Eduard 1/72 MiG-21PF/PFM Exhaust Nozzle
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
The Eduard 1/72 MiG-21 is a great kit out the box, but even with the best of kits there is always room for aftermarket improvement. Enhancing the kit parts with this set, Eduard has come up with a simpler and slightly more detailed exhaust nozzle for their MiG-21PFM kit.
The Parts
Eduard's 1/72 MiG-21 exhaust nozzle is not useless out of the box. In fact, it's quite good, and while it will require a bit more cleanup work, it is completely usable. For those who want to eliminate that extra cleanup work, though, this is a perfect replacement set. It also has a bit more dimensional detail, although it will be difficult to see in the finished model due to the depth of the nozzle itself.
Where the kit nozzle has a two-part tube that could result in visible seams, this set has a one-piece tube. Well, sort of. The tube, like the kit part, is split in half to incorporate the afterburner vanes. While the kit provides these in plastic, this set provides them in photoetch, which allows for a thinner appearance and a more accurate conical shape. The rear tube piece incorporates the mounting bulkhead as well, so once everything is together, it will be a simple drop-fit into the kit and you're done.
Conclusion
This is a simple upgrade, yet will make for a more accurate and easier build overall. My thanks to Eduard for the review sample.