zebra Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Finished just before I go back to work tomorrow - Christmas break well spent I think. This is the Modelsvit 1/72 Beriev Be-12, finished as a firebomber using decals from Begemot. I've been fascinated by the Be-12 ever since I first saw photos of it. I remember contemplating a Revell boxing of the VEB Be-6 in the model shop on Deansgate in Manchester, must be more than 20 years ago now, and wondering whether it could be converted to a Be-12 - clearly not, they're completely different aircraft, good thing I left it on the shelf. I love the unique, distinctive shape, although I wouldn't call it beautiful. It's proportions look all wrong - the wing seems to be in the wrong place, there's way too much fuselage in front of it. But then they must have done something right as it's given 50-ish years of service now (although there aren't many left). I love this kit - by no means shake and bake, it's short run and shows it - for example there are no locating pins and the fuselage is in four pieces (six if you count the nose glazing) - but it goes together well if treated with care. Definitely a case of slow and steady wins the race. Surface detail is very nice and I managed not to obliterate much of it! I was impressed with the undercarriage - it's a complex structure but goes together well and is pretty sturdy. The only bits that gave me any trouble were the clear parts, which weren't the best fit ever but also not the worst. I'd definitely build another. The Begemot set includes 20 or so options, most of them very similar grey maritime patrol aircraft but with two different firebombers - this one and one with yellow panels and blue trim. I was tempted by the Egyptian option, but in the end couldn't resist this firebomber. The set included masks for the red panels on the fuselage - which was nice, but the masks for the top of the fuselage weren't flexible enough to follow the complex curves around the wing roots or around the observer's blister window, and the decals for the white trim weren't the same length as the masks - fortunately they were longer so they could be trimmed back. The decals performed well but were challenging in a couple of places - particularly around the observer's blister, where I had to fix it up with some xtradecal white stripe (which was more opaque than the Begemot white stripes, so doesn't look great close up). I'm not normally much into weathering but had to do some this time - photos of Be-12s, particularly this one, without filthy tail fins are pretty rare, so couldn't not add the exhaust stains to the tail fins. Back when I used to work on combustor aerodynamics for a living I'd have been pretty horrified at this - that much soot shows they clearly didn't manage the temperature inside the can very well, but since the engine is a 60 year old design I'll cut them some slack! On to the photos: 68 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianm2 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Absolutely well spent... Brilliant work mate. Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Fantastic !!! I must say that the Beriev aircraft all have a very particular look! Some people say they are ugly, I find them really cool. You captured this look perfectly. Congratulations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Great result of an interesting and unusual aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheezburger Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Very nice build. Looks like a flying proboscis monkey. I'll have to try out a Modelsvit kit at some point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Very nice, mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vh-bob Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Lovely job with the BE-12. I too waited years for someone to produce one and thoroughly enjoyed the build. I still have the Trumpeter BE-6 and A- Model BE-10 to go so I don't think that I am finished with Comrade Beriev yet. Well Done, Trev. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelican Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Beautiful! The look of that twin-engine aircraft is terrific, it is not often seen.Your model looks fantastic, well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RODH2 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Beautiful, I have actually been to Monino and had a close up look at this monster! Did the cut -out Canopy and Nose masking supplied work out well for you, or did you use conventional methods? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daneel Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Wonderful model, you can be very proud love the Beriev, it is one of my favorite aircraft... still waiting for a reasonable priced Be-40 Mermaid and Be-200 Altair 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) Superb build and beautifully finished, love the soot stains on the lower rudders. Like you I was captivated by the 'Mail' from a young age, ever since seeing grainy b&w images of it in Defence Recognition Journals. Will tackle this one one day. Edited January 8, 2017 by 71chally 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Beautifully finished model of a type not seen too often. Thanks for posting Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildeSau75 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 What a great - ah special - looking aircraft. Anyway, great to see it done so well. Cheers, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Awesome build and something you don t see every day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 great looking model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Love the look of the BE-12, you have done a great job, if only I had the time to start mine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Great looking Chaika. Always like the look of these beauties. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Awesome, looks superb, great job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 That's beautiful work on a very ... "distinctive looking" aircraft. Well done!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinSK Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Great subject & very nice and clean build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Terrific finish for a very attractive aircraft. The soot is well done. Great job Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyinoz Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 outstanding! I like it alot, I have one ready to make into a firefighter cheers wal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Hothersall Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Very nice build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Cracking build, looks great, very distinctive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Magnificent! DennisTheBear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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