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Su-27IB - Converting the Italeri Su-34 in 1/72 scale


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As I am building the latest iteration of the Sukhoi Su-34 - I thought I'd have a go at the earliest version - the T-10V1 Su-27IB.

 

I originally thought of just grafting the original Su-27 tailboom onto the Italeri Su-34 kit - but the biggest problem I faced was filling in the mainwheel wells - they are huge on the Su-34 and cut into the intake sides - the whole area is totally different between the Su-27IB and production Su-34.

 

So I have adopted the method that Sukhoi used - grafting the new side-by-side cockpit section front fuselage onto the rear of a tandem two-seat Su-27UB trainer......

 

Here's what I mean - the Italeri Su-34 is on the left, the Heller Su-27UB on the right - the blue tape shows where I am making the cuts....

 

su-27ib_001.jpg

 

Underside view showing the major difference in the main landing gear wells.....

 

su-27ib_002.jpg

 

The Italeri Su-34 front end grafted onto the Heller Su-27UB rear end - note the discrepancy in the shape of the spines - fixable with generous applications of Milliput (I hope):pray:

 

su-27ib_003.jpg

 

Undersides .......

 

su-27ib_004.jpg

 

Now all I have to do is graft the Italeri wings onto the Heller fuselage (the Italeri wings are better), fix the intakes (the scallop for the well on the Heller intake is now correct for the Su-27IB - but the intake lower edges are too 'square' and lack the slot in the bottom).......

 

More later..

 

Ken

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Awesome! I have been planning Su-27IB for a while as well, but I was not quite sure how to deal with the main gear wells. I was planning to replace the intakes with spare Airfix Su-27 intakes but that is just the beginning of the solution. I also have an Airfix tail left over from P-42 conversion but it feels like a massive cut and putty job.

 

Will be following your build with great interest.

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  • 2 weeks later...

A little progress........

 

After looking at many of the available photos, it appears that the 'scalloped' cutout in the intake sides for the main wheels is different on the Su-27IB - it is more angular - with a corresponding rectangular flat plate added to the door.

 

(I did read in one source that the Su-27IB has a 'longer' main undercarriage leg - but cannot find any proof - maybe the altered cutout is to accomodate this??)

 

I've tried to reproduce the cutout by filing the bottom edge of the semi-circle to a more flat bottomed shape......the alteration is shown in the middle of the photo....

 

su-27ib_005.jpg

 

I've also scribed in the two auxiliary intake doors on the inner face of the intake wall - as fitted to the Su-27IB/Su-34.

 

The Italeri wings are attached - I needed to reduce the size of the underwing stubs on the Heller part to fit into the recess in the Italeri wings.

 

I also neede to reduce the height of the Heller mainwheel walls to get the Italeri wing to sit flush on top.... a bit of 'fettling'

 

su-27ib_006.jpg

 

A smear of Milliput should soon sort things out...... :whistle:

 

su-27ib_007.jpg

 

Underside view showing the cut-down Heller wing stubs.

 

The Su-27IB/Su-34 intakes also have a more rounded bottom surface - with a fixed slot rather than the spring-loaded louvres of the Su-27UB.

 

I'm trying to fake the rounded shape with filler - but it's still a work in progress......

 

su-27ib_008.jpg

 

More later...

 

Ken

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More....

 

The port intake is fitted......

 

su-27ib_009.jpg

 

Milliput and White stuff used on the spine and upper joints.....

 

su-27ib_010.jpg

 

..... and the undersides....

 

su-27ib_011.jpg

 

After a long session of sanding - the top looks like this....

 

su-27ib_012.jpg

 

... and the underside...

 

su-27ib_013.jpg

 

A first primer coat reveals that more work is needed to hide the joins....

 

su-27ib_014.jpg

 

...... and the bottom of the intakes are too flat...

 

su-27ib_015.jpg

 

More filling and sanding need...:bandhead2:

 

Ken

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I wonder if it would be easier to replace the intake bottoms by cutting the Italeri intakes. Guess I'll learn if I ever start my conversion.

 

https://www.scribd.com/document/286617589/Sukhoi-Su-34 mentions that Su-33 main landing gear may have been used, but I don't see any evidence of that. I can't really tell from any of the Su-27IB pictures I have seen.

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10 hours ago, Apex said:

I wonder if it would be easier to replace the intake bottoms by cutting the Italeri intakes. Guess I'll learn if I ever start my conversion.

I thought about doing that - but the Italeri intakes are wider - by about 1.5mm - and they aren't as long.

 

I'll see how it goes once I have sanded down the filler I have applied to try to make the flats on the bottom of the Heller intakes more rounded.

 

Using the maingear from a Su-33 makes sense - it was beefed up to cater for no-flare carrier landings, so the legs are thicker - but visually in 1/72 scale it is difficult to see any difference.

 

What is different is the scalloped cutout in the outside wall of the intake - it is definitely more rectangular than the rounded 'normal' Flanker'/Su-27UB cutout.

 

I tried to square the cutout by sanding - but it needs to be more prominent.

 

Only trouble is, most of the main wheel bay photos are in shadow - I only found one decent pic so far.

 

Ken

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Looking great Ken and will be done before you know it. I can't wait to see it finished. Without stealing your thunder, I am going to have to have a go at this conversion, this and the Su-33UB are two aircraft I've always wanted to build & thanks to Trumpeter the 33UB can be done a lot easier! :)

 

Did you finish your Su-33UB btw?? Keep up the good work! :) See you at Avon..?

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On 05/08/2017 at 10:13 AM, Radleigh said:

Did you finish your Su-33UB btw?? Keep up the good work! :) See you at Avon..?

The Su-33UB is stallled - 'cos I don't like the colours I used - I need to get back to it and re-spray.

 

Yes - see you next Sunday at Avon.....

 

Meanwhile.........Milliput was applied to the bottom of the intakes to make them more rounded......

 

su-27ib_016.jpg

 

.... and after lots of sanding, they now look like this.....

 

su-27ib_017.jpg

 

Not 100% - but I'm calling them done.

 

Ken

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A bit of progress....

 

Su-27IB (left) compared to the Trumpeter production Su-34 - note the prominent straight-edged addition to the LERX on the Su-34.....

 

su-27ib_018.jpg

 

Nose shape compared to modified Trumpeter Su-34 nose....

 

su-27ib_019.jpg

 

Tailboom comparison - Su-27IB left.

 

su-27ib_020.jpg

 

Top view - Su-27IB left......

 

su-27ib_021.jpg

 

Underside view - the Su-27IB intakes are a tad narrow - having been taken from the Heller Su-27UB kit....

 

su-27ib_022.jpg

 

Fins compared - the Su-27IB fin (left) is taller - having been derived from the two-seat Su-27UB trainer.
The production Su-34 reverted to using the single-seat Su-27 style fin. Note that the Italeri Su-34 kit has the wrong style fins for a production Su-34!

 

su-27ib_023.jpg

 

Note the neat way that Trumpeter have cleverly avoided the nasty join on the Heller (and others) kits - it still needs rubbing down on my model.

 

Ken

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  • 5 months later...

Resurrected from the shelf of doom........

 

su-27ib_024.jpg

 

White areas sprayed and masked - along with the canopy. Note the panel lines on the radome filled in - the Su-27IB had a dummy metal radome.

 

su-27ib_025.jpg

 

Final primer coat prior to painting.

 

su-27ib_026.jpg

 

Comparison pic - prototype Su-27IB at left, latest production Su-34 (Trumpeter kit) at right.

 

su-27ib_027.jpg

 

Spot the difference(s)........

 

Ken

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Ken, that's looking really good! I have this also on the shelf of doom... might have to drop you a PM to pick your brains on the details! One thing I do notice though, no ribs on the middle at the top and just aft of the leading edge (behind the canards)? Of are they still to be added? 

 

Su-27IB_(12467433544).jpg

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11 hours ago, Radleigh said:

no ribs on the middle at the top and just aft of the leading edge

Radleigh,

 

That is a photo of the Su-27IB later in its test flying career.

 

The 'radome' has been painted white and the windscreen frame black - with an anti-glare panel added.

 

I think those 'ribs' are actually chaff-flare dispensers.

 

I'm doing mine as it first flew - or maybe loaded up with ordnance as displayed at Machoolishchi.

 

Ken

 

PS - Just noticed that it also has the straight-edged fillet added to the chine - as on the production Su-34

Edited by Flankerman
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Radders,

 

I found a couple of Aires resin cans that fit - as long as you don't look too closely!!!

 

su-27ib_030.jpg

 

The biggest problem I've had is finding the correct style and colour for 'Blue 42' - despite having a large stash of decals, it took ages to find a match.

 

I got there in the end though - and all it needs now is the undercarriage and loads of weapons.

 

su-27ib_031.jpg

 

I'm doing it as it appeared at Machoolishchi. - festooned with armament for a display to CIS Ministers.

 

Ken

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That is absolutely stunning Ken, a great job. Makes me want to get mine done but I feel I really ball'sd mine up and starting over again might be the best option.... but that makes me want to leave it even longer. 

 

 

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  • 4 months later...

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