1:72 MiG-21 seat with integral belts

Eduard — MiG-21: Ejection Seat with Integral Belts, 1:72

A supplementary 3D-printed set from manufacturer Eduard. It is not an airplane kit, but a replacement ejection seat for the cockpit of a MiG-21 model in 1:72 scale. Its distinctive feature is that the safety belts are printed directly as part of the seat — eliminating the need to glue photo-etch parts or shape foil. Thanks to direct 3D printing, the part has sharp edges, legible padding texture, and above all a realistic belt sag, which is usually the hardest thing to reproduce at such a small scale. The seat replaces the plastic part from the base kit and is clearly visible with the canopy open.

Procedure and use

• First wash the part in lukewarm water with dish soap and let it dry — residue from uncured printing resin hinders paint adhesion.
• Carefully cut the seat away from the print supports with a sharp blade or a photo-etch saw; do not snap it off.
• Sand down the remains of the supports with fine sandpaper; if sanding dry, use respiratory protection — sanding wet is ideal.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate (super glue) — regular plastic cement does not work on 3D-printed resin.
• Spray the seat with a primer before gluing it into the cockpit, then paint it; highlight the belts with a different shade and a light wash.

Who the set is for

For modelers of the MiG-21 in the seventy-second scale who want the cockpit to match the level of larger scales. It especially pays off if you plan to display the model with the canopy open. Working with a small 3D-printed part requires patience and basic experience with resin; otherwise, it is a quick and very effective improvement.

This is an accessory, not a model. The base kit, glue, and paints are not included in the package. Use respiratory protection when sanding resin and work in a ventilated space.