BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Dean, by default you're gonna be my go-to guy for Flanker questions , so hope you don't mind. :-)

In any event, the Eduard instructions indicate that the colors for interior surfaces (ie, insides of wheel wells and such) should be interior green. My instincts tell me this probably isn't correct (at least for Ukrainian Flankers) and that aircraft gray is probably the right color (based on the glimpses I've seen online).

Any idea?

Thanks so much!

PB

The Iranian F-14A like USN F-14A had the AN/AWG-9 radar system not the AN/APG-71 which was only on the F-14D. The AN/AWG-9 was already showing its age in 1982. Also the development of the Flanker started in 1968, and the prototypes were already flying before the Iranian revolution.

Oh, yeah, that's a real light gray in that pic. Well, as always, nailing down "accurate" colors for a Russian AC is like trying to grab a watermelon seed. :-)

Just as an FYI, the color I used for the cockpit was AKAN 73069, which is described as "Flanker Gray-Blue (faded) cockpit interior: Su-27/30/32/33/34/35/37/39"

www.lindenhillimports.com/akanrussia+ussr.htm

Anyway, sounds like you're lucky enough to at least have been in the general area of where an Su-27 SHOULD have been, which is much closer than I've ever been here in the States. :-)

PB

Ah right, I see well fair enough, I have seen this as well, I believe on the Russian SU-27 it was a light grey, so perhaps it was both. I know the new Venezuelan SU-30 has the pale blue whereas the Russian SU-30 is grey. I think perhaps it could be the same for the SU-27. I have found this photo, I can assume that Eduard being from the Czech Republic will have easier access to basically get on a train and go and see one of these from Ukraine. Almost everywhere I have been in Eastern Europe, which is from the Baltic to Adriatic, including 2 places in Ukraine I have seen aviation museums, but curiously the Su-27 has never been seen lying around yet lol, I guess they're worth too much money to leave on a field yet! Have a look at this PB.

Here's another good example on the canopy framing of a two-seater. Again, looks like the same blue-gray I used:

As always, color perception is highly subjective, so I could be wrong.  (probably).

PB

Thanks, Dean!

Just to clarify, the problem is that Eduard's pre-painted photoetch instrument panel, which is a very light gray, doesn't match what should be the correct interior color for an Ukrainian Su-27, which is the blue-gray (as you show in your pics) I used for the cockpit tub.

In my mind, at least, the blue-gray I used for the cockpit tub very closely matches the color of the instrument panel in your second photo. Unfortunately, the color of Eduard's pre-painted panel is different (ie, light gray).

So when I stated I could 'live with it," I meant the fact that Eduard's pre-painted instrument panel is the wrong color for the Ukrainian variant I'm building, and so doesn't match the cockpit tub. Re-painting the IP would be impossible, so I have to suck it up. Ah, well!

That look's great for the cockpit, but I wanna say that the blue on the interior is really pale, I don't wanna rain on your parade man, but the blue you have is closer to the soviet Mig-21 colours.

It is very close to grey, the blue is like the grey on your photo etch. I am not nit picking, it's just when you said you can live with it, I assumed you were not satisfied, either way I am looking forward to your build.

Even if it ain't true, doesn't matter….would still be a cool build! :-)

OK, have officially started my Flanker….! Here are the mis-matched cockpit and IP colors:

Eh, I can live with it.

PB

I just wanna say one more thing here, due to the fact that I have literally unearthed this, I have no idea what if any of it is true, I want to believe it is, but the information is scarce, however many people think it was not true, however when you see how many Soviet aircraft the States acquired, I find it plausible that the opposite may have happened. I have also heard of the Soviets taking a downed F-4 during Vietnam and having it repaired etc but not airworthy in the end, however I have only heard of this, either way it gives a few what if models, under way in my mental processes!  

An Iranian F-14 being used by the Soviet Union? Yeah I'm gonna build one! I believe there was an extensively detailed evaluation of the F-14 Tomcat published in 1984 by the Soviet Union, all about every aspect of the flight characteristics of the plane, I have seen the F-14 do the cobra maneuver, I have no idea whether it was before or after the SU-27 was constructed, however it was in the US where it was performed that I have seen but the Tomcat could not exceed 90 degrees, unlike the SU-27 which exceeded 120 degrees. I think it's only appropriate to assume that the Soviets found this out before they made the SU-27 as they apparently tested virtually everything on the Tomcat, making extensive use of the AN/APG71 radar. It would be interesting to see what else they got hold of from the west as the Tomcat is a revelation for me. I wonder how long they had it, and where it was used.

Wow, I didn't know that about the Iranian F-14s either….now THAT would be a cool scheme for a Tomcat. Gonna do it?

Thanks for the additional info on the cockpit color, I'm definitely going with blue.

I have heard that some of the instruments are grey in Eduards sets, but like I said, the  SU-27's have been for as far as I have ever seen blue on the interior. The only Soviet Jet I had ever seen with a grey interior was the Mig29. Also I have seen this for the first time ever, the soviets were allowed to borrow Iranian F-14A Tomcats for a period of time, something I never knew, I guess they wanted to used all the American systems which helped develop the SU-27 RADAR I believe. 

APA Flanker.html

Here is a master list (compiled from several sources)

Lavochkin

La-15 Fantail (early jet fighter)

Mikoyan-Gurevich

Mig-9 Fargo (jet fighter late 1940s)

Mig-15 Fagot

Mig-17 Fresco

Mig-19 Farmer

Mig-21 Fishbed

Mig-23 Flogger

MIG-25 Foxbat

Mig-27 Flogger

Mig-29 Fulcrum

Mig-31 Foxhound

Mig-35 Fulcrum-F

Sukhoi

Su-7 Fitter (a plane like the A-7 and Blackburn Buccaneer)

Su-9/11 Fishpot (pure interceptor) looks vaguely like Mig-21

Su-15 Flagon (pure interceptor)

Su-24 Fencer (about as much a fighter as the F-111)

Su-25 Frogfoot

Su-27/30/33 Flanker

Su-32/34 Fullback (another F-111 type)

Tupelov

Tu-128 Fiddler (Puts the long in long range interceptor, shooting down bombers.)

Yakolev

Yak-23 Flora, Early jet fighter

Yak-25 Flashlight (Interceptor)

Yak-28P Firebar

Yak-38 Forger (VTOL)

Thanks, Dean! I saw a similar photo of a Ukrainian Su-27 and noticed the canopy frame was also blue. So I guess the AKAN blue it is. The only wrinkle is that the Eduard photoetch instrument panel is painted a very light gray, but not a huge deal I guess.

Light blue, if you can zoom on this you will see the canopy frame is the blue.

I think it depends upon the countries, some have a light grey interior, and others have the anti stressing shade of blue, I think from any SU-27 photos I have seen they used pale blue, but the newer SU-30's seem to have grey. I think with either you could be correct, I have seen a Ukrainian Flanker with White wheels before, so I would say there are a few variations out there that are rare, I would say the SU-27 would in all probability have the pale blue colours on the interior.

OK, guys, first day of vacation, made a run to my LHS, and think I've acquired all the aftermarket bits you can possibly get for the Eduard Su-27. So….time to dive into this beast. :-)

But first, of course I need the help of any resident Flanker experten. :-)

I'm doing this popular Ukrainian variant:

Eduard's instructions indicate that the cockpit should be Aircraft Gray (light gray). However, I also ordered some AKAN acrylics that include a cockpit color for Su-27s that is more of a blue-gray. 

Which is correct? I don't always trust Eduard's color call-outs, so want to make sure I get it right.

Thanks! And hope everyone is doing well.

PB

MiG group build: Sukhoi ok. what about Yakolev, Tupolov,

Tupolev: Tu-128 -- Biggest interceptor (started as a bomber)

Yakolev Yak-28P -- Interceptor (started as a light bomber)

I'd like to finish it, heck I'd like to start it for as much as I've done to the kit.

One of these days... one of these days.

Lol, Dre when you look at the Mig 29 it has some really nice lines going on, you just have to build it to appreciate it, the SU-27 almost looks cumbersome by comparison.

Aha! Sounds like most of my furniture.....

The MiG-29 is collecting dust- it has a nice winter coat and it would be a shame to dislodge that beautiful pelt...

Lol, Dre I can't be drinking all the time I'm doing my PT course, but I had some more of the Mirage done and as soon as my computer is fixed I will get pictures of the Mirage up and start the Mig-21, I want to get some resin for it though so it may take a month or two so I can get all the Decals and a couple of Eduard photo etch parts, I'm not gonna bother adding anymore detail to the Mirage I have done the cockpit and I will use kit only parts and have it done with. The Mig may be starting a few months from now, but I wouldn't mind seeing Dre's Mig-29M or the Sukhoi PB is building. As for me it will be a while yet.

LOL. Truth.

Sounds good, Dean! Would love to see the Mig-21. I have a couple of the Eduard kits.

Pints, mate.  Pints.

What better motivation do ye need?

Lol, porkbits I will, when I'm done with the Mirage I'll get stuck into the Mig-21 and post it here. I have been snowed under with work lately and the laptop has gone up the left but I will get on it asap when I'm finished with the Mirage 2000, which by the way I'm sort of stuck in a lull I want to build it, but when I do get time I sort of have no motivation. Gotta get my *** in gear.

Great GBs never really go away...

Do eeeeeeeet.

I need motivation during builds, especially if, erm, sorry, WHEN something goes wrong, so I need this GB. :-)

I can't believe this GB is still going on! When finished with the Mirage I may well build the Mig-21 and post it here.

Porkbits

Aha, Vance, so you can relate to my plight. :-) Dept of One = some modicum of job security, but like you wrote, the work never stops. :-)

Ain't it great?!?!?