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1/72 Su-27 SM Flanker, Zvezda


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Greetings,

 

I have recently completed another jet long in the making. It is a Su-27 SM Flanker by Zvezda, finished in one of the marking options provided by the kit. Now, I understand we currently have a very difficult situation and conflict ongoing in regards to Russia, so if anyone finds this post offensive I will remove it. This is in no way intended to show any sort of support for what Russia is doing, I started the kit several months ago and obviously had no idea of what is to come. 

 

I used a dedicated Master pitot tube, pieces from several PE sets (Microdisign, Eduard and Metallic Details), ResKit nozzles. I also had a set of Aires resin wheels available, but to my surprise, the original kits parts were more detailed, haha.

The kit itself is very accurate shape wise, but wheel bay detail in particular is rather poor. Also, several small antenae and aerials, etc. were missing, so I scratchbuilt those, along with some wiring, brake lines and plumbing in the wheel bays to make them look more busy - I used reference pictures as a guide. Furthermore, panel line detail is very shallow, so I had to deepen it everywhere. Dropped control surfaces on the wings and made actuators for the flap-drop mechanism, as these "struts" are rather prominent on pictures.

In the cockpit, I added some wiring, de-fogging mechanisms and small hinges that lock the canopy in place. Also added a detonation cord? (a small "line" that goes from the back of the seat to the canopy, whatever it is meant to be). Again,  these details are very visible on pictures and the kit (and all the PE upgrade sets!) lack them. Also had to replace the hydraulic arm that lifts the canopy with brass rod as I broke the kit piece. Sadly, there was an ugly scuff on the windshield in my kit, I polished that out best I could. Oh well...

I have to say, the PE detail sets are very inaccurate and some parts don't fit at all. Particularly, the Microdisign instrument panel, is very good looking, but way too large to fit the kit. And yes, it was a PE set specifically advertised for Zvezda. On the other hand, all colored cockpit PE parts from Eduard seem to have the wrong color that does not match standard Sukhoi interior color by MRP, Vallejo or other manufacturers. So I used a custom mix color that approximately matches Eduard and is not too far away from the intended color. The instruction sheets for PE also show placements for various PE grilles and vents on the bottom surface, these seem to be present on other Su-27 family variants, but not specifically on the Su-27 SM, so I didn't use them. I also saw no reason to replace the gun port area as it seemed detailed enough OOB for me.

Painting was done with Vallejo, AMMO Mig and AKAN acrylics using custom mixed colors mostly. AMMO Mig Sky line blue is particularly close to the lighter blue shade though. The darker blue is AKAN, but I don't remember the exact number, I apologize. The engine area was particularly difficult to paint as Flankers have a variety of metallic shades there. I used Tamiya Weather Master sets to imitate the bluish and copper-like burnt metal shades on the exhaust petals and the insides of nozzles. Hopefully my next attempt to plaint Flanker exhaust will be more accurate, there is still  a lot to learn there for me.

The decals provided in the kit are very good quality, strong and very thing, but the decal instructions provided for Red 04 are completely off. Stencil data placement seemed like completely fictional and stencil color seems to be wrong for this particular machine also. Revell also reboxed the same Zvezda kit and added their own decal sheet, but Revell decals are very thick and some seemed overscale to me. I used the fake canopy for the bottom nose area by Revell, as the Zvezda one was wrong shape. Needed plenty of decal solution to blend that one in. Many of the stencils and from left-over decals I had and just "look the part". Main decals (red stars, RF numbers, etc.) are really nice though.

Even though this is supposedly a showbird, I weathered it, as from photos it seemed like Russian jets are generally not kept very clean.

A nice touch within the boxing are chocks and ladder. There is pilot figures as well, but I couldn't be bothered to use them.

 

Some pictures below. Anyway, thanks for looking.


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That's a fantastic build. I agree that it is an awkward situation posting Russian models at the moment. I've just completed an SU-27 myself after working on it for a few months but didn't quite have the enthusiasm after the events of the last few weeks. But I'm sure we can all make that separation between the hobby and the real thing. 

I agree with you on the metal areas...i didn't realise how much there was to paint. And like you i chose the Tamiya blue weathering powders to try to replicate the burnt and discoloured areas. Yours has turned out rather well 👍

Edited by binbrook87
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Please stop with the nonsense!!! We are modelers not supersensitive soyboys! Our hobby is all about making and showing our models that are depicting aeroplanes or flying warmachines that have been participating or had participated in wars allover the world. 

By that twisted standard we should stop showing Axis, IAF and USAAF aircraft, not just Russian ones. 

 

This Su-27 looks lovely and always will because the original airplane is the same. 

 

Josip 

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A great looking Flanker build, well done.

 

Duncan B

 

p.s. I agree with the others that Zvezda, the model and you are are not guilty of any wrong doing and we have to be able to separate the hobby from reality (while not condoning the reality) or we'd be very restricted in what we build. If anyone is offended then they should scroll on by to a subject that they find less offensive, simple as that.

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Agree with the comments posted re the current situation. But having a long running penchant for Russian aircraft, I have lost a bit of enthusiasm for modelling. However, as my Su-24 is nearing completion, I have substituted the intended decals with a set of Ukrainian ones which makes me feel better. 

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21 hours ago, Josip said:

Please stop with the nonsense!!! We are modelers not supersensitive soyboys! Our hobby is all about making and showing our models that are depicting aeroplanes or flying warmachines that have been participating or had participated in wars allover the world. 

By that twisted standard we should stop showing Axis, IAF and USAAF aircraft, not just Russian ones. 

 

This Su-27 looks lovely and always will because the original airplane is the same. 

 

Josip 

X10000000000000000000000... I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!

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Very nice Flanker! I appreciate your sensitivity on the subject. I agree that one should separate the historical-political implications from the historical representation. Lovely plane; the ladder and chocks are a nice touch.

 

Jay

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11 hours ago, Murfie said:

Agree with the comments posted re the current situation. But having a long running penchant for Russian aircraft, I have lost a bit of enthusiasm for modelling

I too have become deflated in the Soviet/Russian aircraft department. I have just bought a second Mi-26 and I am going civilian with both, one will be in Aeroflot colours (or the Moscow Fire Brigade) and the other will be in China Flying Dragon.

6 minutes ago, Mountain goat said:

Lovely plane; the ladder and chocks are a nice touch

Agreed 👍 

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Thank you all, for the comments.

 

On 3/14/2022 at 12:54 AM, adrianm2 said:

Wow

What a Flanker mate.

The colours you used are perfect. It`d be great if you could share brand/number.

Cheers

 

Adrian

 

 

The lighter blue is Ammo MIG 224 - FS35250 Sky Line Blue

The darker blue is AKAN, but I'll be damned if I remember the code number... I have so many almost identical AKAN blue shades here that it is almost comical.😀

 

18 hours ago, Mountain goat said:

Very nice Flanker! I appreciate your sensitivity on the subject. I agree that one should separate the historical-political implications from the historical representation. Lovely plane; the ladder and chocks are a nice touch.

 

Jay

 

Thank you, I tried to prevent a political discussion in here, and also to not offend anyone.

On 3/13/2022 at 9:51 PM, binbrook87 said:

That's a fantastic build. I agree that it is an awkward situation posting Russian models at the moment. I've just completed an SU-27 myself after working on it for a few months but didn't quite have the enthusiasm after the events of the last few weeks. But I'm sure we can all make that separation between the hobby and the real thing. 

I agree with you on the metal areas...i didn't realise how much there was to paint. And like you i chose the Tamiya blue weathering powders to try to replicate the burnt and discoloured areas. Yours has turned out rather well 👍

 

Thank you, I love those Tamiya powder sets myself. And you can even lend them to your significant other when she is in dire need of make up products, haha.

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38 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said:

That's an eye-catching model. Great painting, especially the metal parts.

 

But please put the chocks in before it rolls away!

Now, now, careful with that. I intend to park some other model next to it and I'm worried this might happen:

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-su-27-mirgorod-pyramid-when-an-ukrainian-flanker-jumped-chocks-and-collided-with-two-other-su-27s-parked-at-mirgorod-air-base/

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  • 2 weeks later...

Fantastic Flanker and very well presented, guess you nailed the colors.

Well done and maybe a reminder for me that this kit sits here on the self of doom for a year or more.

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Great build. Appreciate your sensitivity on the post regarding the horrible situation in Ukraine. I have loads of Soviet/Russian models in the stash, they will be wearing Ukrainian markings now where I have that option!

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