The Trumpeter Mig-23M and MF kits in 1/48 finally give the modeler an alternative to the Esci Mig-23/27 family of kits. While it has its own issues, the Trumpeter kit renders the other one obsolete. One problem with the Trumpeter kit are the main wheel wells. Trumpeter’s wells are under detailed and worse yet are symmetrical from port to starboard. This is not the case with the Mig-23; the wheel wells are quite different from one side to the other. Aires has crafted a solution!

AFV surprised a lot of people with a aircraft release as they normally do military vehicles. The f-5E/F series us superb and has all the needed detail for a great build. As with a lot of kits, the one thing they have trouble replicating is the ejection seat. Quickboost to the rescue with two sets of seats. one is for the single seat F-5e and one set for the two seat F-5F. The seats are the same in both sets which is why I combined the review. The casting quality is all the we have come to expect with no flash, zero bubbles and that nice firm dark gray resin.

The comparison in the photo of the kit seat versus the Quickboost show just how much better the Quickboost seat is and it includes all the belts. The addition to the kit is simple, cut of the casting block, paint the seat and install it. Also shown in the pictures is a shot of the Quickboost seat in the cockpit of the kit- fit is perfect.

After Dave Morrissette performed his construction magic, he returned the subject to me for paint, decals and find assembly. I cannot say enough about the quality of this kit and it’s all there. The only items used other than kit supplied were “Remove Before Flight” ribbons and intake covers.

As to paint, I wet sanded the entire model with 600 wet sand paper followed by Alclad II grey primer with microfillers. I was concerned that the primer might fill the exquisitely engraved panel lines, but not so. They took a brown/grey acrylic wash perfectly. The underside white used was Tamiya gloss white, decanted and sprayed through a Paasche “H” model airbrush at 12 lbs pressure. This dries quickly to a high gloss in about 30 to 45 minutes. The light gull grey used on the topside was Floquil S.P. Lettering Grey, a perfect match for the Gull Grey.