Admiring Eduard

I've had a few projects going simultaneously, and this one has been quite slow out of the gate.

When I first started building Eduard models, I felt that they weren't much above low pressure injection moulded kits. Since then, though, I've had reason to revise my estimate.

One of the reasons for this is Eduard's MiG 21 SMT Fishbed K Profipack, in which you get everything - a set of masks, a double photo etch set (one in colour), two pairs of UB multiple rocket launchers in resin, a superb decals sheet for five aircraft, and stencils for the model and weapons. And not forgetting a full complement of weapons and fuel tanks.

The kit itself is lovely. It's an exercise in finely detailed and precisely fitting parts, which should describe every kit, but doesn't. These days value for money is quite rare, so to get all of the above in the box with a new tooling for around £35 is a bonus worth blogging about.

Here's a photo of the decals. As you can see, they're pretty comprehensive:

And here's the aftermath of a stencilling session - looks like confetti, doesn't it?

And finally here are a few photos of the completed build. It was as much fun as it looks. I used Xtracolour enamels and airbrushed them freehand. I weathered in very much the same way, then added the stencils. It took all day! More, as they say, soon.

Big project, big model, big nose!

The whole premise of building in 1/32 scale is that you get a lot of extra detail for your money. It's not the case with every model producer's kit - there are always exceptions - but the attraction, at least for me, is the promise of more to see than 1/48 can always offer.

Trumpeter's 1/32 Su-25 is no disappointment. This is exactly what modelling in this scale is about. Not only do you get a great cockpit, but also two detailed jet engines AND two sets of landing gear - one in metal. Also, left and right open nose panels with an electronics suite and optional lowered flaps. Then there are photo etched parts and an ordnance load that you wouldn't believe. The photos show less than two thirds of what's included. The decals are beautiful and offer a choice of four colour schemes. All in all almost 900 parts - it's not bad, is it?

And did I mention the superlative surface detail? Amongst the best I've seen - and I've seen plenty.

But how was the build, you ask? Well, mostly it went really well. There were a few minor glitches - usually down to discrepancies in the instructions. Did I use a lot of filler?I hardly had to touch the tube. The wing roots required a line of Krystal Kleer, and not much else.

What I enjoyed the most was the modular concept. I could build up the fuselage, cockpit, engines, landing gear and cabins, and then the wings with extended flaps. Then I could move on to the underwing stores. It was three weeks of building what seemed like several kits out of one box. Normally the painting is my favourite part, but with this model the construction was equally satisfying.

I couldn't finish this project and not consider a follow up. So, more soon on the new MiG 23 ML.