WIP - 1:48 Su-22

[MikeC]

2008 could be "heavy metal" year for me, what with the Blackbird and this - actually started last year. It's the Kopro kit which I picked up at a show a couple or three years ago, bagged but sans box. The instruction sheet is for the Su-22M-3, which was slightly unfortunate as the version I wanted to build was the M-4 - the main external difference being an intake at the base of the fin. Happily, the parts are for an M-4.

Like many people, I have found it an exercise in nostalgia - it's like kits used to be, with basic detail, reasonable fit, but definitely not "shake-the-box" (or the bag in this case )

It's big, as this shot of the port fuslage half shows:



General shot of main bits:



Some detail bits - intake bullet (handily hollow to take noseweight), cockpit/nosewheel well and jetpipe:





Recce Pod and ECM pod:


And another shot of that wonderful lumpy bumpy ECM pod:


(It's yellow as I happened to have some in the airbrush and sprayed the stores with it as a tell-tale to show up seams that still needed attention.)


More later, watch this space ...

[MikeC]

Made some progress, and agree with the various reviews: the fit is quite iffy in places, but you know what? I'm enjoying it! If you dry-fit, adjust, etc, it ends up fitting well.

You'll note from the third pic above I'd built the cockpit/nosewheel bay assembly per the kit instructions. When I came to join the fuselage halves it became apparent that this would not work, so I removed the sidewalls, and isntalled the nosewheel bay/cockpit floor, rear bukhead and shock cone/radar assembly:




I then added the sidewalls and the horizontal side consoles: I could then join the fuselage (which is now drying). I'll add the vertical side consoles later, it was these that were causing the fit problem mentioned above.

Also have the wings together. I'd read that you need to thin the interior trailing edges of the fixed part of the wing in order to allow the wings to sweep back fully. I did a bit, but took a decision to display it with wings forward (as if it wasn't big enough!); this meant I did not need to do so much thinning, adds a bit of "shape interest" to the completed model by emphasising that the wings are VG, and means less plastic aft of the C/G, so less risk of a tailsitter.

Incidentally, inside the shock come is where I put the recommended 10g + a bit for luck - plenty of room for lead shot, but it does rattle a bit.

Next instalment soon.

[MikeC]

And yes, I am using the kit cockpit - the detail is good enough for a closed canopy with some dry-brushing etc, but I did splash out on a Neomega bang-seat. I'm a firm believer that if you have a good ejector seat to focus the eye then the rest of the cockpit looks great too, even if it's only what's in the kit.

[Julien]

mikec said:

I'm a firm believer that if you have a good ejector seat to focus the eye then the rest of the cockpit looks great too, even if it's only what's in the kit.

Exactly what I did with my KP Mig-21 and it works even with an open canopy as you cant see much else.

Like the work.

Julien

[MikeC]

Well, I had every good intention of snapping every stage of the build, but I got carried away. I did shoot the part-completed fuselage and wings in early Jan:




I then remembered the camera today, when she's built and ready for a first coat of primer to reveal all the flaws.






The "bits & bobs":


And the Neomega K-36DM seat:




This one's going to need a lot of paint!

[Julien]

Looking good, that seats nice.

Julien

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Mike,

I am looking forward to seeing this beast in the flesh...!

Did a Fitter years ago, not Recce, was taken with shape and wings, has a 'presence', a much under estimated aircraft, functional, capable............ well compared with other Russian aircraft...

Looks like your doing a nice job.

Seat, looks like it's something from "Star Wars"...

Good idea to record progress as you go, only have to get my own act together regarding posting photos of WIP....

Colin

[MikeC]

Well I've not been idle - the airbrush has been getting a lot of exercise , what with priming (I don't use Halfords any more, never really got on with them, ended up too thick), then undersides and four camouflage colours on the topsides. From what I've found each aircrfaft had its own individual camouflage pattern, so I've followed what was on the (Kopro aftermarket) decal sheet for the aircraft featured. I've also gone with "near enough" rather than attempting FS matches for the colours - light blue-grey underneath, a light greyish-green, a light sand, a dark brown and (the predominant colour) a dark brownish-green.





As an aside, as I was taking the photos, I found myself thinking of a certain V-bomber - anyone else think that the part-swept planform looks vaguely like a Victor?

[MikeC]

PS: The "detail" bits, like the fin-tip, intake bullet, and jet-pipe exterior, remain to be done.

[COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT]

Mike,

Looking good, do like the Fitter.....

Like to see this in the flesh when done.

Colin

[MikeC]

FINISHED IT!!!

Pics tomorrow (perhaps - if not, shortly thereafter).

Cheers,

[foxy]

Excuse my ignorance on aircraft MikeC.

But M4, is that Mig4.

I always had a hang up for the Mig 15/21.

And this looks like the Mig 21 with a few refinements.

Please correct me if I am wrong .

Great build by the way, looking forward to the finish.

[MikeC]

Apr 27, 2008 22:24:50 GMT @foxy said:

Excuse my ignorance on aircraft MikeC.

But M4, is that Mig4.

Hi Foxy,

In a word, no. It's a Sukhoi Su-22, variant M, sub-variant 4, with the "R" suffix meaning "Reconnaissance". Comrade Pavel Sukhoi would undoubtedly be very hurt to hear it called a MiG

Apr 27, 2008 22:24:50 GMT @foxy said:

I always had a hang up for the Mig 15/21...

You have taste, Sir, so do I. Classic aircraft

Apr 27, 2008 22:24:50 GMT @foxy said:

And this looks like the Mig 21 with a few refinements.

Apart from the size - it's considerably larger than the MiG-21, something the photos don't really show.

Apr 27, 2008 22:24:50 GMT @foxy said:

Great build by the way, looking forward to the finish.

Thanks for the kind comments, watch this space.

[MikeC]

And here she is, one of the last Su-22M4R "Fitters" in Slovak service. First, here's a shot of some original Slovak aircraft - photo by Georg Mader on http://www.scramble.nl:

Now here's my rendition of 3620: I picked that particular aircraft simply because it has the 2 Technika Letka (Technical/maintenance Sqn?) badge, and the decal sheet I was using included it, albeit applicable to one of the Czech examples on the sheet. The model has no stencils applied due the the fact that the only Su-22 stencils were on the kit sheet; the decals on this broke up as soon as I showed them the decal water.

Anyway, with apologies for the poor photography - if you want better photos, bring your camera to Telford.






This kit does not have the best reputation - "Fitter" is definitely a misnomer - but it's been one of the more enjoyable models I've built. I've aimed for a finish on an interesting and rarely-modelled subject rather than 100% accuracy and comp-standard finish. Perhaps there's a moral there ...

So that's it, now if you'll excuse me I have a Spitfire FR18 I'm thinking of starting for Telford ...

[foxy]

Thanks Mike-C for that very informative run down.

As a boy I built aircraft as well as other kits from the then only Airfix plastic models.

I am surprised I got the right nation, so thats a little bonus to my knowledge of the flying type's.

Again A very good finish and thanks for putting me right,'do not want to embarrass our now friends in the north. ;D