Far East (Sea) Flanker - Trumpeter J-15

[Luke1199]

Hi all, came across a Trumpeter J-15 on Amazon earlier with next day delivery so looks like another Flanker for this GB, this time a navalised one! 

 

 

If my memory serves me right, an unfinished Su-33 prototype was purchased from Ukraine and reverse engineered by the Chinese in order to develop the J-15, with this variant being deployed on the Shandong and Liaoning.

 

I have built a J-11B in a nearly identical scheme early in my modelling days, a PLANAF Flanker operated out of Hainan.

 

 

I'm hoping someone will tool the new J-15T variant soon, in my opinion the best looking Flanker variant of them all. Thanks for looking in!

 

[modelling minion]

A very welcome addition to the GB Luke, always room for another member of the Flanker family and based on your previous build it will be a corker. 

Looking forward to this. 

[81-er]

Another fine choice there, Luke

 

James

[Luke1199]

Some progress on the J-15! Cockpit and fuselage together now, it's still a decent size despite being 72nd scale. No complaints though, aside from some flash it's went together nicely.

 

 

Also partly assembled the wings, I'll be building this with it's wings folded. It'll be interesting to see the difference in size with the Su-35 (and save some shelf space).

 

 

Thanks for looking in!

[modelling minion]

Thats really good progress Luke, she's taking shape very nicely. It will be interesting to see her with folded wings as opposed to how we normally see members of the Su-27 family.

[Luke1199]

Late night session tonight just doing a little more work on this kit. Wing mechanism all fitted now along with the nose and canards!

 

Planning on keeping the vertical & horizontal stabilisers off until after I've painted it as I remember masking the exposed metal at the rear was an absolute pain on my J-11 with them in the way. The fit is good enough so no filler required on those parts.

 

 

Little bit of filler needed around the nose and intakes but it's coming along nicely! Thanks for looking in!

[81-er]

That's really looking the part now, Luke  I think you're making a wise decision leaving those bits off until after paint

 

James

[modelling minion]

Very nice progress Luke, she is taking shape very nicely indeed. Definitely the right thing to do in leaving off tailplanes until after painting. 

[Luke1199]

Hi all, long time no see- not been at the bench a lot recently but I've been building my Magic Factory A-4M and it's seriously helping my mojo return. 

 

Dusted off this kit and got it all primed ready for some preshading and paintwork!

 

Thanks for looking in!

[modelling minion]

Good to see your build moving forward Luke and looking good too.

[81-er]

That's a nice smooth coat of primer, Luke

 

James

[Luke1199]

Good day at the bench today, preshaded and sprayed the gray down. 

 

Underside needs another coat then I'll take a crack at the Flanker's distinctive engines. Here's how she looks all folded up nicely.

 

Thanks for looking in!

[81-er]

Very nice, Luke!

 

James

[modelling minion]

Thats excellent Luke, really nice work 👏. 

[Luke1199]

Time to tackle the distinctive engines of the Flanker, I used Vallejo Metal Color for this section. I'll throw a wash over this area later in the build to add a little grease and grime.

 

Just a few small jobs left before I gloss it, the metal plating around the cannon and the wing mechanism needs painting but it'll soon be ready for decals.

 

Thanks for looking in!

[81-er]

Very nice, Luke! I really like the exhausts, you've really captured the look of the burnt & heat-cycled metal well

 

James

[modelling minion]

That looks superb Luke, especially the engines, very nice effect.