Armory Models Group 1/144 MiG-29s
By Matt Bittner
Overview
Taken from Wikipedia:
"The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: Микоян МиГ-29; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the larger Sukhoi Su-27, was developed to counter U.S. fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.[2] The MiG-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1983.
"While originally oriented towards combat against any enemy aircraft, many MiG-29s have been furnished as multirole fighters capable of performing a number of different operations, and are commonly outfitted to use a range of air-to-surface armaments and precision munitions. The MiG-29 has been manufactured in several major variants, including the multirole Mikoyan MiG-29M and the navalised Mikoyan MiG-29K; the most advanced member of the family to date is the Mikoyan MiG-35. Later models frequently feature improved engines, glass cockpits with HOTAS ("hands-on-throttle-and-stick")-compatible flight controls, modern radar and infrared search and track (IRST) sensors, and considerably increased fuel capacity; some aircraft have also been equipped for aerial refueling."
While there have been other 1/144 MiG-29 kits in existence, none of them are accurate and truly represent this aircraft. Thankfully these new molds from Armory Models Group eliminates all the rest from serious contention.
The Kit
Armory Models Group has released three different versions of the MiG-29 with plenty of markings potentials. Those releases are: MiG-29 Fulcrum series 9-12 Soviet Modern Jet Fighter, "Last Soviet 29s" Set #1, which contains markings for 12 Soviet MiG-29s, all from 1991; MiG-29 Fulcrum series 9-13 Ukrainian Modern Jet Fighter, 114th Brigade "Precarpathian Falcons", with markings for only one aircraft covered in pixel camouflage (thankfully decals); and finally MiG-29UB Fulcrum series 9-51, Soviet Modern Jet Fighter Trainer, "Early Years of Ukrainian Air Force" Set #3, which contains markings for ten two-seaters. The decals appear to be well done and in register, and the decal profiles are in color. In addition, each kit release comes with stencil decals.
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There are three main ways you can build these models: landing gear down; landing gear up; or landing gear down but being towed using a tow-bar. It's important to figure out how you want to build yours because there are different parts for each one and construction will follow different instruction steps. I might be so bold to mark out the construction steps of the ways I do NOT plan to build a single model. Each model-box comes with the injected plastic parts, naturally, but each also comes with a set of 3D printed parts (the tail fins, exhausts and different external stores based on the kit type) as well as a photoetch fret which appears to be the same across all three boxings. Thankfully, also included in each box is a set of canopy masks.
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With all three kits construction starts the same: with the cockpit. There are decals for the instrument panels and side consoles, as well as a photoetch control stick which is bent in the correct shape. Decals also provide the seat cushions with printed-on belts. The only thing the instructions do not show is a paint color for the cockpit, which is a light gray. With the cockpit built-up, attention now turns to adding it and the separate wheel wells to the upper half of the fuselage (since it's split in half horizontally). Once those are in place then the halves are glued together, along with whatever the particular kit-version calls for. Note that Armory Models Group does not give an indication of how much weight to add to the front of the model to keep it sitting on its nose, so that will have to be figured out. There should be plenty of room to add whatever weight is necessary, though.
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Now you build up the three-piece intakes, which includes a photoetch intake-face, hiding any seams that might be present. These are then added to the glued-together fuselage halves along with the exhausts (although I would leave those off until the end and they are painted). Once those are on you glue on the horizontal and vertical (3D-printed) tail surfaces.
Another item of note is that Armory provides both open and closed canopies and has you add the one you choose after installing the ejection seat. The nose cone - and all accoutrements - are also added at this point. It's here I would stop and paint the model before adding anything else, which includes all pieces of each landing gear and all landing gear doors. Also best left off until after painting and decaling would be the weapon racks and any external stores you decide to add.
If you decide to go with the "towed airplane" route, then at the end of the instruction sheet you build the tow-bar and add it and the photoetch covers to show it in a "stowed" state.
Conclusion
Finally, an accurate 1/144 MiG-29, something the 1/144 world has been needing for some time. Armory Models Group has done a fantastic job on these kits and I can highly recommend them. I'm looking forward to working on these.
Many thanks go to Armory Models Group for the review samples.