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MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit

Great Wall Hobbies 1/48 MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

Date of Review June 2015 Manufacturer Great Wall Hobby
Subject MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Scale 1/48
Kit Number 4818 Primary Media Styrene/Photo-Etch
Pros Beautifully done model of this distinctive aircraft Cons Nothing noted
Skill Level Experienced MSRP (USD) $79.95

First Look

MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit
MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit
MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit
MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit
MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit
MiG-29SMT (9-19) Fulcrum Kit

Following the success of the Izdelie 9-12 and 9-13, the Mikoyan OKB developed a series of upgrades for MiG-29M (9-15) production and offered these upgrades to bring the older 9-12 and 9-13 airframes up to the capabilities of the 9-15. While the 9-13 had some air-to-ground capabilities, the 9-12 was strictly an air-to-air fighter and these new upgrades made the 9-12 airframes far more capable combat aircraft. These upgraded 9-12 and 9-13 airframes were redesignated as MiG-29SMT 9-17. The MiG-29SMT is recognizable by the large dorsal spine and includes a new radar and up-rated engines in addition to improved avionics and weapons capabilities. The MiG-29SMT underwent additional improvements which incremented the block (izdelie) identifications through 9-18 and 9-19.

Great Wall Hobby is a kit manufacturer from China that has been producing a number of great subjects overlooked by other manufacturers. This latest release represents the 9-19 and is the first production kit of this subject in 1/48 scale.

This kit is molded in light gray gray and presented on 18 parts trees plus one tree of clear parts and one fret of photo-etched details. Among the features and options in this kit:

  • Nicely detailed cockpit
  • New 'all-glass' instrument panel
  • Nice K-36DM ejection seat with photo-etch harness
  • Positionable canopy
  • Optional boarding ladder
  • Choice of open or closed auxiliary inlets
  • Choice of open or closed FOD cover intakes
  • Choice of open or covered dorsal chaff/flare launchers
  • Two detailed RD-33 engines
  • Optional engine stand to display engine separately
  • Positionable speed brakes
  • Correct and positionable enlarged rudders
  • Positionable stabilators
  • Positionable ailerons
  • Positionable leading and trailing edge flaps
  • Positionable landing gear

External stores include:

  • 2 x R-77R (AA-12 Adder)
  • 4 x R-73 (AA-11 Archer)
  • 2 x PTB-1150 external underwing tanks

The inboard pylons are plumbed for external tanks and are the only stations that are rated for the R-77, so you'll have to choose between fuel or missiles for your inboards.

Markings are provided for two examples:

  • MiG-29SMT, Bort 23, 14 GIAP, Russian AF, 2010
  • MiG-29SMT, Bort 08, 14 GIAP, Russian AF, 2009

Painting instructions are provided in the new Gunze Creos color standard. A nice set of airframe and weapons stencils are also provided.

This is clearly the nicest MiG-29 kit produced in any scale to date and I sincerely hope they'll do carrier-based MiG-29K 9-31 and MiG-29OVT in our future.

My sincere thanks to  Great Wall Hobbies for this review sample!

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