Eduard 1/48 MiG-21MF/SMT Exhaust Nozzle Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details.Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwisebland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch ortwo with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic.

Many AMS modelers will collect the relevant Eduard photo-etch sets for a given project, butthey'll also go out and gather specific resin enhancements as well. Eduard has stepped up witha new product line to complement their photo-etched detail series - Brassin.

Brassin is a play on words with Brass and Resin, and in many sets in this series, the resin details also include a set of color photo-etchas well.

In this release, Eduard has produced the nicest MiG-21 exhaust nozzle set I've seen in any scale (except 1:1). This set is designed to replicate the R13F2-300 two-stage afterburning engine as used in the MiG-21M/MF/SMT and a few other generation three Fishbeds. This is NOT the engine nozzle set you would use in the MiG-21bis Fishbed L/N as it is powered by the R25 engine (different details).

This set is designed for Eduard's own MiG-21MF and MiG-21SMT releases replacing the kit parts with these beautifully cast resin replacements. The set includes a one-piece afterburner chamber tube, nozzle, turbine face, flame holder ring in resin plus the fuel injector ring in photo-etch. Also included in a compressor face and engine intake fairing that goes into the front of your engine providing some nice detailing down the limited visibility of the centerbody intake cone.

This is a nice enhancement for the Eduard kits and will provide some beautiful detailing to see down either end of the aircraft.

Recommended for experienced modelers!

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!