Myasishchev M-17 Stratosfera - 'Mystic-A' - 1/72 scale kit from Modelsvit

[Flankerman]

The latest from Ukrianian manufacturer Modelsvit - a 1/72 scale model of the Myasishchev M-17 Stratosfera - dubbed 'Mystic-A' by NATO.

Designed as an interceptor of high-flying drifting balloons launched by the west on the prevaling winds over the Soviet Union, it was originally to be armed with an upper gun turret.

Modelsvit's box art depicts the second record-breaking protype M-17 at altitude....



Each new kit from Modelsvit is an improvement on the previous - and this new kit is no exception, with superbly moulded parts in grey plastic with fine engraved detail without any hint of flash.



The long span wings feature the correct laiminar-flow reflex section on the lower surfaces....



The upper wings and tailplane...



.... the upper centre section and fully lined intakes....



Tailboom and fins.....



Cockpit and engine parts.....



A pilot access ladder, a 22-part K-36 ejection seat and the undercarriage.....



The clear canopy is provided with two options - open or closed - and a set of self-adhesive masks are included....



Ken

[Flankerman]

More.....

The 22-page instruction booklet is very clear and easy to follow....



The painting instructions and decal placement guide - with the colours matched to Humbrol paints...



The comprehensive decals shhet is well printed and in register and offers two options - CCCP-17103 now on display at Monino and the second record-breaking prototype CCCP-17401 (also at Monino, but in bits)....



This very welcome release from Modelsvit is quite large - with a 560mm (22in) wingspan - and is one of those 'drop everything and make it' that occasionally appear - I can't wait to get started.

Ken

PS - I wonder if Modelsvit can be persuaded to make its bigger brother - the twin-engined M-55 'Geophysica' Earth-resources high-altitude platform still in use on missions around the world.

[Apex]

Yes, the kit looks pretty good. Still waiting for mine to arrive. Meanwhile, I will be closely following your build.

PS. I don't think Modelsvit needs to be persuaded, they release new kits faster than I can build them...

[Parabat]

Looks like a cracking kit, can't wait to see you work your magic on it. Nice to see a lesser known aircraft get such a good effort.

[Flankerman]

A little progress.....

Before any construction work is done, two opening have to be cut in the upper fuselage if you are making the second, record-breaking variant.

One in the nose for what looks like an internal camera (or star tracker?) - the window of which is included in the kit.

The other opening, is near the wing leading edge, for what looks like a radiator panel......



For both variants, another opening is cut in the lower fuselage - for a replacement panel with a bulged antenna....



The K-36 ejection seat is made up from 23 parts - some of which are very tiny for my old eyes - (check out the firing handle, top row, second one in!)



Once assembled the finished seat is exquisitely detailed and could not be bettered... (it is unpainted and minus its microscopic firing handle in this photo)



The cockpit tub is constructed from a floor, front and rear bulkheads and two side panels. A top deck, rudder pedals, a control column and an instrument binnacle completes the cockpit.



Decals are provided for the front panel, the side consoles and the cockpit sidewalls....



Ken

[Killingholme]

Wow- that seat looks as good as resin one's I've seen. And the cockpit decals look very convincing too. Hope this translates to the rest of the build. No idea why, but I really want one of these!

[Radleigh]

Brilliant. I have the Anigrand kit, but will get this as it's far superior, plus the more Modelsvit sell, the more they make!

Watching this Ken

[Flankerman]

Some progress.....

The bifurcated intakes are assembled from two inner and outer halves that then attach to a compressor face - with inlet guide vanes......



The completed intakes are then fitted inside the left fuselage half - and there's a lot to cram into the fuselage before the halves can be joined.



From left to right :- engine exhaust assembly,engine comressor and bifurcated intake assembly, outer intake duct (marked with the letter L), nosewheel well assembly, assembled cockpit and camera/star tracker. Plus the 14g weight recommended in the instructions.

Bottom view of the fuselage......



.... and from the top...



Time to attach the starboard fuselge half......

Ken

[Flankerman]

Whilst the fuselage is setting, I started on the wings.....

The wing centre section has a 'hatch' - I don't know why it's a separate part?
I have made a 'ledge' from white plastic card for it to sit on when it is fitted in place.



Modelsvit ask you to make two ribs for the wing roots (presumably to aid stiffness(?) and provide templates.
I've just added blocks of square section plastic card - which is easier and does the same job.
The top hatch is now glued in place onto its plastic card ledge.........



The wing components cleaned up ready to assemble....



Ken

[zebra]

Looks like a nice kit. Tempted to get one, although I might wait and see if they do the M-55 - would like to do the one I saw at Farnborough in (I think) 92. 24 years ago - makes me feel old...

[Marv]

Great job with the descriptions and build...looks like another nice Modelsvit kit. I have built the company's Be-12 ans Tu-22KD, both build up into very nice models, once construction is done. My observations about Modelsvit kits are that they can be a bit fiddly, but, when care is taken, the kits build up nicely. I especially like the vinyl canopy masks that are included; bithe the Be-12 and the Tu-22KD have many small windows that would have been difficult to mask, without the vinyl masks. I may have pickup this Myasishchev kit. Thanks for the review/build.

[Learstang]

Nice work on the Stratosfera, Ken! I think Modelsvit are becoming my favourite manufacturer. Now if I could get them to do a Tu-80...

Regards,

Jason

[Flankerman]

More.....

The intakes are made up from an inner and outer section - with a separate 'lip' - which is a great aid when painting the demarcation line just inside the intake - another thoughtful bit of engineering from Modelsvit.



With the upper wing centre section fitted - note the 'radiator' fitted to the wing root/fuselage top on this version.

It now looks like something out of Star Wars - or Batman!!



Underside view showing the separate bulged hatch in the lower fuselage - and my added white plastic wing root 'stiffeners'....



Ken

[Col.]

Always a pleasure to see your latest project Ken and this one is no exception. Comes across as a worthwhile model that only needs a little care and attention to reveal its best from you comments.

[Flankerman]

I encountered a slight problem - when I came to attach the lower wing panels, they would not fit properly at the roots.

The cause was the rear end of the fuselage - it was not 'pinched in' enough at the top - placing part E11 (which comes later in the construction sequence) against the rear end showed a mis-match in shape.

I had to remove the upper wing centre section and glue the rear end of the fuselage more closely around the jetpipe - using part E11 as a template........



It was entirely my fault - and it's an easy enough fix - I would recommend ignoring the instructions and attach part E11 to the rear fuselage BEFORE fitting the upper wing centre section......



The centre section is now re-attached - as are the lower outer wing panels......





Ken

[Flankerman]

The upper outer wings are added - I placed a piece of square section plastic to act as a spacer for rigidity...



The wing root intakes are separate and needed a bit of 'fettling' to get right into the 'corner' of the wing/fuselage junction.

The wheel well sponsons also needed some love and care to eliminate the joins....



Don't make the mistake that I did of trying the get the rear end of the intakes to form a trailing edge fillet with the upper wing root - they are actually open vents......



.... as my photos of the real thing clearly shows!!!





I'm now ready to attach the booms - but this is the weakest area of the kit - they are just butt-joined to the wings !

The only concession to fitting them is a small lug on one boom - with a corresponding recess on the wing - to make sure you get them the right way round.

They clealy need some kind of strengthening at the joints.



Ken

[TonyTiger91]

I've just caught up with this build Ken, a very pleasurable read

I love record breakers and unique vehicles, air and ground. Trying to get a GB off the ground for such types and here is a subject that would be ideal. Modelsvit really are a cool company aren't they?

This is a beauty.

Very nicely described and photographed progress,, many thanks, this is going to be stunning!

Best regards

Tony

[Flankerman]

Thanks Tony..

A bit more progress.........

I used short lengths of plastic tubing to strengthen the joints on the tailbooms.......



The model was inverted and taped down to hold it steady, the horizontal stabiliser was taped onto a flat surface and the tailbooms were glued in place onto the wings and tailplane - ensuring that everything was straight and true....

The joints are not too bad - only needing a small amount of filler.......

The model is almost ready for a wash in warm soapy water followed by a coat of grey primer - which will, no doubt, reveal the need for a bit more filling and sanding.....



Ken

[zebra]

Great work Ken. I love the look of the thing. Can feel my resolve to wait for an M-55 slipping away...

[Radleigh]

Lovely job Ken. Picked up some useful info too for my build.

[Flankerman]

Cockpit sealed and kit-supplied windscreen masks applied.....



..... followed by a white primer coat from a rattle can



Once the primer is dry and sanded smooth I'll finish the white areas with a mist coat of Halfords Appliance White to give a glossy smooth finish.

Ken

[Flankerman]

In case anyone is still following ...?

A bit more progress....... Mystic Mega Masking........



Ready for the pale grey - Halfords Ford Polar Grey from a rattle can (don't tell the colour police!!)

Ken

[Col.]

In case anyone is still following ...?

Diligently

Taking shape nicely Ken. How good a fit were the masks?

[Flankerman]

Thanks Col.

So far I've only used the windscreen mask - and that fits OK.

The camera/tracker window is a bit of a mish-mash - because I had to use filler to blend in the clear window with the surrounding nose - its size is slightly smaller than the mask - so I had to fettle it.

I'm hoping it will be Ok when 'unmasked'.

I'm having the canopy open - so I'll paint and fit the superb K-36 ejection seat and use the main canopy masks later.

Ken

[Radleigh]

In case anyone is still following ...?

Very much so, just been to busy at the moment... Nice progress, no doubt we'll see this at SMW, any more done on the Be-10?