Pre-order - Rye Field Model 6001 - 1:48 MiG-21MF

Pre-order item! Your order will be fulfilled once the manufacturer releases the model. Estimated availability: late September 2026. The delivery date is approximate and subject to change for reasons beyond our control.

Plastic Model Kit of the Soviet MiG-21MF Fishbed-J Fighter in 1:48 Scale

Rye Field Model 6001 is a self-assembly plastic model kit representing one of the most iconic fighters of the Cold War era — the Soviet MiG-21MF, known by the NATO reporting name Fishbed-J. This is a particularly notable release not only because of the aircraft itself, but also because it marks Rye Field Model’s debut in the aircraft modeling segment. Previously known primarily for highly detailed 1:35 scale armored vehicle kits, the company enters the 1:48 aircraft market with this release.

The model represents the MF variant — the most widely exported version of the MiG-21, produced from the early 1970s and operated by the air forces of dozens of countries worldwide. The aircraft’s shape has been recreated with great attention to detail: panel lines and rivets are finely engraved, while optional control surfaces and weapon bay panels may be displayed open to reveal internal details. Particularly noteworthy are the 3D-printed components included in the kit: the KM-1 ejection seat and landing gear wheels, whose 3D-printed construction allows for a level of detail impossible to achieve with traditional injection molding.

Inside the box you will find:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and tail components
• 3D-printed KM-1 ejection seat
• 3D-printed landing gear wheels
• Optional open panels and movable control surfaces
• Air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground ordnance with pylons
• Clear canopy parts
• Photo-etched parts sheet
• Water-slide decals for selected marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model technical details:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalog number: 6001
• Manufacturer: Rye Field Model
• Completed model length: approx. 328 mm, wingspan approx. 149 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model requires assembly and painting.

Building the model:

The kit is intended for modelers with some experience — careful handling of the 3D-printed parts, photo-etched details, and thoughtful planning are required if the modeler chooses to display the control surfaces or weapon bays open. The cockpit, ejection seat, and landing gear bays should be carefully painted and detailed before the fuselage halves are joined, as access becomes very limited afterward.

MiG-21MF aircraft operated by Warsaw Pact and export air forces wore a wide variety of paint schemes — from natural metal and silver-gray finishes to complex multi-tone camouflage patterns. Popular paint choices include AK Real Colors, Mr. Hobby Aqueous, and Tamiya ranges. For a realistic natural metal finish, paints such as AK Xtreme Metal or Alclad II are highly recommended. Decals are best applied over a gloss varnish to prevent silvering, followed by a satin clear coat typical of operational aircraft finishes. For additional detail enhancement, a turned metal Pitot tube available separately in our store may also be considered.

Essential tools:

• Model sprue cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modeling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for smoothing mold attachment points
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched and 3D-printed parts
• Precision modeling tweezers
• Paint brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Modeling wash for highlighting panel lines
• Masking fluid or masking tape for the canopy

About the aircraft – MiG-21MF:

The MiG-21 was a Soviet supersonic fighter developed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the late 1950s. The first production version entered service in 1959, and over the following decades the aircraft became one of the most widely used jet fighters in the world — with more than 11,000 examples produced in numerous variants. Its characteristic delta wing and nose-mounted air intake with a central shock cone make the MiG-21 instantly recognizable.

The MF variant (NATO reporting name Fishbed-J) entered service in 1969 as an improved development of the earlier MiG-21M. It received the more powerful Tumansky R-13-300 engine with an improved afterburner, the RP-22 Sapfir-21 radar, and an internally mounted GSh-23L 23 mm cannon in a ventral gun pack. The aircraft could carry R-3S and R-3R short-range air-to-air missiles with infrared and radar guidance, as well as air-to-ground ordnance, fuel tanks, and unguided rocket pods. A total of five pylons under the wings and fuselage allowed for flexible combat load configurations.

The MiG-21MF served with the Soviet Air Force, Warsaw Pact nations (including Poland), and numerous countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. It participated in many armed conflicts — from the Indo-Pakistani wars and Middle Eastern conflicts to various African wars. Despite its age, individual aircraft remain in service even today. The MiG-21MF has secured its place in aviation history as one of the defining fighter aircraft of the Cold War era.

Technical data of the original aircraft (MiG-21MF):

• Length: 15.76 m (with Pitot tube)
• Wingspan: 7.15 m
• Height: 4.12 m
• Empty weight: approx. 5,350 kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 9,100 kg
• Crew: 1 pilot
• Engine: Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet, approx. 63.6 kN thrust with afterburner
• Maximum speed: approx. 2,230 km/h (Mach 2.05) at altitude
• Service ceiling: approx. 17,800 m
• Gun armament: GSh-23L 23 mm cannon
• External stores: up to 1,500 kg on five pylons (R-3S, R-3R, R-60 missiles, bombs, rocket pods)

About the manufacturer – Rye Field Model:

Rye Field Model is a Chinese plastic model manufacturer established in 2016 and best known for its 1:35 scale armored vehicle kits — especially World War II tanks and postwar Western armored vehicles. The company quickly gained recognition among modelers thanks to its highly detailed tooling, optional interiors, and working individual-link tracks. The MiG-21MF kit represents Rye Field Model’s first step into the 1:48 aircraft segment — the company’s previous experience with advanced tooling and modern production technologies such as 3D-printed parts and photo-etched details suggests a kit distinguished by excellent detail reproduction. Today, Rye Field Model is mentioned alongside companies such as Meng, Border Model, and Takom as one of the leading brands in the modern plastic model market.