COBI MiG-29 (East Germany) Set 5851

COBI's MiG-29 in East German markings is a 1:48 model built from 545 blocks, 35.5 cm long with a 23 cm wingspan. New parts were made for the vertical stabilisers and the nose with its pitot tube. The landing gear detaches for the included display stand with its transparent pin, and a nameplate is supplied. All markings are printed; no stickers.

These aircraft gave NATO a very unpleasant surprise

East Germany received MiG-29s in 1988. Two years later the country ceased to exist, and the Luftwaffe inherited 24 of them along with the ground crews and the manuals.

Germany kept them flying and, crucially, flew them against NATO squadrons in exercises. What Western pilots discovered was not comfortable.

The MiG-29 had a helmet-mounted sight. A pilot could turn his head, look at an enemy aircraft well off to the side, and lock a missile onto it — the R-73 Archer would then turn sixty degrees or more off the nose to reach it. No Western fighter could do that. In close combat a MiG-29 could shoot at aircraft it was not pointing at, while an F-16 or F-15 still had to get its nose onto the target.

The result was a scramble. Western air forces accelerated helmet-sight and high-off-boresight missile programmes through the 1990s, and the capability every modern fighter now has — including the F-35's helmet — traces directly to what those German MiG-29s demonstrated.

They were sold to Poland in 2003 for a symbolic sum, one euro each for 22 aircraft.

In the COBI range

Set 5834 is the MiG-29 in Soviet markings at the same scale. Set 5919 is the MiG-21 in East German and Czechoslovak markings.

Specifications

Pieces: 545 · Scale: 1:48 · Display stand and nameplate · No stickers
Model dimensions: 35.5 × 23 cm (14.0 × 9.1 in)