Zvezda 1/72 MiG-27
| KIT #: | 7228 |
| PRICE: | $14.35 from GreatModels |
| DECALS: | One option |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: | Not exactly a modern kit |
The Mikoyan MiG-27 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-27) (NATO reporting name "Flogger-D/J") is avariable-geometryground-attack aircraft, originally built by theMikoyan design bureau in theSoviet Union and later license-produced inIndia byHindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur ("Valiant"). It is based on theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23fighter aircraft, but optimized for the air-to-ground role. Unlike the MiG-23, the MiG-27 did not see widespread use outside Russia, as most countries opted for theMiG-23BN andSukhoi Su-25 instead. It currently only remains in service with the Indian, Kazakh and Sri Lankan Air Forces in the ground attack role. All Russian and Ukrainian examples have now been retired.
When I opened the box on this and saw the sprues, I was transported back about 20 or more years into model making's past. There, loose in the box, were four sprues of plastic. Three of them grey and one clear. The detailing on the kit parts consists of raised panel lines, just like the 70s. Granted, the detailing is quite good and quite petite, so it is not like there are rivets everywhere, but I knew right away this was not a modern kit.
I found some sunken in areas, a bit of flash, and some large ejector stubs/depressions, though the latter were confined to the intakes and the insides of the fuselage sections. Like every swing-wing kit I have seen, this is made up of two distinct sections. The main fuselage is split horizontally to handle the moving wings (which are one piece molds), while the cockpit section is split vertically.
The cockpit detailing is basic with a floor, seat, control stick and instrument panel. There is no sidewall detailing and the seat is really just an approximation so an aftermarket one would be a good idea. The seat also has a huge sink area behind the head rest. While in this area, the canopy and windscreen are separate and fairly clear. The canopy section can be posed open, but without a better cockpit, I would keep it closed.
The MiG-27's rather complex landing gear is fairly well formed. There is minimal main wheel well detail and the nose well is little more than the underside of the cockpit floor. What this kit does have are a bunch of weapons. There are a variety of missiles and bombs as well as a centerline gun. A pair of fuel tanks are also in with the kit. As there are really more weapons than available stations, it will allow for some spares for other kits to use (like the Hasegawa one which comes with little in this area. A bit of an oddity is that there appears to be a MiG-23 nose cone included on the sprues.
Instructions are crude, but acceptable. All the construction drawings appear to be hand drawn. The placement of some items is a bit vague as well, but most modelers should be able to figure what goes where. The sheet is almost entirely in Russian with no English information in the construction area. There is some under construction color information supplied and a list of Model Master paints. The interior is shown as Chromate Green and I'm betting this is incorrect as most Russian fighter interiors I have seen are more of a turquoise shade. No indication of nose weight is provided, though I'm betting it will need some. Markings are for the box art plane in green and brown with only insignia and Bort numbers. The small sheet seems to be well printed.
At this time, this is and the Hasegawa kit (which is a very early MiG-27) are pretty much it when it comes to kits of this plane in 1/72. This kit has the benefit of being for the later production version and is the whole reason I bought it.
http://en.wikipedia.org My thanks to www.dragonmodelusa.com for the review kit. Get yours today at your local retailer or ask them to order it in for you.
October 2011
If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note toContributors.
Back to the Main Page
Back to the Previews Index Page
When I opened the box on this and saw the sprues, I was transported back about 20 or more years into model making's past. There, loose in the box, were four sprues of plastic. Three of them grey and one clear. The detailing on the kit parts consists of raised panel lines, just like the 70s. Granted, the detailing is quite good and quite petite, so it is not like there are rivets everywhere, but I knew right away this was not a modern kit.