Zvezda 1/72 MiG-31 Foxhound

ZVEZDA 1:72 MiG-31 FOXHOUND
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Ken Duffey (taken from rec.models.scale)

I recently received the kit from Moscow, so my first impressions are as follows :-

The kit contains 110 parts moulded in mid-grey plastic with engraved panel detail that is a tad overdone – although it will probably look OK under a coat of paint. The clear sprue has the canopy as 4 separate items – windscreen, pilots canopy, separating arch & nav’s canopy – allowing the canopies to be mounted in the open position. Also on the clear sprue are three lenses for the nosewheel door.

The 2-seat cockpit consists of a ‘bathtub’ with minimal panel detail, two simplified K-36 ejection seats that are best replaced with Neomega items, two control columns, two pilot figures and two instrument panels without any detail – although there are 2 very good decals on the accompanying decal sheet. No colour detail is given for the cockpit – although my refs show MiG are still using the yucky green colour found in MiG-21’s.

The fuselage is split in two just behind the cockpit. The forward section contains the cockpit and radome and is split into upper and lower halves.

The main fuselage is also in upper and lower halves with inserts for the main-wheel wells, a rear bulkhead with separate afterburner flame holders and exhaust nozzles. Alternate parts are provided for the intake ramp.

The wing is one complete moulding tip-to-tip and is trapped between the fuselage halves when they are cemented together.

The fins, tailplane halves and ventral fins are all one-piece mouldings and the rear end of the dorsal spine is a separate part.

The boundary layer splitter plates are added to the forward fuselage before that assembly is cemented to the main fuselage and there are alternative parts for the lower lip of the intakes allowing them to be depicted open or closed.

The nosewheels have the mudguards moulded onto them, but the leg is well detailed.

The complicated offset tandem mainwheels are well done and the lower airbrakes are separate items – complete with actuating rams. The lower IRST pod can be displayed in the recessed or extended position and the GSh-6-23 cannon is a separate moulding.

Stores consists of 2 x 2-part drop tanks, 4 x 3-part R-33 missiles (AA-9 Alamo) and 2 x 3-part R-40TD missiles (AA-6 Acrid) – all with their associated pylons, except for the R-33’s which are flush-mounted under the belly. The fins on the latter are a bit on the thick side and could do with trimming down.

Markings are supplied for 2 a/c :-
- A Light Ghost Gray a/c with Dark Gull Gray aerials and radome coded ‘Blue 31’.
- The grey and blue demonstrator a/c with Paris ‘buzz number’ 374.
- 6 red stars, a MiG logo plus the aforementioned instrument panels and some code numbers for the R-40’s are included on the decal sheet and paint refs are given in Zvezda & Model Master colours.

This is a welcome kit that appears to be very accurate when compared with the 1:72 scale drawings in Mir Aviatsiya 3/99. This Russian magazine also has some colour profiles and a long article (in Cyrillic !) that has some good B&W photos captioned in English. The back cover also has colour pictures of the pilot’s and WSO’s cockpits – a must for MiG-31 fans.

I don't know about availability - I assume that it will be re-boxed by Italeri (with better decals ?) My model is the Zvezda issue that is only just now appearing in Russia.

Neomega now produce a vacformed canopy for the MiG-31 and supplies of this plus the Neomega K-36 seats can be had from Modelspot in the UK :- http://www.modelspot.com/ or Linden Hill in the US :- http://www.lindenhillimports.com/ Copies of Mir Aviatsiya can be got from Tushino Aviapress in Moscow :- http://www.aviapress.com/ or Linden Hill may have some

Addendum : In a follow up post some questions were asked and answered thus:

Q. There ARE recesses for the forward weapons, /right/? The Foxhound is like the Tornado in that regard - and do the AA-9's have all the funky wrapping/antenna bands around them?
A. Yes - the 4 AA-9 missile fit into recesses and contain funky bands, but but they don't appear prominent enough to me. Zvezda parts are okay once you thin down the fins.

Q. How are the speedbrake/ gearwell cavities? You suggest that there are separate inserts, will this complicate painting and is the detail worth it?
A. Gearwell part has SOME rib detail - none at all on the 'roof' of the bay - scope for super detailing? The speedbrakes have interior detail that matches photos - but it isn't as deep.

Q. Are the wing fences thin and do they match up well to the facetted inner wing pylons?
A. Fences are reasonably thin - the facetted pylon is mounted too far back on wing - just needs lugs removing to mount farther forward.

Q. You suggest a replacement canopy option, does this mean the originals are not too great? Distorted, thick, poor relief on the framing (including internally...)? How well do the mount to the sills for a closed canopy version?
A. The canopies are a bit thick, framework is defined OK. Not as clear as a Hasegawa canopy - but they ain't charging Hasegawa prices either. There is a small flow mark on the windscreen. The Neomega vacform canopy is one-piece, but could be cut ?

Q. What does the AAR probe look like for detail, and can it be raised?
A. No probe at all - not even an engraving - needs to be added from scratch !

Q. Does the split inlet wall/boundary plate suggest any problems, either with cleaning up the forward/aft fuselage joint or in mounting to the inlet ramp and lip subassemblies?
A. Looks like some cleaning up will be necessary - parts are split horizontally with joint along side of fuselage. Also joint between front and rear fuselage might be awkward. I know that the a/c is supersonic, but the wing looks a little on the thin side ?

Q. Do the separate parts (especially the ventrals) have decent location with recesses or pins and what do the rudders look like?
A. Recesses and small 'lugs' to locate - no positive pins. Rudders are moulded with fin - shallow engraving to represent hinge line.

Q. Panel lines. I assume we're talkin' typical Italeri sidewalk cracks but are they at least evenly depthed, square and 'end at a cornered'?
A. Yes, yes & yes !

While it is not 'MY' a/c - I am a Flanker man - it is a welcome addition to the range of Russian a/c and should be welcomed. The above are just nit-picks and the Zvezda kit can form the basis of a great model of the MiG-31. At least it is accurate in outline

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Footnote: Ken Duffey hosts an excellent site on Russian aircraft and kits, called the Flanker website at http://www.flankers.co.uk/

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