MiG-21D (oz5467)

About this Plan

Mig 21D Fishbed. Scale model for control line. Designed for K&B 40 power. Scale is 1/12.

Quote: "NATO calls it Fishbed, but this deadly Soviet jet is one of the world's finest fighters. Model uses high-revving, light-weight, 40 engine. MiG 21D, by Roland H Baltes.

HOW many control-line flying models of jet aircraft have you seen lately? Very few, if any. The jet age has been with us for some time but the modeling of jet airplanes has not kept pace. The reasons for this are varied and interesting.

Probably the biggest contributor is the lack of a suitable jet engine. The pulse-jet type engine - around for so many years - has enough power, but also has serious limitations. The ducted-fan propulsion system once enjoyed popularity in free-flight; however it has been applied only to control-line by a very small group of dedicated modelers. Not until somebody markets commercially the necessary fans will this become common.

So what we are left with is the glow-plug engine and propeller combination. Egads, you say, a propeller on a jet? But this is really nothing new. Look at many of the current control-line stunt designs and the jet influence is quite noticeable. The same holds true in radio control where the building and flying of jet-type models have been on the increase. Besides, it even was prototype practice in the early jet days to test airframes using piston engines with props.

Obviously. I'm trying to justify the use of the prop on my MiG-21, the chances that the real MiG ever used one are almost nil. But how many real planes have you seen that used a rubber band for a motor, or were flown at the end of some wires?

We selected the MiG-21 not only just because we liked it, but also because it had several features which were very desirable, such as a fair amount of wing area, a nose radome that could he disguised with a spinner, and a simple fuselage. We also had a good set of 3-views and pictures. The real MiG-21 is in service with many of the Communist countries and apparently available to any country that has money to buy one.

The model we decided on goes under the NATO codename 'Fishbed D' and can be distinguished front the earlier C models by the larger hump behind the canopy and the nose probe on top of the fuselage. The model is built to a scale of 1" equals lr, which is a good-size model. Ours weighed -1 lbs.

This brings up a little problem which can be easily overcome if you plan ahead. The model most likely will be nose-heavy when built. We therefore used plywood quite liberally in the rear. No sense building a flimsy model, then having to add lead weight. Common sense should be used in building the front end strong but light. The lightest but most powerful engine available should be used. We show a K&B 40 on the plans but other 40's, like the ST G21/40, would work.

By now you may be wondering about the flying characteristics of the model. We were somewhat dubious ourselves, however the first flight - which lasted less than a lap - did demonstrate excellent ground handling qualities..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to Pit.

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