“The Modern Croatian Airforce was established on 12 December 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. The MiG-21bis is currently CAF’s one and only fighter aircraft. Over the years it acquired an iconic status with Croatian people due to morale boosting defections of Croatian fighter pilots from Yugoslav Airforce and their combat actions in later stages of Croatian War of Independence. Additional aircraft were acquired from Ukrainian stocks and majority was later modernized in Romania. The Croatian Airforce still officially operates MiG-21bis fighters but they’re soon to be permanently retired due to growing obsolescence and fatigue” (source: Balkan Models Booklet)
the set
Balkan Models recent decal set focuses on the following Croatian Airforce MiG-21bis:
- No. 103;
- No. 102;
- No. 119;
- No. 123;
- No. 115;
- No. 120.
The set is very comprehensive, and provided information is highly informative and beneficial to all those wishing to learn more about the Croatian MiG-21s. The paint guide and the decal placement schemes are very colorful and clear, which makes Croatian aircraft even more appealing. Of particular importance are Nos. 103, 102, and 119 for obvious historical reasons: the first two are the famous Avengers of Vukovar and Dubrovnik, and the third was flown by the most renowned Croatian pilot Maj. Rudolf Perešin. The overall quality of the decals is good, although some may complain that the colors on the Croatian coat of arms appear to be slightly blurred. Another issue, which is mostly neglected by other reviewers – and it made me think initially that this was simply the problem with my sample –, is the No.102’s emblem “Avenger of Dubrovnik”. The image of St. Blaise, patron saint of Dubrovnik, is virtually useless and unrecognizable, because the black outlines are simply not printed. If the aircraft were not that popular, it would be much easier to neglect this minor mistake. However, the emblem will particularly stand out on the port side bellow the windshield, and the mistake will be simply too obvious. Maybe this is particularly petty remark on my side, but I am bringing it up cautiously with a plea that it should be corrected. Apart from this minor issue, the set is surely very interesting and attractive to modelers that seek for particularly colorful MiG-21s.
The list of Balkan Models distributors can be found
here.
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AEROSCALE.
