ERKA
MiG-21R v Ceskoslovensku

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The MiG-21R was developed in the Soviet Union as a dedicated tactical reconnaissance version of the MiG-21. Development began in 1963, with the prototype designated Ye-7R, and the type entered production in the mid-1960s at Gorky Aircraft Factory No. 21. Approximately 450 MiG-21Rs were manufactured between 1965 and 1971 for the Soviet Air Force and several allied air forces.

The principal distinguishing feature was the large reconnaissance pod carried beneath the fuselage. Different pods could accommodate equipment for daylight or night photography, electronic intelligence and television reconnaissance. The aircraft also retained a useful secondary combat capability, being able to carry bombs, rockets and air-to-air missiles.

Czechoslovak, Czech Republic and Slovak Service

Czechoslovakia received 25 MiG-21Rs between 1969 and 1972. All were assigned to the 47th Reconnaissance Air Regiment, initially based at Pardubice and later at Hradec Kralove. The MiG-21R provided the Czechoslovak Air Force with a modern supersonic tactical reconnaissance capability and remained in service with the regiment until its disbandment in May 1993, following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

When the Czechoslovak armed forces were divided between the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the beginning of 1993, 17 MiG-21Rs went to the Czech Republic and eight to Slovakia. The Czech aircraft continued briefly with the 28th Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment at Caslav before being withdrawn from operational service. Some subsequently served in test and evaluation roles.

The Slovak aircraft had a comparatively short post-1993 career and were also soon withdrawn. One notable survivor is MiG-21R 1501, the first of the Czechoslovak aircraft to be delivered. After operational and test duties, it was preserved and is now displayed at the Prague-Kbely Aviation Museum.

For modellers, the reconnaissance pod is the most obvious distinguishing feature of the MiG-21R, and its configuration varied according to the mission equipment carried.

Eduard released their first1/72 scale MiG-21 kit in early 2026. This has now been joined by a new boxing focused on Czechoslovak, Czech Republic and Slovak service.

This offers nine markings for Czechoslovak, Czech Republic and Slovak examples plus a fsoft cover 50 page book about the MiG-21R in Czechoslovak, Czech Republic and Slovak service.

This latest member of the 1/72 scale family, the MiG-21R, comprises 210 grey plastic parts; 20 parts in clear, a colour photo-etched fret, self adhesive die-cut masks and markings for nine aircraft plus the history book and 32 page instruction book.

As far as I can tell the plastic sprues are the same as this year's 1/72 scale MiG-21R - Sprues C, D, E, M, N plus colour photo-etch and canopy masks.

Surface textures are exquisite. Panel lines are crisp and finely recessed, accompanied by subtle rivet lines.es are restrained and world class.

Parts breakdown is straightforward and essentially the same as the erlier 1/72 &1/48 scale Eduard MiG-21 releases.

The full-length fuselage is split into left and right halves, the wing features a full-span lower half and separate upper sections, and the fin, rudder and spine are moulded as one-piece.

Detail is as good as you'd expect. The cockpit is treated to an instant upgrade thanks to the colour photo-etched fret, which includes an instrument panel, side consoles and harness straps.

The plastic pilot's seat looks great with its quilted backrest depicted convincingly.

Wheel well and undercarriage detail is excellent too.

The photo-etched fret is colourful and beautifully detailed.

Elevators and flaps are separate parts. The air brake may be posed open or closed. Options include two styles of wheel hub and Rocket Assisted Take-Off units.

The clear parts are thin and free from distortion. The windscreen is moulded separately so the canopy may be posed open or closed.

This is a long-run kit with all the luxuries you'd expect - locating pins, tabs and slots etc.

Self-adhesive canopy masks are provided for the canopy, the wheels and for the dielectric panels on the fin and the ventral strake.

The comprehensive ordnance sprue includes three different centreline pods, 800 litre external fuel tanks, 490 litre external fuel tanks, RS-2US, FAB 250, R-3S, UB-16 and R-3S rockets as well as a variety of pylons.

Instructions are supplied in a 30 page glossy booklet, which includes a full-colour marking guide, stencil placement and weapons placement.

Reference Book

The book by Martin Janousek is printed on high quality glossy paper.

Text and captions are all in Czech language but a picture is worth a thousand words. Photos are mostly full-colour, detailed, well-reproduced and of great interest.

This will be the ideal reference for anybody planning to build a MiG-21R.

Markings

Nine marking options are provided.

The stencil data sheet has also been printed in the Czech Republic. Once again, the quality of these looks good - readable under strong magnification for even the smallest markings.

Marking options cover natural metal and camouflaged subjects.

Eduard's 1/72 scale MiG-21 family adds a specialised MiG-21R to its ranks.

Another small-scale gem from Eduard!

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2026 by Brett Green
Page Created 28 September, 2026
Last updated 28 September, 2026

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