BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Mmmm....butter....

Thanks for the info.  I did not know about the AKAN paints.

Me neither that's a good thing to know, so you're saying the colours are matched with the actual paint from the aircraft?

I think so. From the Linden Hill site:

"The paints are mixed in-house in AKAN's Moscow studio, according to precise specifications as laid  down by USSR/Russian state entities. All base paints are sourced from manufacturers within the EU. AKAN possesses Russia's most complete archive of military paint specs ever compiled, and even acts as consultant to the country's military, aerospace companies and museums in such matters. AKAN's research clearly debunks the western myth that the Soviet aviation industry applied whatever paint came to hand in respective factories, something we were able to learn first-hand when we visited AKAN's studio ourselves in August 2011 and 2012."

Whether or not true, can't say, but there you go. :-)

AKAN has been a godsend for me since I love Russian a/c. As you know, nailing down the "right" colors can be really hard. Many of their colors are also pre-faded.

PB

I always knew the paint Russian planes had was of a really high quality, just look at Russian conditions, very low to very high temperatures. I remember reading that the Serb mig 29s took 2 weeks to be get all of the paint stripped from each one because the paint was so good.

I received my Ukrainian decals from the Ukraine today.  I just placed an order with LHI for the two colors Porkbits pointed me to as well as a couple of sheets of full aircraft stencil decals for 1/72  Flankers.

It's just about time to get this build started!

Sweet! Glad I could help.

Too bad you didn't start sooner so I can see how you paint the engines. ;-)

PB- that's a great camo job.   That blue might be more vibrant than the MM enamel version.

Thank you! It is very vibrant. If I were going to weather I'd definitely fade it with some white.

Well, I got my LHI order with paint and decals...now there's no excuse for not begining my 1/72 Trumpeter Su-27 Ukraine Blue 56 build.

...accept for a new 400' fence I'm building for my in-laws starting tomorrow.  

Yep, it's that time of year..  for yard work.   I spent the bulk of my after-work hours last week and over the weekend doing heavy duty tree clearing and pruning.  

Living in the city is so good lol. I was looking at an Eduard Mig 21 BIS yesterday in the model shop and I was gutted because I want it, but when you're saving and you already have the 1/32 Trumpeter kit it's not a thing to buy lol, why does this hobby do this to me!

Temptation is a harsh mistress, mate.

It certainly is, had I seen the KH Mig-25 I would be £60 poorer, thankfully I'm ok lol.

400 feet??? Holy crap, t3chDad, I hope your "friends and family" discount isn't too large. ;-) And here I'm proud because last year I figured out how to remove the blades from my lawnmower. Anyway, hope you can get started on your build before to long.

Yes, snow is finally gone but now that means yardwork. Yay?

In any event, after digesting all of your great advice and screwing up my courage, I tried Alclad on the ventral side of the engines (figured if anything went really wrong, at least it would be hidden). Since from what I've seen in photos the engine surface is lacking a lot of panel detail, I tried to add some of my own. I think one of you suggested layering and mixing color, so that's what I tried. Just had some fun with it.

I decided to take a risk and primed only with Future over the base color, even tried Tamiya tape for masking and aside from only one tiny lift-off, didn't encounter any problems. I was masking like a madman and the finish held up.

Here's the result:

....the Northstar engines should add some nice detail whenever I get around to painting them:

Thanks!

PB

Looking good PB! Just keep layering so that you have a nice messed up effect!

Those engines are looking good, PB.   Happy top hear that AKAN paints don't lift like MM acrylics do.

And yes, now is the time for yard work.

Those engines look absolutely beautiful!  I can't wait to see what you do with the cans.

Porkbits

400 feet??? Holy crap, t3chDad, I hope your "friends and family" discount isn't too large. ;-) And here I'm proud because last year I figured out how to remove the blades from my lawnmower. Anyway, hope you can get started on your build before to long.

I'll have my brother-in-law, nephew and my son helping so it shouldn't be that bad. This is nothing compared to the computer support I provide everyone.  I need the exercise anyway.  On the bright side, look what I got for the project...

That's an evil looking nail gun....   play safe with it.

Now now t3chdad I know we al get frustrated with kits sometimes but I think your Trumpeter Flanker should hold with glue.

LOL, now THAT is a nail gun. You need a permit for that? ;-)

Thanks for the compliments, guys. I hope to do the top sides of the engines sometime next week, and then the burner cans. And then....I can almost see light at the end of this tunnel (train?).

I started my Trumpeter 1/72 Su-27 Blue 56 build....I opened the box and looked at it.  

But seriously, it looks like an easy build compared to the Hasegawa Su-33 along with quality at least as good if not better.  I've read the instructions and am ready to dive in, but my hands hurt from driving 2000 screws in my fence project Sat/Sun (it was a screw gun).  Hopefully I'll be able to make this a quick build after everything I learned on the last one.  I'll keep you posted!

Lol, excellent! Looking forward to your take on Blue 56.

2,000 screws.....sheesh. So I hope this means you're almost finished with that 400 foot fence??

I probably won't post another update on my build again until she's done (you know, showmanship, audience suspense, etc). I'm hoping maybe a couple more weeks? Just have to get through Easter...when we host most of my family and ALL of my in-laws for dinner. That's about 20 people. Good times?

Your showmanship strategy is a success...I'm rubbing my hands with anticipation. I did end up putting some cement to plastic last night. I might have time to paint and decal the cockpit tonight.

I'm less than half way finished with the fence....there's a deck too, but it's all replacing old wood so I'm only having to replace everything between the fence posts and all the decking and rails.

I look forward to seeing your Flanker T3chDad!

Hee! Thanks, T3chDad. Hope the finished product lives up to your expectations. And good luck with your other construction project. ;-)

I'm going to start painting the burner cans today, then I won't get anything done until sometime next week, after the Family Easter Onslaught.

Hope everyone who observes the holiday has a good one!

PB

Can't wait to see the cans attached PB it's gonna look great all brought together! Don't worry about showing boring progress photos I do it all the time with my builds lol.

Waiting breathlessly for the big reveal.....

Thanks, Dre and Dean! Gulp. The pressure's on....!

Don't put pressure on it, that'll leave a fingerprint!

Or break it lol!