1:48 Mikoyan MiG-25R Foxbat intake air flow splitters

Air intake parts for the MiG-25R in 1:48 scale (Armory)

A small add-on set for the air intakes of a model of the reconnaissance MiG-25R Foxbat in 1:48 scale from the Ukrainian brand Armory. This is not an airplane kit but an accessory for a model you already have. It is a small part in a conspicuous place: the intakes on the MiG-25 are large and clearly visible, so their shape has a great deal of influence on the overall impression. What the parts are made of and how many of them there are is not stated here, and we recommend checking it on the box.

What the splitter plates in the intake are for

On fast aircraft the slowed layer of air that clings to the surface of the fuselage must not enter the engine. The intakes therefore usually have a wedge or a plate that separates this layer off and leads it away from the duct to the engine. The rest of the flow, on the contrary, has to be slowed down before the compressor, and that is what the shaped ramps in the intake are for. On the MiG-25 the intakes are large and sharp-edged, so this part of the structure is markedly noticeable on a model.

Tips for working it

Dry-fit the part before you seat it and sand its mating surface flat, so that it does not sit crooked in the intake opening. Super glue, that is cyanoacrylate, holds on resin as well as on photo-etched metal, so it suits both cases. Paint the inside of the intake before you glue the part in and before you close the fuselage; once it is assembled you will not get a brush in there.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want to work up the area of the air intakes
• Builds of the MiG-25R in 1:48 scale
• More experienced modelers used to small accessories
• Display-case models judged at close range

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.