1:48 MiG-21 Bis - Dry-Water Decal Sheet

The peak of development of one of the most widespread fighter aircraft

The bis version closed the long development line of the MiG-21. It received a more powerful powerplant, a markedly bulkier fuselage spine with fuel and modernized avionics, so what had originally been a simple interceptor became a machine capable of attacking ground targets too. The recognition mark is precisely that substantial spine, which changes the aircraft's silhouette compared with the older versions.

The machine served in dozens of countries from northern Europe to southern Asia and almost every user marked it in its own way. A model in 1:48 scale is therefore a rewarding object: the airframe is always the same, but the color scheme can make two completely different exhibits out of two identical kits.

What the sheet solves

The decals enclosed with a kit will as a rule offer two or three options and there the possibilities end. A separate sheet widens the choice with subjects that did not make it into the box, and it is also a safe bet where the original decals in the kit have yellowed with age.

• Markings for the bis version, that is, the most modern production variant of the type
• 1:48 scale, given in the name of the item
• An alternative to the decals enclosed in the kit
• A replacement for yellowed decals in older stock
• It belongs to the range the manufacturer designates as dry-water

Before working it is sensible to lay the model out: the bis version's fuselage spine has a different shape than on the older variants, so elements that sit snugly behind the cockpit on a photograph may end up on the edge of the transition on the model, and they need to be seated before the varnish stiffens.