History

The MiG-21 was one of a long list of Mikoyan-Gurevich products to be integrated into the armed forces of the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact, and allied client states. Its predecessors included such notable types as the MiG-15, MiG-17 and the supersonic MiG-19.
The MiG-21PFM in the factory documentation this version is identified as Izdelye 94A for the export aircraft and Izdelye 94 for the aircraft destined to the Soviet Air Force.
It originated from the significant modernization of the MiG-21PF type and since 1963 was simultaneously manufactured for the Soviet Air Defense units in the Gorky plant. Since 1966 it was manufactured for export in the Moscow plant.
In the beginning of 1968, it was replaced by slightly improved version capable of carrying GP-9 cannon container under the fuselage containing 23mm twin barrel cannon GSh-23 with 200 rounds or a nuclear bomb.
Some users distinguish both versions as MiG-21SPS and MiG-21SPS-K respectively but mostly both versions are marked as MiG-21PFM only. MiG-21PFM production was terminated in 1968. The aircraft powerplant was Tumanskyi R-11F2-300. The outer ordnance consisted of RS-2US rockets or UB-16-57 rocket launchers, anti-ground unguided rockets S-24 and bombs up to 500 kilos.
The aircraft NATO code name was Fishbed F.
Info from Eduard

In the box

Packed in the now standard cardboard box, the 10 resin parts and one small fret of pre coloured P.E are sealed in thier own bags, with a set of instructions folded at the bottom of the box.

Casting as usual from Eduard is superb with no discrepancies in the resin.
Each resin part is connected to a casting block and will need to be removed. Where to cut is easy to see, but a couple of the parts are fully connected to the casting block, a razor saw will be needed, along with some sanding to level things up.

The whole of the cockpit is replaced with this set, only one part is used from the kit, which is the coaming shroud.
The cockpit in the Profipack kit is not bad to start with but this set takes it all too another level.
The detail compared to the kits parts are crisper and more detailed.
The two parts which really take this set to the next level are the ejection seat and the rear wall of the cockpit.

The ejection seat is two parts, and the detail is simply stunning and way better then the kits three part seat. The kits seat has some moulded on detail on the back cushion, something which the resin replacement doesnt.The resin seat looks like it represents the KM-1M standard ejection seat, so no detail is on the rear seat cushion.
A set of photo etch belts complete the seat.
The rear wall for the cockpit is so much more detailed then the kits part, and features pipes and wiring which adorns the part.
The main cockpit is made up of a resin tub, which has moulded on detail for the side and seperate wall consoles. These have to be painted as only one photo etch part is attached too each side wall. The kits cockpit has the entire side and wall consoles replaced with photo etch, but the resin part does give it more depth.
The cockpit also includes P.E rudder pedals, and a resin control column.
The instrument panel follows the same path as the kits panel, being a mix of resin in this case, and photo etch parts for the instruments and dials.
The HUD is a mix of a one piece resin part, two small P.E instrument panels, and a small resin part which fits under the kits plastic coaming shroud.

The plastic kits cockpit is one piece along with the nose gear bay floor, so surgery is needed to cut away the tub from the nose bay. This is fairly simple as only one cut is required and the instructions show where it should be cut, as well as the new postion of the nose bay floor should sit at the front of the resin cockpit tub.

Instructions

The instructions are easy to follow with resin and photo etch parts documented throughout, and any areas that need surgery highlighted in red. Internal colours for the Aqueous and Mr Color paints are highlighted through the build.

Conclusion

This is a nice set which is a lot more detailed then the kits parts, and will add to the effect of the MiG-21.
As I have the ProfiPack version of this kit, I will try to mix and match the parts, as I do prefer the side and wall consoles as P.E parts instead of resin, but thats just a personal choice.

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