BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Zero Enna

When I read "Big Russian jet" first I thought about was Tu-128 "Fiddler"

That's a great idea - you should build one!!!

Here's a few more images as they're in better light you can see how grubby the scheme is, it looks a lot more blue in the photographs than in real life.

I think my hands were shaking a little during some of these.

Well I have probably spent as much time on the cosmetic aspect of this model as I have building it, so far on and off this build has taken me since September so approximately 6 months! I do admit that days go past before I get a chance to do any more sometimes. However it is now the longest build I have done to date.

John- congratulations on the silver hardware!   That's a job well done.

Zero Inna- that Tupolev would be a great addition to the GB, just sayin'....

Dean- your attention to detail has paid off- that just looks better with each new photo.   

Thanks Dre, I will have more pictures more often as I have a camera again! But yeah there are areas I am not happy with but am at the stage where they should hopefully not be noticed.

Seconded! New photos reveal even better workmanship. Good stuff, Dean.

In case you guys are interested, Spencer Pollard just posted pics of his Great Wall Hobby MiG-29 over on that other modeling site. :-) Looks like a great kit. Maybe GWH will do an Su-34. Dare to dream....

Are we ever truly satisfied with a model?   I'm already considering another Su-25 because I think that I've finally figured out what i wanted to do with the first one...and how to make it better.

I never usually buy the same kit twice, in fact I doubt I ever have, I always get a different one, maybe the same aircraft but nearly always a different manufacturer or scale, usually I make soviet jets but I have made the usual, F-15 C+E, F-16, F-18, F-14, Tornado, Eurofighter, Harrier, UK and US versions, Phantom and all again a different scale or manufacturer. I don't think I have made the same kit twice. But yeah I look back and I am like could have done this or that should have done this etc but I a, glad because it shows constant progress. If I made a kit that I could not improve on with scratch building or painting or whatever I don't know how I would feel knowing I had hit a point where I knew I could no longer improve, possibly I would stop or make millions of kits lol, but I am nowhere near that point yet so I am not worried I doubt I will ever make a perfect kit and I am just fine with it!

For you fans of the SU-34 here is a decent video it's not bad I like it, and at 2.40 you will see it hanging by chains and firing on very close targets!

Lol, Dean, when I read "you will see it hanging by chains and firing...." I thought you were using military slang for flying low or something....nope, it was literally hanging by chains! Gotta love Russian testing methods? :-) Anyway, that was cool.

Dammit, somebody make this thing in 1/48 already....I'll buy two, I swear.

I know right? I saw it hanging and was quite surprised and given the close proximity of the targets they used rockets on literally right in front of it, that's would make an unusual diorama!

That would be an interesting diorama, but I doubt anyone would believe it outside of the Motherland.

Trumpeter needs to make a 1/32 Fullback...

Can you imagine the size of that kit Dre? I too would like a 1/32 Fullback, but I think 1/48 would be more practical but having said that I don't consider the apartment I just get the kit and look for space afterwards lol. I have a feeling that Hobbyboss might make one, I have not heard anything but with them releasing a 1/48 Flanker I would not be surprised as they seem to be filling the voids in the 1/48 scale market.

Would it be that much larger than a Su-27?    I tend to buy and build with the same regards to the storage issue, lol.    I was looking at those incredibly vivid blue paints and wondering if they have a fluorescing agent in them- they look unnaturally bright.

I wouldn't exactly say larger Dre. Wider is what the SU-34 is seeing as it sports side by side seating and it is also taller than the Flanker.

Dre

Would it be that much larger than a Su-27?    I tend to buy and build with the same regards to the storage issue, lol.    I was looking at those incredibly vivid blue paints and wondering if they have a fluorescing agent in them- they look unnaturally bright.

I thought so as well but it does look larger but that's most likely the ladder rather than the canopy access that makes it look larger, but I have to say it is an incredibly good looking aircraft.

Yeah, I though that it was roughly the same size as its predecessor and not as different as compared to a MiG-29.   I think the front end looks eerily like a F-111's.

C'mon Trumpeter, where's the love?

Drop tanks are attached now, I had to make new holes for the pylons and I painted the droptanks with primer only, it's a blueish grey so I think it is appropriate for the aircraft in question so I decided not to actually paint it with anything  else and kept it in primer only.

dean27

For you fans of the SU-34 here is a decent video it's not bad I like it, and at 2.40 you will see it hanging by chains and firing on very close targets!

Man, that is a big piece of NASTY isn't it?!?

Dean - those are MONSTROUS drop tanks - those MiG 29s are thirsty machines aren't they!

Yeah Vance they sure are, have you ever seen the Foxbat with its gigantic 5000 gallon droptank? Now thats a thirsty Mig!

Well, after many trials and tribulations, my entry in this group build is finished. I built the Hobby Boss MiG-17F in 1/48 scale.  The kit was augmented with the Eduard color zoom PE set.  I can't say I was really impressed with this kit.  Several areas suffered from poor fit, especially the fore and aft fuselage joint.  The plastic quality was sort of strange too, some being quite brittle and easy to break and other pieces seemed very soft. 

I wanted to paint the kit as a North Vietnamese Air Force plane and I chose the color scheme seen on the MiG-17 at the Air Force Museum.   Online sources attribute the plane to Le Hai, an North Vietnamese ace but I've also seen at least four different color schemes attributed to this pilot.  I suspect the Air Force Museum might be in error actually.   The green is Model Master enamel. SAC Bomber Green and the pale color is custom mixed from MM Sand, Flat White and Faded Olive Drab.  I painted it with my Paasche Model H single-action airbrush powered with CO2.  The decal are a combination of kit markings and aftermarket. Weathering was done with Flory washes and pastel chalks and a bit of dry brushing with Humbrol matt aluminum.

I wanted to post a few preliminary pics to document my completion.  I'll be taking more at the airport later and will probably post a separate thread for those.  At any rate, here's my MiG-17F.  Thanks for taking a look at her, Gary.

Nice Fresco is that the Charlie model? I have the Echo version that I am going to build as a Delta and I probably should get the Eduard set.

Texgunner

Well, after many trials and tribulations, my entry in this group build is finished. I built the Hobby Boss MiG-17F in 1/48 scale.  The kit was augmented with the Eduard color zoom PE set.  I can't say I was really impressed with this kit.  Several areas suffered from poor fit, especially the fore and aft fuselage joint.  The plastic quality was sort of strange too, some being quite brittle and easy to break and other pieces seemed very soft. 

I wanted to paint the kit as a North Vietnamese Air Force plane and I chose the color scheme seen on the MiG-17 at the Air Force Museum.   Online sources attribute the plane to Le Hai, an North Vietnamese ace but I've also seen at least four different color schemes attributed to this pilot.  I suspect the Air Force Museum might be in error actually.   The green is Model Master enamel. SAC Bomber Green and the pale color is custom mixed from MM Sand, Flat White and Faded Olive Drab.  I painted it with my Paasche Model H single-action airbrush powered with CO2.  The decal are a combination of kit markings and aftermarket.

I wanted to post a few preliminary pics to document my completion.  I'll be taking more at the airport later and will probably post a separate thread for those.  At any rate, here's my MiG-17F.  Thanks for taking a look at her, Gary.

Nice camo, Tex! I'm assuming you freehanded that? Wish I could. And the pit looks awesome.

And looking good, Dean. Yeah, those drop tanks are huge! :-)

Still plugging away on Frogfoot ordnance. Will have pics by weekend, I hope.

Tex- that's just awesome!   It looks great from any angle and the camo is FANTASTIC!

I try to avoid schemes like that just because I know I can't spray paint that tightly... but you, sir, knocked it right out of the park.

How'd you get those rudder pedals to stay put?   It doesn't appear to have much support or contact surface.

Porkbits

Nice camo, Tex! I'm assuming you freehanded that? Wish I could. And the pit looks awesome.

Thanks Porkbits!  Yeah, it was freehand.  I first thought I would "reverse" camo it, ie. paint the green first and then "mask" it with bits of blue tack.  Well, I didn't think I could get close enough to te look I needed like that after doing about half the under-side.  So, I tried it freehand and though the edges are a bit rough here and there, I just figured the original was too, lol.  I imagine a ground crew dude with a pressure tank and a basic spray gun bangin' away.  I bet he had some over-spray too, lol.  Thanks in large part to Eduard, the pit turned out pretty good. 

best regards, Gary

Dre

Tex- that's just awesome!   It looks great from any angle and the camo is FANTASTIC!

I try to avoid schemes like that just because I know I can't spray paint that tightly... but you, sir, knocked it right out of the park.

How'd you get those rudder pedals to stay put?   It doesn't appear to have much support or contact surface.

Thanks Dre, coming from a modeler with your estimable skills, that means a lot to me!  The trusty old Model H can do all right if everything lines up just right.   I wanted a little tighter spray pattern but it sort of got away from me once I got "rollin'".  Those rudder pedals?  Super glue my friend, super glue!  Their connection is tenuous to say the least.  The pilot had better be careful with his big feet!

cheers!  Gary

Estimable skills?  More like questionable skills!  

I know what you mean about those blobs getting away from you- that's why I avoid them if possible as they always seem to grow bigger the longer I try to paint them.  

I guess that there's more glue than contact surface on those pedals...  that's the thing about PE that bugs me.

That is if those little gomers had big feet Gary. LOL

On a side note the Mig-17 like the Mig-15 had no hydraulic booster for its control surfaces which meant the pilot would really need to be very strong to control the aircraft.

Texgunner

Dre

Tex- that's just awesome!   It looks great from any angle and the camo is FANTASTIC!

I try to avoid schemes like that just because I know I can't spray paint that tightly... but you, sir, knocked it right out of the park.

How'd you get those rudder pedals to stay put?   It doesn't appear to have much support or contact surface.

Thanks Dre, coming from a modeler with your estimable skills, that means a lot to me!  The trusty old Model H can do all right if everything lines up just right.   I wanted a little tighter spray pattern but it sort of got away from me once I got "rollin'".  Those rudder pedals?  Super glue my friend, super glue!  Their connection is tenuous to say the least.  The pilot had better be careful with his big feet!

cheers!  Gary

Great work on that squiggly camo pattern Tex!