickr
Screenshot_2013-01-18-00-37-06 by omgpainful, on Flickr
last one has both the SMT and Bis on it. notice the different spine its bigger on the smt as it has 2 extra fuel tanks. the Bis also looks slightly different on the bottom front below the numbers.
Untitled by omgpainful, on Flickr
I looked it up, get ready for some alphabet soup.
F = “Forsirovannyy” - Uprated, applied to the first production version after fixes from evaluation are complete.
F-13 = as above but is equipped with the K-13 AAM (NATO AA-2 ‘Atoll’)
P = Perekhvatchik (“interceptor”) any model of MIG-21 with the P is an interceptor.
R = Razuznavatelen (“Reconnaissance”)
L = Lokator (“Radar”) Early Mig-21 didn’t have radar.
F = Forsazh (“Reheat”) afterburning engines (used in combinations only, yes its confusing)
M = Modernizat (“Modernised”)
S = Sapfir (referring to the Sapfir-21/RP-22 radar)
D = Dal’nomer (“Rangefinder”)
T = Toplivo (“Fuel,” referring to increased fuel capacity)
U = Uchebnyy (“Training”)
Bis = ultimate or better to say the last production version
It is best to look at the letters of the type your interested in and decode.
Don’t forget,the F-13 and PF were the only ones with the forward opening canopies.
Dean30,and company:my local club is completing a group build on MiG-21s this Tuesday,and we should be posting pics on our club website,and your opinions would be welcome.Let me know if you guys want the link to our site.
Yes plz
Yeah that would be great, if you guys want any photographs on Mig 21s have a look at the post I put up it is titled Aviation pictures from Latvia or something like that there are about 50 photos of Mig 21s, 23, 25, and some other Russian fighters, I put it up about two weeks or so ago so you will have to go back a few pages, but there are pictures of 5 Mig 21 fighters and trainers, with shots of the landing gear etc so you may find some of them useful.
Cool.As soon as they get posted,I’ll put the link up.Thanks Dean30.This group build is almost over,but I do plan on building the Revell MiG-21M/MF in 1/32.
There is a MIG-21 look alike: the Su-9/11. Its a different aircraft all together with the same wing arrangement. Its much bigger than the MIG-21 and is a pure interceptor.
IIRC, that one is based off of the same fuselage as the Su-7, but with the same wing design layout as the MiG-21,
The Soviet Union did a study in the late 1940s that came up with the wing configuration and it was used by the two projects independently. The Su-9/11 were the Soviets primary interceptor for some time.
Here’s the link to our club build on MiG-21s: www.tulsaipms.org/…/TMF_Vol2_Iss1.pdf
My VNAF one did’t turn out the way I wanted.On top of that,one of the main gear collapsed shortly after the picture was taken.
very nice magazine.