1:32 MiG-23 FOD covers

FOD covers for the MiG-23 in 1:32 scale, Quickboost

A resin set from the Quickboost brand (a range of the Czech manufacturer Aires) with air intake covers for the model of the MiG-23 fighter in 1:32 scale. The abbreviation FOD stands for foreign object damage: on real parked machines the engine intakes were covered so that debris could not get in. On a model the covers are a striking accent of color that tells a story at once, of a machine standing on the apron and waiting for its next flight.

The real subject

The MiG-23 was a Soviet fighter with a variable-geometry wing, widespread among the air arms of the Warsaw Pact including Czechoslovakia and with a number of other users. The angular side air intakes are one of its recognition features, and it was exactly these that ground crews covered carefully with marked covers when the machine was parked.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings to remove the mold release agent, separate them carefully from the casting blocks and bond them with super glue. On real machines the covers tend to be a deep red; lightening the edges slightly and adding a light dusting will give them a used look. They look superb on a model with an open canopy and steps in a diorama of the apron.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the MiG-23 in the large 1:32 scale
• Diorama builders, for a parked machine on the apron with ground crew
• Modelers who want to add a color accent and a story to a model
• Enthusiasts of Warsaw Pact equipment

This is an accessory set: the model of the airplane, the glue and the paints are not included in the package.