Flanker Frenzy 2012

Blkhwkmatt- great!  I'm no fan of forward-swept wings but I'm glad that someone is doing this version.

The first squadron of 1/350 Su-27K's is assembled and ready for paint!

Looking forward to seeing them blkhwkmatt!

Ok Gents,

I have decided that I will be attempting to complete these kits for this build.

1/72nd Italeri Sukhoi S-37 Berkut and the Zvezda Su-37.

The Italeri kit is the Forward swept demonstrator, while the Zvezda Su-37 is the "super Flanker"

Will be starting on the cockpits of them both this weekend.

Dre

I think I would need to pack the nose full of milliput before I start sanding...  which may be the way that this gets resolved.   Too bad this is the only 1/32 Flanker series being made, or I'd filch the parts from someplace else.

Looking at the Zactomodels page, it looks like his resin cone doesn't quite fit properly either...

Instant noseweight!!!

Dre

Bsyamato, I've had that thought as well- I've got a decent photo of the nose cone up and the radar gear exposed.   I've also toyed with the idea of a tarp placed across the front like it is done in reality.  I've even thought of showing it with the nose completely off...

Ops..

I think I would need to pack the nose full of milliput before I start sanding...  which may be the way that this gets resolved.   Too bad this is the only 1/32 Flanker series being made, or I'd filch the parts from someplace else.

Looking at the Zactomodels page, it looks like his resin cone doesn't quite fit properly either...

hmmm - round styrene rings attached inside the nosecone before the sanding happens?

Vance, I had that thought, but the amount it is off is just about equal to the wall thickness.   Sanding it down would probably leave me with a paper-thin nose cone right where it needs the most structural strength.

Bsyamato, I've had that thought as well- I've got a decent photo of the nose cone up and the radar gear exposed.   I've also toyed with the idea of a tarp placed across the front like it is done in reality.  I've even thought of showing it with the nose completely off...

make the nose opeded and scratchbuild the radar LOL

Just kidding, it's a crime to break the flanker shapes with the nose opened

Dre

....The nose cone on my other Su-27B simply doesn't fit- it is too large in circumference and the wrong profile.  I'm still trying to figure out a way to fix this other than a Zactomodels resin nose...  I really hope that this isn't an issue on the two-seaters!....

Do you dare sand the nose-cone down? You could end up with a closer profile, but un-even from one side to the next. I guess the other question is "how far off is it"?

Not much to update on the Su-27UB C here, still putting stuff together- wings, missiles and other parts that need to be assembled prior to installation..

The first squadron of 1/350 Su-27K's are almost fully assembled, you'd think that a 2" long aircraft would fall together, but no.   Canards and wings to continue...  and then I start the 6 Su-33's... rinse and repeat.

The nose cone on my other Su-27B simply doesn't fit- it is too large in circumference and the wrong profile.  I'm still trying to figure out a way to fix this other than a Zactomodels resin nose...  I really hope that this isn't an issue on the two-seaters!

Warmer weather + new DVD's + the complete Conan graphic novels = slow building!

No, that guy is a crook- you're looking for his cousin.  Totally legit- he handles all of the diamond action.

Wait, is this the same man in Nigeria that offered to split his disputed inheritance with me if I could provide him my banking details?

Lol, I know!   I would totally watch this if it were made... 

Tickets?  All you need to do is send me $229 in advance and my man in Nigeria will get right on it and have them sent to you straight-away.  The price only seems steep, but can you really put a price on quality entertainment?

It still sounds better than 1/2 the movies that are out right now: where do I get my tickets???

Thanks!!

Plumes of Glory, the long-awaited sequel to the 2007 box-office smash hit, Blades of Glory, continues the saga of champion men's figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels and his friend, Jimmy MacElroy, as they go undercover in the Ukraine to steal the latest generation Sukhoi multi-role interceptor, the Su-34. 

Reminiscent of Clint Eastwood's 1982 thriller, Firefox, and with nods to Spies Like Us, it is a high-camp adventure that is fun for the entire family.

What?  It could happen...

Ahhh, good ol' Plumes of Glory!!!!

This is where I found it: http://www.mediafire.com/?dzyxyvwjmwj

Nothing wrong with a little pride...  but plumes of glory? 

Could you post a link to that pdf? 

Did a little online snooping last night, found a pdf version ofConcord Publications' "Su-27 Flanker" by Sergey Skrynnikov. Mostly photos (including good detail & air-to-air) with captions, which are kind of funny because they do have a slight "Russian propoganda" tone to them. Two of my favourites:

(showing a pair at altitude, leaving contrails...)
"Cotton ball streams of condensed vapour direct the eye to these Su-27s. This effect often occurs at high altitudes. The pilots ought to consider them plumes of glory."

(showing a Flanker with weapons carts nearby...)
"The Su-27 Flanker with standard interception armament kit displayed in front of the aircraft. Gathered together the missiles make an impressive payload. Western pilots ought to be glad the won't be encountering such a deadly adversary during actual combat."

after painting all the camo, it looked too dark to me.  The reference photos that I had showed a very faded looking flanker.  So I stripped the paints off and went with my own mixes.

Do you recall what put you off of the MM Flanker colors?

Dre

Blkhwkmatt- nice -27 you have there.  What colors did you use on it?  Is it my monitor, or have you done the lighter weathering at the front where the tarps are used?

If I remember correctly I started with the Model Master Flanker Colors and then when I didn't like the looks I mixed my own colors based on tamiya acrylic colors.  I looked through my stuff and wasnt able to locate any notes on the paint ratios.  Sorry that I couldnt be of any help.

Probably a good call!

Since I made mention of them, I've thought of that myself.. and quickly thought of better things that make me happy.

Dre

Sorry to mislead you guys, but perhaps my dry humor got the best of you- there are no decals for the relief tubes that I know of.  With that many decals, there ought to be though.

Well modern jets aren't my usual stomping ground, and 1/32 is a far-off land. I say you scratch-build some relief tubes anyway...

Sorry to mislead you guys, but perhaps my dry humor got the best of you- there are no decals for the relief tubes that I know of.  With that many decals, there ought to be though.

CallSignOWL

 

Dre:

 

 

This is one set of the Begemot technical stencils sets that I'll be using..  enough data to do everything down to the two crewmember's relief tubes.   Holy Carp there's a lot of decals here..  thankfully a portion of them are for the various missiles, bombs and whatnot that a Flanker can haul.   Still, this ought to do two complete birds.

 

 

 

 

 

holy decal sheet batman!!

ZOWIE!!!!

Decals for the "relief tubes"!?!? I suppose you wouldn't want, uhh, "relief" going anywhere other than where it is supposed to go.

Dre

 

This is one set of the Begemot technical stencils sets that I'll be using..  enough data to do everything down to the two crewmember's relief tubes.   Holy Carp there's a lot of decals here..  thankfully a portion of them are for the various missiles, bombs and whatnot that a Flanker can haul.   Still, this ought to do two complete birds.

 

 

holy decal sheet batman!!

AMS

Dramatic number of pieces and differents media you going to put togheter! that (russian air) "force" will help you

Vance, i must be following your playbook, as last night I did pretty much the same assemblies as yourself for my Su-27UB C...  some missiles started and  the basic cockpit and some PE installed.  At least it's a start..

Added some pics (or it didn't happen!) of what's officially what.

This is the two-seater that I'm going to work on for this GB (1/32 Trumpeter Su-27UB C) and I'm using the Flanker Squadron/Signal Walk-Around (#47) as a primary reference.

Some of the Eduard 'Big Ed' set that I'm going to use along the way... not all the PE will be used as some of it is ridiculously small.  There are two sets of ejection seat PE as well, but as I'm going to use the incredible QuickBoost resin seats I won't be using them except for the data placards.

This is one set of the Begemot technical stencils sets that I'll be using..  enough data to do everything down to the two crewmember's relief tubes.   Holy Carp there's a lot of decals here..  thankfully a portion of them are for the various missiles, bombs and whatnot that a Flanker can haul.   Still, this ought to do two complete birds.

The wheels wells and cockpit are roughed out as there's still a few more parts to go in after a basic grey painting.  The kit comes with two versions of the larger missiles, but I'll just be using the ones with the clear seeker heads as I already know how to do them right (and they look cooler than the plain nose versions).

The IP walls have been sanded down to make way for the Eduard pre-printed replacements, the PE rudder pedals are in and the seats are in for a fitting.  Time to paint!  There is surprisingly little PE that goes into the tub as the majority of the PE goes into the canopy and rail, and that's where all of the ridiculously small and fragile parts are!  Not so sure how well that's going to turn out...

WolfPack Design is supposed to be making resin cockpits for both the -27UB and the -30MKK, but they are hard to find.  I'd really like to get the -30MKK cockpit set someday... I'm thinking that I'll task the GF with this for my birthday.

I need to shoot a pic of the box of likely colored paints that I'm gathering for these Flanker kits, it has selections from the USN, RLM, Soviet and other random color charts so long as they fall into the grey-to-blue-to-cyan spectrum...  is this insanity, or AMS?