IN THE BOX: 4 trees of light gray plastic and one of clear parts all to scale, no flash or other defects. Contains Aeromaster decals for several variants and users of the FULCRUM. Total parts, 72 of which 6 were not used inthis model.

OVERVIEW: the MIG-29 Fulcrum was built in response to the F-16 and F-18 and is comparable in performance, making the kits of this plane desirable in regard to the Gulf War and recent events in Europe. The performance shocked experts at the first showing at Farnbourgh, England in 1986 at which time MIG tried and failed to secure additional avionics contracts to upgrade the plane, by then a decade in service. However, their main export customer, India was able to get a contract for civilian aircraft updates from the French, then converted the software to meet the common need to update the planes in service. The converted planes go by the designation MIG-29M which is shown here.

ASSEMBLY STEP 1: Fuselage and cockpit, bathtub construction of the cockpit made assembly rapid and accurate. It was here I made the simple conversion by using old F-I8 decals to indicate the modernizing of the MIG.Pilot figures are provided if desired, not used here.

ASSEMBLY STEP 2: Fuselage and engines-Inlets exhaust cones and fuselage go together without problem, any putty needed.

ASSEMBLY STEP 3: Wings and Rudders-This is where I had problems keeping the rudders at the proper 5 degree anhedral (outward) tilt was difficult but once set stayed set. The wings and fuselage joins went together well, needing little putty to fill joins and none at the slab stabilizers.

ASSEMBLY STEP 4:Wheels, weapons and landing gear- This is where I had the most problems-the weapons had to be assembled from small fin parts making this step difficult unless one is very careful. Otherwise gear and pylons and tires go on easy.

ASSEMBLY STEP 5: Final assembly- all sub assemblies go together well clear parts go on well here I used the FUTURE® treatment for the first time. The clear parts go on with little problems beyond minor sanding to fit slots assigned and I closed the canopy to ease storage and transport. Finish-I chose the Indian Version since they helped the Russians get the avionics packages needed for the update. The decals went on well but were slightly out of sequence, very uncomfortable to have to put green dots in the middle of the Indian markings, as the sheet requires one to do. PAINTING-since Hasegawa still relies to gives us FS numbers or the equivalents except in Gunze Sanyo paints. I had to use my experience to match paints to references and to set the stencils for the camouflage schemes however, since grays are used, the matching should not be a problem to IPMS modelers.

With the use of many internet-available sources and research in Aviation Week and other sources, I was able to complete this kit in 24 total construction hours. I recommend this kit to moderately experienced modelers.