Russian T-50 PAK FA - 1:72 Hobbyboss

[Paul A H]

Russian T-50 PAK FA

1:72 Hobbyboss

The Sukhoi T-50 is the product of Russias PAK-FA programme, designed to fulfil a requirement for a fifth-generation multirole fighter to replace the Su-27 and MiG-29 in Russian Air Force service. The prototype T-50 first took to the air on 29 January 2010, in the capable hands of Sukhoi test pilot, Sergey Bogdan. Since then, another three aircraft have joined the test programme, with the third and fourth examples being fitted with Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. India is also a major backer of the programme and is expected to be the first customer apart from Russia to receive the new jets.

All examples of the T-50 flown thus far have been powered by an interim design of engine which is sufficiently powerful to allow the aircraft to achieve supersonic flight without the use of afterburner (supercruise) but lacks the thrust vectoring nozzles that are being prepared for the production aircraft. The T-50 also lacks the comprehensive stealth features of the F-22, shifting the design balance in favour of combat manoeuvrability instead. The first production aircraft could be delivered as soon as 2015.

Despite the fact that the T-50 is a new aircraft which hasnt yet progressed beyond the prototype stage, Hobbybosss are not actually first to market with their kit. Zvezda of Russia released a kit back in 2011 (subsequently re-released by Revell), and even that was preceded by a resin kit from another Russian firm. Im sure there are enough modellers who will nevertheless be very happy to see that Hobbyboss have decided to have a bash at the type though, not least because of the upper fuselage shape problems (and horrible fit around the intakes) that the Zvezda kit unfortunately suffered from.

The kit arrives packed into a very sturdy top-opening box adorned with a picture of a camouflaged T-50 firing what looks like a Vympel R-73 missile, and event which I dont believe has yet taken place. Inside are three sprues of grey plastic, one small clear sprue and a small fret of brass parts. In common with other Hobbyboss kits, the parts are extremely well packed. All of the sprues are individually bagged and the more delicate components such as the canopy are wrapped in foam for extra protection. The plastic parts are very well moulded. Surface detail is comprised of fine, engraved panel lines and a engraved fasteners and rivets where appropriate.

The cockpit is made up of a tub complete with side consoles, an instrument panel, control column and ejector seat. The K-36 ejector seat is made up of no fewer than seven parts, which may well be a record for an injection moulded seat in 1:72 scale! It looks very good indeed, but I think it may be too large. The chassis of the seat certainly looks a lot larger than the Pavla K-36 I have in the spares box. There is no raised detail in the cockpit as photo etched parts are provided instead. Decals are provided too, for the brassphobics out there. Photo etched parts are also provided for the HUD unit and the deck behind the cockpit.

Before you can close up the fuselage, there are a number of other internal structures and details that must be fixed in place. Both the nose gear bay and the main landing gear bays are single piece boxes that have to be glued to the lower fuselage. This is a better arrangement than that used for the Zvezda kit, which if I recall correctly was a more complex design whereby the walls of the main gear bays had to be added to the outside of the intake trunking, with quite a few fit problems as a result. While were on the subject of intake trunking, Hobbyboss have included full-length intakes on this kit, which is always a bonus.

Once the landing gear bays and intakes are in place, the upper and lower fuselage halves can be joined together. In common with other kits of very modern fighters of a similar design, the fuselage and wings are moulded together, simplifying assembly quite a lot. Once you have the basic structure of the aircraft together, you can start adding the smaller details. The landing gear is very nice and managed to mould an excellent replica of the delicate nose gear debris guard (which was missing from the Zvezda kit)

The intake mouths are moulded as separate parts, which will reduce the time spent cleaning up seams, provided that they fit. The wing root weapons bays are moulded as separate parts, as are the aileron hinges. The horizontal stabilisers are moulded as separate, solid parts, as are the vertical stabilisers, which have separately moulded roots. The all-moving wing roots are also separate parts. The canopy is moulded in two parts and there are options for the rear canopy so you can build the first prototype or one of the later versions without the frame running along the apex. The pitot tube is a model in itself, with no fewer than eight photo etched vanes to bring the basic plastic prong to life.

Two marking options are provided:
T-50-1 in unpainted state as it was at the time of its first flight; and
T-50-1 in the rather nice three tone grey splinter scheme it has worn since then.
The first scheme is, of course, cheating by Hobbyboss as it doesnt require any decals. Its useful to have the colour diagram to work from though. The decals are fairly well printed and look reasonably thin and glossy on the sheet.

Conclusion

This looks to be a significant improvement on the older Zvezda kit. Shape-wise it looks better, not least because the subtle sweeping lines from cockpit to engine tunnels have been captured more accurately. The kit is pretty rich in detail, although it lacks features such as open weapons bays. Im not sure these have ever been photographed though, so its a forgivable omission. It is still a fairly simple kit though, and it looks as though it should go together without too much trouble. The cockpit is a bit of a weak point for the reasons mentioned above, but overall I think this kit can be highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Procopius]

I have read elsewhere it's out of scale; did you notice anything in that line? I've not seen it in person myself.

[thepureness]

Anyone know a good match for the colours