MIG I-270 (1947)

Scale: 1/72
Initial Release: 2002
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 2

About the Design

German advances in aircraft design and propulsion created ripple effects throughout the warring nations of World War II.  In the Soviet Union, early encounters with the rocket-powered ME-163B Komet interceptor motivated designers at Mikoyan & Gurievich (MiG) to create a similar vehicle for the Motherland.  This project was put on hold until after the War, at which point MiG decided to copy not the ME-163B, but the more advanced ME-263.

The resulting MiG I-270 was longer, sleeker and more aerodynamic than the ME-263 and featured straight wings instead of the more aesthetic swept-back wings of the Messerschmitt.  Unfortunately, like its German predecessors, the I-270's rocket-powered engine could only burn for a few minutes, rendering it relatively useless in real-time combat situations.  The development of the turbojet powered MiG-15 and the loss of the two I-270 prototypes in test flights ultimately scuttled this research program..

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About the Kit

This injection-molded 1/72-scale model was released by Russia's Amodel company in 2002.   Like most kits from the old Soviet Union, the engineering and casting of the kit was rather crude, reflecting technology more associated with the 1950s than the 21st Century.  Still, with a little work, it could build up into a decent model of a unique subject.

This kit was built from an original issue.