1:48 MiG-21MF / MiG-21bis Indian Service 2 in 1 Paint Masks Set

Two Indian MiG-21s in one package

India was among the largest foreign operators of the MiG-21 and in the end built the aircraft itself. The MF version brought a more powerful engine and a built-in cannon, while the later bis received a larger fuel load in the fuselage spine and noticeably better climb performance. Both forms flew side by side in the colors of the Indian Air Force and carried camouflage derived from foothill terrain as well as from desert regions, so on the modeling bench they make a rewarding pair.

Two schemes in one

The two in one designation means that during the build you choose between two Indian aircraft, or split the set between two models. The patterns are cut so that they line up across the wing and across the spine, and the camouflage is transferred by spraying.

Before you start spraying

• Decide in advance which of the two variants you are building, because the film is used only once.
• Glue the small parts around the intake cone using tweezers and a magnifier.
• Check the color boundaries on the underside of the fuselage against the instructions, they shift easily.
• Lift the film as soon as the paint has dried, on older paint the adhesive holds more firmly.

Indian aircraft also differed in equipment details according to the production batch, so before the build it pays to compare photographs of the particular machine. The differences are usually in the antennas, in the gunsight installation and in the arrangement of the underwing pylons. A number of aircraft also went through a domestic upgrade that changed the shape of some fairings on the spine.

The package contains masking film only; the kit and the paints are not included.