Hobby Master HA0105 Iraqi
Mig-21
Decked out in its tan and
green paint scheme, Hobby
Master has chosen another
unique version of their Mig-21.
This represents the fabled F-
14 killer that shot down an F-
14 in 1983 during the Iran-Iraq
War. In it’s time the Mig-21
was one of the best aircraft in
the sky. Not only among the
best aircraft but it was the
most produced fighter in the
world since the end of WWII,
sources have the total
produced somewhere between
8 -13,000. Even 8,000 is a
tremendous feat. It is or was in
the service of approximately
50 countries making it a
natural choice for Hobby
Master to replicate. The sleek
lines combined with the
impeccable paint finish topped
off by the finely applied
markings makes this model a
collectors dream. The canopy
can be displayed open or
closed, gear up or down, on or
off the display stand that is
provided.
Facts and history HA0105 F-14 killer
The Iran – Iraq War took place from September 22 1980 until August 1988. Origins of the war
go back to the question of sovereignty over the resource-rich province of Khuzestan.
The second factor was the dispute over full control of the Arvadrd/Shatt al-Arab waterway at
the head of the Persian Gulf. This was very important to both countries for the shipping of oil.
Conditions gradually deteriorated to the point where both countries broke off diplomatic
relations in June of 1980. With this sporadic border disputes became more frequent.
September 17, 1980 saw Iraq declare the Shatt al-Arab as being part of their territory.
September 22 1980 Iraqi Mig-23 and 21s attacked Iranian airbases trying to destroy the
runways and aircraft while they were still on the ground. This is a lesson they learned from
the Arab-Israeli War June 1967 when the Israelis launched an all out air assault on the Air
Forces of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and destroyed the vast majority of planes still on the
ground as well as the air bases. This assured Israel of air superiority and left them basically
free to roam the skies in search of opposing air planes and land forces. The supposed
reason for the strike by Iraq was an alleged assassination attempt on the life of Iraq’s Foreign
Minister Tariq Aziz by Iranian agents.
During the long protracted war there were many clashes on the ground and in the air. Iraq
was quite surprised by the force of the opposition they faced and how poorly equipped their
own military was in comparison. Iraq lost ground battle after ground battle or if they didn’t
lose they were lucky to get a stalemate. The same applied to air encounters, Iraq lost one
plane after another. The Mig’s were outdated compared to the U.S. built F-14s that the
Iranians still had from before they deposed the Shah.
So when a Mig-21 downs an F-14 it becomes big news and this is just what took place. On
November 21, 1983 two Iranian F-14s were surprised by four Iraqi Mig-21s who had come up
from below and behind and shot them both down using R.550 Magic missiles and a four-
barrel gun that Iraq had developed. The short-lived air battle took place in the skies near
Bahragan. This proved to be one of the very few success’s Iraq had using the Migs and it
has grown to become an urban legend.
Mig-21MF Specs: Power Plant: One 41.55kN (9,340lb st) or 64.73kN (14,550lb st) with afterburner Tumansky R-13-300 turbojet Wingspan: 7.15m (23ft 5½in) Length: 15.76m (51ft 8½in) - incl pitot boom Max T-O weight: 9,400kg (20,725lb) Max speed: Mach 2.1 (2,230km/h - 1,385mph) above 11,000m (36,000ft) Mach 1.06 (1,300km/h - 807mph) at low level Range: 1,100km (683 miles) - internal fuel only 1,800km (1,118 miles) - with three external drop tanks, one under fuselage, one under each wing Armament: One 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon with 200 rounds in belly pack Various air-to-air and air-to-ground stores carried on four under wing pylons including: K-13A "Atoll" or "Advanced Atoll" a-a missiles, UV-16-57 rocket packs, S-24 a-s rockets, 250kg and 500kg bombs
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THESE ARE ONLY PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT
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Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (Jet Powered) HA0105 - Iraqi Mig-21MF, F-14 Killer Iran - Iraq War
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