Introduction

The following introduction is provided by ICM:

Because of the need to train pilots, to operate such an unusual aircraft as the MIG25, a training version of the new MIG was developed and tested. The prototype was developed on the basis of the interceptor. Interest in the twin was also expressed by the customer - Air Defence Aviation. Officially the plane was created by the decision of the military industrial commission, under the USSR Council of Ministers dated July 7th 1965. The nose part of the plane up to spar number one to place there the instructor cabin. Series production of MIG 25 PU began in 1970 Gorky, which continued until 1985. In total about 180 copies of these machines were produced. 

Review

This model arrives in a flip top cardboard box, with a separate card lid showing the artwork of the model. Upon opening the box you are presented with a single plastic bag containing all of the contents. An examination of the contents reveals no areas of concern. Many of you will be aware, that ICM released a series of 1/48th scale models of these aircraft, and it is my belief that these are scaled down versions of those kits. As such, you are going to get a fairly highly detailed model for1/72nd scale.

The two cockpit areas of the model have a good level of detail present, and I feel very pleasing for this scale. The body of the model is made using a good number of individual panels, which has firstly made production of the various MIG 25 aircraft an affordable proposition for ICM. It has enabled an excellent level of detail to be moulded as part of each piece, and lastly made construction of this model a tricky proposition, but with care the result should be very pleasing.

A number of spars are provided with this model, in order to make the building of the kit as easy and trouble free as possible. Areas of the model that I feel excel due to being scaled down are engine exhausts,  and wheel bays. The tail planes will be correctly angled on the model, as they have been moulded along with the side panels of the fuselage. Flight control surfaces have been provided as individual parts, and so can be positioned as the modeller requires or wishes. Weapons hard points are included, but no weapons are provided and so I would suggest leaving them off, and so keeping the model clean. The panel lines of the kit are especially fine with me only being able to physically locate them via eyeball and a finger nail. My major concern here is that when painting the kit these details could be lost.

Something that wil lalso tell you that this is a scaled down model, in the incredibly large number of decals, covering generic markings. I believe this will be the most complicated aspect of the model, purely due to the size and number of decals needing to be applied and if you get to add them all I salute you. As regards the finishing of the model ICM has provided four options which:

Russian Air Force, Ramenskoye (Zhukovsky) (UUBW), Russia, August 2005

Russian Air Force, MSNN 22036241, Mnonchegorsk, Russia, August 2012

Belarus Air Force, MSN22037313, 1983

 Libyan Air Force, Tripoli - Mitiga - Libya, December 2006

Review

The detail on this model from ICM, is nothing short of exceptional for 1/72nd scale. As I have said I believe this is due to it being a scaled down kit. My only real concerns would be the flooding of the panel lines during the painting and weathering of the model.