Eduard Mig-21 Undercarriage Legs in Bronze (For Eduard) - 1:48 Eduard Brassin

[Mike]

Mig-21 Undercarriage Legs in Bronze (648080 For Eduard)

1:48 Eduard Brassin

 

This set is for the superb new Mig-21 range of kits from Eduard, and is a departure from the norm, using new materials and processes to them, namely bronze. Casting in bronze gives a stronger resulting part than white metal, and finer detail is possible. However, at this juncture it also comes with a hefty price premium, which Eduard assure us should reduce if the initial sets are successful and they begin using it more widely in their range.

 

Arriving in the usual Brassin slim clamshell package, and backed with a shock-absorbing foam insert, the box contains three cast bronze gear legs, ten resin cast parts, and a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE) parts. It is evident immediately that the detail on these finished legs will be far superior to the kit parts, and that strength will be similarly increased if you've loaded up your kit with resin and PE sets from Eduard's range.

 

 

The three legs are nicely cast, and have a shiny surface as if they have been coated in varnish to prevent surface oxidisation before they are used. The resin parts are up to Eduard's usual standards, including six main gear bay doors with two optional main covers, and a pair of retraction jacks, again for the main gear legs.

 

The nose-gear leg is cast with its yoke and retraction jack integral, and there is a hollow between the strut and yoke due to some fancy moulding. The axle for the nose wheel is straight-through however, so some length will need to be cut to admit the wheel. The main gears differ because of their separate resin oleo-scissors and retraction jacks, which must be added along with a number of tiny PE actuators and hose guides. The doors attach to the leg, and here there is a choice of a part with a concave curved leading edge, or a straight one. Check your kit instructions to see which is appropriate to your model.

 

Now a quick word on the use of bronze as a casting compound. I can see why the strength of bronze would be advantageous, as resin could bow over time, and white metal often gives unsatisfactory surface texture, and can also bow due to the relative malleability of the metal. That inherent strength however gives rise to a slight problem or issue to solve, depending on your point of view. The casting has a mould seam that runs down opposing sides of the parts, and these will need removal before they can be painted and installed. A sanding stick is perhaps too wide an implement to carry out the task well, and I found that it also took more effort to remove material than would be the case with white metal. Using a metal rat-tailed file with a hard abrasive surface was much more successful, and more capable of avoiding obliterating the detail, but don't expect a few swipes to be enough. Take your time, work carefully, and you will be rewarded by a good finish.

 

Gunze painting call-outs are given throughout the build, which is useful, although the old technique of burnishing white-metal oleo-struts and sealing with varnish won't work on the bronze, so you'll need a good quality chrome equivalent paint.

 

Conclusion

At the current price point (€33.75), it's an eye-watering prospect, but I have to admit that they're a good product, and with care will improve on the detail of the finished landing gear area. I'd be 100% positive about the new process if it resulted in no seams, but as yet that doesn't seem possible, and mould slip could result in a sizeable clean-up job, which would be time-consuming given the hardness of bronze.

 

Where they really come into their own (apart from the extra detail) is their strength. If you've put all the resin and PE that's available from Eduard and others, you'll have quite a weighty bird that will need some sturdy legs to prevent the inevitable collapse. They're clearly not for everyone, but if you think they have a future, bite the bullet and get a set. Better yet, send Eduard some feedback via either their website or their Facebook page, as they intend to gauge the modelling public's reaction to decide whether bronze has a future in the manufacture of aftermarket gear legs.

 

Recommended after a good read of the review above, with the caveats mentioned.

 

Review sample courtesy of

[colin]

Talking of mould slip Mike, I am just doing their Mirage 111CJ and have had a lot of poorly moulded plastic parts in there due to this, don't know if the moulds are showing their age now, but its not that long been released I think