Mikoyan Mig-29UB Two Seater (Limited Edition)

[Mike]

Mikoyan Mig-29UB Two Seater (Limited Edition)

1:48 Eduard

We reviewed the Mig-29A single seat variant here in July 2011, and fairly hot on its heels comes the two seated UB version which has undergone the same treatment. As with the previous release, the plastic in the box is Academy's, with some inaccuracies that have been well discussed in the past.

The kit arrives in the familiar close-fitting top opening box, and on opening you will find six sprues of green grey styrene, a clear sprue, a large bag of resin parts, Photo-Etch (PE) fret, canopy masks, two sheets of decals and Eduard's usual glossy colour instructions.

Yes, those are the original pics of the spared sprues - our webspace isn't infinite afterall!

The sprues are the same as for the A model up to the prominent vents on the top of the fuselage, where it diverges to accommodate the extra pilot. Surprisingly the forward fuselage is only around 15mm longer than the single seat, which equates to around 72cm 1:1.

The cockpit is the first area for improvement, being replaced by a pair of resin tubs, onto which a large number of PE and resin parts are added to further improve detail. The instrument panels and sub-panels are all pre-painted PE, so the modeller will have to carefully match the rest of the paint to the blue/grey colour of the panels. There are numerous colour call-outs from the Gunze Aqueous and Mr.Color ranges, with the cockpit being painted grey H308 or C308 respectively. As I don't have this range of colours, I can't say whether the colours match the printed parts. The resin seats are a work of art, and have a full set of crew seatbelts to finish them off, and the two coamings receive substantial upgrades, with a complex HUD unit built up from PE and acetate film that lurks within the PE bag.

The inside of the canopy receives a PE skin, plus rear view mirrors and other equipment that is missing from almost every model kit, even in this modern age. A pair of resin and PE pilot helmets completes the detailing of the cockpit. A set of edge masking is supplied for the canopy, which is clean and clear, having been bagged separately inside one of the sprue bags.

The cockpit receives a highly detailed framing using PE, which will improve that often neglected area immensely. Construction proceeds in the same manner as the A model, with the same upgrades to the base kit as before, in the shape of variable intake ramps in each intake, addition of the burner rings to the exhausts, various panels and grilles around the fuselage, plus a host of small aerials and sensors under the nose area. There are also the same resin lights and delicate blade antennas under the engine nacelles, which are probably best left off to later in the build to avoid damage.

The landing gear and their bays are left as is apart from the new PE mudguard on the nose wheel, which replaces the rather clunky plastic part, and the wheel hubs all get masks from the supplied sheet. Moving aft, the twin rudders have some fine aerials added to their rears, and the whole airframe benefits from a complement of static wicking strips, which would most certainly suffer bending and accidental loss if added too early in the build.

pairs of R-60. R-27, and R-73 missiles are provided, as per the other kit, with the same caveats of shape and chunky fins. I'm sure an update set will be forthcoming for these shortly.

The decal options cover five aircraft, and are sufficiently varied and colourful both in camouflage and markings to satisfy most people. The decals are spread over two sheets, with the smaller sheet containing one rather large circular decal that is planted right in the centre of the upper fuselage of the Polish option.

From the kit decals you can finish one of the following airframes:

• 1st Tactical Air Force Squadron, Minsk Mazowiecki Air Base, Poland, 2009 - two tone grey over top side, large marking on upper fuselage "deck".
  
• 31st GvIAP, Zernograd Air Base, Russia, 2006 - two tone grey over light grey and shark mouth marking on nose.
  
• 11th Fighter Regiment, Zatec Air Base, Czechoslovakia, July 1989 to October 1993 - Four tone light/dark brown, light/dark green over grey. Tiger striped band on tail.
  
• 1st Fighter Squadron, Silac Air bas, Slovakia, from 1993 - dark grey camouflaged upper over light grey.
  
• Azerbaijan Air Force, Zeynalabdin Air Base, 2007-2011 - three tone light grey, blue, intermediate blue over light grey.
  

A full set of stencils for the airframe are detailed on the back page of the instruction booklet separately from the national and unit markings, and stencilling for the weapons is also supplied.

Conclusion

As per the previous review, there are a few issues with the base kit, but whether you feel the urge to correct those is up to you. What Eduard do well is improve the detail of the base kit to bring it up to date, whilst treating the modeller to masks for the canopy and wheels, plus making painting the cockpit easy by including a wealth of pre-painted parts. The instruction booklet is a joy as always, and the painting and decaling instructions simple to understand.

Review sample courtesy of

[Basosz]

Thank you for that review Mike. That is very, VERY nice. This one goes on the skeptical-and-atheist-party-celebrated-around-the-20th-of-december list for sure. The UB looks much better than the single seater imho and I've always wanted a 48th scale one. The fact that it is a mutli-media one with lots of PE and resin is just the icing on the cake.

[SaintsPhil]

Looks awesome! Managed to pursade SWMBO to order me one for the up coming birthday! Now I just need the single seat...and the Mig 21...