Flankerman Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 (edited) Following the 'comparison' thread - I have made a start on building the Trumpeter 1/72 scale Su-34..... I won't post pics of the sprues - they are available elsewhere and here - just progress photos of the build. The cockpit is quite comprehensive - with a separate door in the rear bulkhead..... but note those ejection pin marks in the structure behind the seats. Similarly, the nosewheel bay looks accurate - complete with two-parts for the sliding access hatch..... The K-36 ejection seats are quite simplified - I would replace them if the cockpit was open - but they are acceptable given the closed cockpit... Trumpeter even provide the rudder pedals and very nice control collums - decals are provided for the front and side instrument panels - although the starboard panel curled up on me and I couldn't get it straight... Note the rear door - which I have posed open. The nosewheel bay in place - although not mentioned in the instructions, the front access hatch can be clicked in place and made to slide open..... Open.... Closed.... View into the wheel bay.... note the sliding front hatch. Top and bottom fuselage halves glued together..... I have made an attempt at re-profiling the nose to make it sharper - with moderate success...... It isn't 100% - but it looks much better - I might shave a bit more off to make the 'beak' sharper - but without going through the plastic!!... Re-shaped Trumpeter nose compared to the Italeri nose.... More later... Ken Edited July 20, 2017 by Flankerman 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman2 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Good Start Ken, I am sure you will do the kit Justice. I noticed many of the Aubergine Su-34, are Painted the multi-blue camo after major Service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Excellent! Another Flankerman special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_Centurion Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Your work on the nose is well done! Too bad about the decal curling on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 Some progress...... The aperture for the APU intake has to be drilled out..... not something you should have to do on such an expensive kit! The mesh grille part is fitted. Note that Trumpeter haven't included the APU outlet though. I used a short length of scrap plastic to stop the mesh part falling inside.... There is a join to fill where the tailboom attaches.... .... and try as I might, I could not get the tailboom to go forward far enough - leaving gaps on the underside. The good news is... the fins are cleverly designed with side panels to eliminate a joint - they fit perfectly. More later... Ken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gondor44 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Really nice work, looking forward to more updates Gondor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 That is looking good Ken. I've hummed & hahhed about buying one of these, the dodgy politics of the owners not withstanding, both kits seemed to have issues but you seem to be making the ones on this kit seem not insurmountable. I can see a NEED forming up in the wings. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Exactly the same seats as the ones in the 1/72 Trumpeter MiG-29. Looks interesting so far, with the iffy engineering. Funny how some Trumpeter parts don't line up, and they go and over engineer some areas & give loads of surface detail but some obvious parts need re-working. Was thinking about ditching my Italeri kit for this, I'll keep an eye on this and will wait and see. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 The Trumpeter intakes really capture the complex internal shape - but they are overly complex and the plastic is very thin. It took me a long time to work out how the parts went together from the instruction diagram - lots of dry fitting to figure them out - but I got there in the end.... I also painted the insides before assembly - you can't get at them afterwards......... The fit isn't brilliant either - filler needed along one seam. When it came to fitting the assembled intakes to the fuselage - there was another problem. The mating surface on the fuselage bottom was slightly bowed - so the intakes only made contact at either the front or rear - they could see-saw in the middle. I think this is due to the main undercarriage bay walls not fitting flush - I had to first clamp and glue the intakes at the front first - and when the glue had set, then clamp and glue the rear ends..... Fronts glued in place..... .... followed by the rears..... .... but it still needed filler on the rear join.... If I were to make another Trumpeter Su-34, I might try to fit the intakes to the lower fuselage moulding BEFORE glueing the upper and lower fuselage halves together - at least that way would make it easier to clamp and glue (and probably eliminate the 'bowing') The whole fuselage assembly is very flexible and feels unusually delicate. Ho-hum..... Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted August 12, 2017 Author Share Posted August 12, 2017 Some more..... Cockpit coaming, wing fences, flaperons and rudders added - although they are separate parts, the rudders and flaperons are not 'posable' - unless the mounting tabs are modified. Underside view showing the small amounts of filler needed - note the straight-edged fillet added to the LERX on production Su-34's. Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
su27rules Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Great work so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted August 17, 2017 Author Share Posted August 17, 2017 The latest production Su-34 has a very visible set of blinds that roll up and down inside the side windows - with a semi-circular blind that folds up from the top of the instrument panel.... Trumpeter make no provision for this prominent feature - so, to be really accurate, they need to be added. I'm using hoops cut from plastic card fitted inside the clear canopy ......... Once they are painted I'll add the blinds - made from thin white plastic card. I did the same on my Italeri Su-34 update....... Also missed by Trumpeter are the fillets between the leading edge wing tip and ECM pods when they are fitted......... Small additions - but they are there if you know where to look. Ken 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 I've just resurrected this one - from a few months ago........... Canopy fitted and masked with Tamiya tape. Why can't Trumpeter provide self-adhesive masks like Modelsvit ?? Final primer coat - now ready for painting. Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 Meanwhile.... back at the Su-34 ..... it has now emerged from the paint shop.... I used the AKAN Su-34 set - and I am pleased with the resluts. There are a few areas in need of a touch-up - and I broke off the port upper wing fence..... Underside view. Next up is the decals, undercarriage and weapons. Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
128fiddler Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Any updates? Looking good so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 Very nice work so far! Håkan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 Sorry guys - I should have done a link to the finished model....... Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 Have to take a look there then! Håkan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now