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Sukhoi
Su-15TM Flagon-F 1/48th Scale Kit No. 02811 In-Box Review by Terry Ashley |
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Sukhoi
Su-15TM Flagon-F 1/48th Scale Kit No. 02811 In-Box Review by Terry Ashley |
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What's
in the Box?
This kit has been eagerly
awaited since the long list of proposed Trumpeter releases was announced
last year.
Trumpeter are improving with each new release and this is no exception.
The kit is moulded in light grey plastic with 173 parts and a further 4 parts
in clear plastic plus a decal sheet.
The quality of the mouldings is first class featuring finely engraved panel lines and rivet detail.
The
Fuselage:
This is split vertical in the conventional manner with a separate top panel
for the cockpit area, this is to accommodate the two seat version also released.
(Kit 02812). The cockpit has a large tub with three part ejection seat and instrument
panel with a decal for the instruments. The detail on these parts is adequate
but not startling.
The nose gear bay is built up from four parts and the long engine intake trunks
with turbine blade faces are provided to eliminate the 'hollow' look inside
the intakes. All these are trapped between the fuselage halves when assembled.
The main intakes are two part with the outer section fitted to the inner splitter
plate which also has nice engraved details. The tail cone is a separate part
to capture the contours nicely while the afterburner cans of four parts each
with nice details fit inside the tail cone. The rear air brakes (four of them)
are separate parts also.
The nose cone is separate and also features the radar unit on the front bulkhead
if you wish to show the large nose cone open. The nose cone on this thing is
huge, plenty of room to add a bit of weight so the model will sit on its own
three feet.
Flying
Surfaces:
These again feature fine engraved panel lines with the wings, vertical tail
and horizontal stabilisers split in two halves in the usual manner. All control
surfaces are separate parts for good definition or to allow you to position
them deployed if you wish. The wing top parts have internal detail for the main
gear bay and separate wing fences with thin edges.
Undercarriage:
The gear legs have basic detail but will need brake lines added for a better
appearance. The gear doors have internal details while the wheels are in two
halves each again the details here are adequate but not startling.
Ordnance:
There is a good selection of gear to hand off your Flagon with two AA-8 'Aphid'
short range air to air missiles and two versions of the AA-6 'Acrid' AAM , two
semi-active radar guided and two IR-homing missiles as well as a centre line
twin 23mm cannon pack and two long range fuel tanks.
To finish off there are quite a few small engine intakes and aerials to add about the place as is usual for Russian aircraft.
Decals:
The decal sheet is of high quality with good colour register and very thin carrier
film as well as a nice selection of stencil data.
Markings are provided for two aircraft, one in overall light blue and the other
in a very attractive three colour scheme of Dark Green, Dark Brown and Mid Stone
(see illustration at top of page)
Conclusion:
In all a very nice kit of what is a large aircraft in 1/48. It features very
good surface details and plenty of small detail parts. It should build into
a very attractive model from the box.
Kit
No. 02810 Flagon-A is basically the same as this kit with a different Sprue
B with the different shaped wings, nose cone and small engine intakes for the
A.
A new decal sheet of the same excellent quality has markings for two aircraft
in overall light blue finish.
Click to see additional sprues and decal sheet.
Kit
No. 02812 Flagon-G is again the same kit as the Flagon-F with the inclusion
of the second cockpit details and new top panel with the two holes as well as
new clear parts. A new decal sheet with markings for two aircraft again in the
overall light blue scheme is included.
Click
to see additional sprues and decal sheet.
Page created 1 June 2002