CONDOR 1:72 MIKOYAN-GUREVICH MIG-25P FOXBAT
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Johan De Wolf (rec.models.scale)   

Kit Details

History

Design of the Ye-155 was started in 1961 and later became known as the Mig-25. The Mig-25 was developed to counter the fast and high flying B-70 and spy planes like the U-2 and Canberra. The first flight was made around 1964. A special version designated E-266 set many world records in 1965. The outside world became aware of the type in 1976 when Belenko defected in a Mig -25 to Japan. The west was astonished that the Russians had managed to build such a powerful machine without the use of advanced materials like titanium. The fighter was built in 3 versions; the P, PD and PDS. It was exported to Libya, Algeria and Syria, and after the disintegration of the Soviet union some ended up with Ukrainian markings. There where also several reconnaissance versions of the Mig-25, but that’s a different story. 

The kit

The kit is produced by the Ukrainian firm Condor (not to be confused with the Czech company with the same name). It comes in a rather flimsy box. Inside there are 3 light grey sprues, and one transparent one. The parts are finely engraved. There will be some clean up to do as there is a small amount of flash on some parts and one or two sink marks to deal with.  I spent about an hour cleaning up and dry fitting the major components. After that the fit of the parts was good, and I see no problems putting this beastie together. The instructions are on a 4 page A4-size sheet, and are in Russian and Ukranian only (except the short history which is supplied in English too). They include a short history, parts location diagram, 9 construction drawings and a paint scheme. The drawings for the landing gear could have been a bit clearer but dry fitting the parts will show soon enough how things should be placed. The decal sheet is sharply printed, but close inspection shows the blue to be very slightly out of register. There are decals for one machine but it can be built in Russian as well as Ukrainian colours. The sheet includes a fair amount of stenciling.

Accuracy

Here I need to do a bit of explaining. Most publications state that the interceptor version had a length of 19.75m. However I also found a length of 22.30m. There are different ways to measure the length. The most common way is the full length including all protrusions like pitots antennae etc. However Russians often do not include the pitot in the length and in some cases only measure the length of the fuselage, without taking antennae or tail fins into account. Now if the full length would be 19.75m, the model would be over 3cm too long. Compared to pictures, the model looks pretty much spot on though. Even when not taking the pitot into account the kit would still be some 2 cm too long. That brings me to the length of 22.30m (excluding pitot) I found in an older Russian publication. Compared to this figure, the kit is less than 1mm off. Trying to figure out where the 19.75m quote comes from, I found that this must be the true fuselage length, without pitot, parachute housing, tail fins or tail wings. Measured from the tip of the nose cone to the end of the exhaust the model is about 3mm off this figure. For the wingspan there is a similar problem. Most sources state 14.015m but I also found 14.062. The smaller figure is the wingspan without the balance weights the other figure is with these protrusions. The kit measures out within 1mm of these figures. The model checks out well against the scale drawings in Mir Aviatsii (even though they too state the length as 19.75m) and “Mig-25 I modifikatsii”, only both tail wings are about 1mm to large in span. I do not trust the drawings in Monografia lotnice #3 as they have the wing plan form and other details wrong. Compared to photographs of the real thing the model checks out very well too. 

Construction 

Although the parts count might suggest otherwise, this is actually a pretty easy kit. The cockpit is made up of 5 parts, but is devoid of any detail. There is a decal for the instrument panel. The rear fuselage is split into four parts. It is done in such a way that you will not have any seam lines to clean up, and it will ensure the correct angles for the fins and wings; very clever engineering. The air intakes are a bit fiddly to put together but they fit well. The prominent vortex generator in the intake is not included in the kit. I would have liked to see a bit of intake ducting and engine face but I guess that’s been left to the resin producers. The exhausts are deep enough but the inside of the burner cans could do with a bit more detail. The landing gear is nicely detailed, as are the wheel bays. Note that you will need to weigh down the nose to prevent a tail sitter. As for things to hang under the wings: there are two R-40T’s and two R-40R’s, the standard armament of the Foxbat. 

Painting and Decals

Painting details are only given in general terms and only for the outside. There is no information on what colours the details should be. The decal sheet gives markings for one machine of the 146 guards fighter aviation squadron. However it can be finished with Soviet stars as well as with Ukrainian roundels, as this machine was inherited by the Ukrainians after the split from Russia. 

Conclusion

The old Hasegawa Foxbat kit can now safely be retired. This new kit from Condor is far more accurate and more detailed. Without too much effort it can be turned into a good looking replica of the Mig-25. The model can simply be converted from a Mig-25P into a Mig-25PD by adding an infra red sensor behind the radome under the nose. The kit is somewhat lacking in detail here and there, but I guess it won’t be too long before the resin companies will supply better cockpit, exhaust and intake details. 

From a reliable source I have heard that Condor is already planning a kit of one of the Recce versions of the Foxbat. Judging from the way the parts are divided over the sprues, we might also see a two-seater.

References

 

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