Info EDUARD

Monthly magazine about history and scale plastic modeling.

Strana 31

#2151
BOXART STORY
Illustration: Piotr Forkasiewicz
Hungarian Shark
Text: Vladimír Šulc
The Hungarian MiG-21bis Model 75A, with
the serial number 75061904 and the fuselage
number 1904, was repainted in its famous anti-
camouflage livery in 1992. This colour scheme
was originally intended to represent enemy
aircraft during combat training exercises.
Around this time, aircraft 1904 became part of
the Sky Hussars aerobatic team. It bore the
logo of the Camel tobacco company on the side
of the fuselage and in several other places, and
due to the shark's mouth on the nose it was
named Cápeti ('Shark') and presented at an air
show in Taszár.
It took part in a number of other air shows
and, in 1993, its paintwork was restored, giving
the aircraft a slightly different look. In the
same year, the Sky Hussars performed at the
International Air Tattoo in Fairford, UK, probably
the most famous performance in the group's
history. The International Air Tattoo was first
held in Fairford in 1993 and has been held there
annually ever since. Until then, it had been held
every two years since 1971. That memorable
year, the Slovak Biele Albatrosy also took part
in the event alongside other famous aerobatic
groups. The newly formed Czech Republic was
represented by Su-25Ks from the 30th Fighter
Aviation Regiment in Pardubice.
The Sky Hussars performed their final
demonstration in Kecskemét on 6 August 1993.
Following their decommissioning, the Shark
1904 ended up in the aviation museum in
Szolnok. Although it was completely renovated,
the museum's livery differs in detail from the
original design. The Shark's mouth, gills and
eyes are different; it has different insignia on
the tail and wings; the font used for the pilot
and technician's names is different; and most
importantly, there are no labels. The aircraft in
the kit represents the second colour scheme of
the 1904 aircraft, as it appeared at Fairford.
If you are surprised by the high mountains
in the background of the MiG-21bis box art,
don't expect to see an air show in the foothills
of the Alps or Scandinavia. This is artistic
licence on the part of the title image's author,
Piotr Forkasiewicz. Unlike the cover images
of the Profipack and Weekend series, where
we aim to depict real historical events and
combat scenes realistically, the Limited series
is different. In this series, the background and
scene are fictional and neutral, and the focus is
solely on the colour scheme of the aircraft. The
mountains are therefore mainly in the picture
to make it look better. The image gains drama
and dynamism, and that's what counts!
INFO Eduard
31
May 2025
Info EDUARD