This conversion is designed to be used with the excellent Eduard Bf-109E-1/E-3 kit. I chose to use the Weekend Edition E-1 kit. The conversion set comes securely packed in an attractive box. The twenty resin parts are in one small zip-lock bag, while the three small decal sheets are in another zip-lock bag. The instructions are printed on two sides of an 8.5” x 11” sheet. There is one picture of the actual aircraft on the front, and a three view drawing on the back showing decal placement, along with painting instructions. There is a brief history of the type, along with some basic instructions on dealing with the resin pieces. The instructions are strictly of the narrative type, but are well written and fairly easy to follow.

Aftermarket products used

• Eduard 48-703 MiG-21MF Accessories, MSRP: $26.95
• Eduard 48-704 MiG-21 Boarding Ladder, MSRP: $19.95

Construction

A lot has been said up to and after the release of the Eduard MiG-21family; this kit is the first of the releases. The MF was one of the more common airframes with the Soviet Air Force and the air forces of the Warsaw Pact. I agree with the seemingly majority opinion that this is the best MiG-21 kit in 1/48. However, there are some idiosyncrasies with the kit that I would like to see changed.

This kit contains 45 tan styrene parts that will create six British or Commonwealth tank or AFV crewmen. Four wear the late 1944 – early 1945 one-piece “Pixie suit” made from water-repellant canvas with khaki lining and hood. This warm equipment had two zippers and could be converted into a sleeping bag. These four men are illustrated both wearing gloves and bare-handed, so it’s how you paint them. The other two figures are wearing the usual khaki battle dress. Everyone wears a black beret molded onto their heads. Only figures A, D and E have headphones (molded on) and, if you use the box top as a guide, you can add wires.