Hot off the presses is the latest new 1/72 sheet from Balkan Models. This one covers Croatia's only fighter aircraft, the MiG-21bis. Initial aircraft came from defecting Yugoslav AF pilots, but has since been bolstered by aircraft purchased from Ukraine. Most of the extant airframes went through considerable overhaul in Romania in the early 2000s though a few have since been retired.

This sheet covers no fewer than six different aircraft in all three of the schemes the aircraft have worn. One is an overall aluminum color as it was received by a defecting pilot. The Yugoslav markings areas were painted over in light grey and the then-current Croatian badges were applied. Later the planes were camouflaged in a green and light brown scheme over a light blue. The sheet has three options for this scheme. The final set of options are two planes in the current forest green, olive green and grey over light blue scheme.

Typical of camouflaged planes, the patterns for each are similar but not the same. This provides several different marking options. 

The superbly printed decal sheet is totally free of any registration issues. They are crisply printed and provide enough markings to do all six schemes. The sheet even includes the black antenna markings for the underside of the aircraft. Each aircraft comes with a full color four-view that not only shows exactly where the markings are placed, but gives a brief history of each aircraft as well. On the back of the instructions is a listing of the various paints that can be used in RAL, FS 595 and from a wide range of paint companies.

These are among the finest decals I've seen and if you have any interest at all in the subject, these are the ones to get.

Thanks to Balkan Models for the review sheet. Ask your local shop to get this one for you when it is available or visit the link.

July 2011

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.