1:48 MiG-21 ladder, locking pads, antenna angle of attack indicator, for Academy kit

The real subject

The MiG-21 is a small aircraft with its cockpit high above the ground, so the pilot could only reach it up a set of steps brought alongside. A standing machine was also secured with pads at the wheels, and on the forward fuselage it carried an angle of attack sensor, a small pivoting vane that measured the angle at which the aircraft met the oncoming air. All three things belong to the machine on the ground and give the model what a kit on its own usually lacks.

What the set contains

By the name, three groups of parts: access steps to the cockpit, pads for securing a standing aircraft, and an angle of attack sensor. The name assigns the set to the Academy kit, so the fit follows its shapes. The parts are photo-etched, so expect a flat fret from which the individual parts are snapped out and bent to shape.

Building and painting tips

• cut the parts out with a sharp blade on a hard surface and level the mark left by the cut with a file
• make the bend over a ruler or in a bending tool, and on the steps check that all the feet sit down
• glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) and degrease the faces before joining them
• the sensor is the finest part in the set, so fit it at the very end and work with tweezers
• apply a primer before painting, or the paint will not hold on the smooth surface

Who the set is for

The set suits builders of the MiG-21 in 1:48 scale who build the machine as parked on the flight line, with an open cockpit and access to it. The position of the individual parts on the fuselage is shown by the manufacturer's instructions; always try them dry before gluing, because the outlines of kits differ even within one type. The aircraft model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.