Russian Su-30MKK Flanker G

Trumpeter, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Phil Parsons

Trumpeter's 1/72 scale Su-30MKK Flanker G is available online from Squadron
 

KnAAPO designed the Su-35 (Single seat flanker with canards) in the mid 1990’s. The information gained from these aircraft was put into the Su-30 series of aircraft. It is therefore not surprising that the Su-30MKK shares 85% compatibility with Su-35 in terms of hardware.

The Su-30 MKK and MK2 were designed as a dedicated strike fighter intended for long-range air-to-surface attack missions, with the MKK and MK2 currently operated by the People's Republic of China, TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force), Vietnam People's Air Force, Uganda People's Defence Force, and  the Venezuelan Air Force.

As a very broad overview the major visible changes from the Su-27UB include the Inflight Refuelling probe, offset Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST), dual nose wheel, revised Fin and air to surface weapons fit.

Again I can only echo my comments from past Trumpeter reviews about how great the packaging is; the sprues come bagged in plastic, delicate parts wrapped with thin padding for added protection. The end result is that the plastic arrives on your bench in the same condition as it left the mould.

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Amazingly, 50% of kit parts are weapons related, either the pylons or the weapons themselves. The kit contains 13 grey plastic sprues and two clear sprues.  The canopies are crystal clear and the shape looks correct, you will however have to clean up the moulding seam on both parts.

The construction process looks very straight forward and just looking at the fuselage parts there looks to be minimal fit issues,  even without gluing the fuselage together, there appears to be no unsightly joins,  unlike some 1/48 Flankers.

Weapons provided

• 4 x R-73E (AA-11 Archer)

• 4 x R-27R (AA-10A Alamo)

• 4 x R-27T (AA-10B Alamo)

• 4 x R-77 (AA-12 Adder)

• 2 x Kh-31P (AS-17 Krypton)

• 2 Sorbitsya ECM pods

It’s nice to see the weapons included, as its weapons that make the modern fighters look even better.

Markings:

WOW, there are more decals than parts in this kit. They cover not only the main aircraft markings but a complete set of aircraft stencils and weapons markings. A nice touch with the cockpit decals is that they are the Instruments on clear decal film, so that your choice of cockpit colour will show through. A much better option than trying to match what the decal manufacturer has decided to use for the cockpit colour.

You are provided with two marking options and while no information is given;

Option A belongs to:

PLA Naval Aviation 4th Division / 10th Fighter Regiment, Feidong AB, Anhui.
This '81041/01' was one of the 24 Su-30MKK2 the PLA Naval Aviation received from Russia in 2004.

Option B:

Su-30 MKK of the Air Force Flight Test & Training Base, 3rd Regiment, Cangzhou AB, Hebei.
You are given enough tail numbers to produce other aircraft from the Air Force Flight Test & Training Base, 3rd Regiment.

Minor errors or omissions noted, are that the lower engine  louver doors have greater than the standard 12 louvers and while the alcohol bottle that is attached to the nose gear door is provided (Part A33) it is not covered in the instructions however, it is covered on the painting guide. Some weapons on the box art are not included, specifically the Kh-59mk missiles and its associated data link pod.  All small and none detract from this great Flanker.

This is a very nice kit that will build up to a great looking Flanker.  Trumpeter are producing some lovely designed kits and I am a fan of this one. Highly recommended to all modellers.

Reference:

http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/sukhoideployment.asp

Thanks to JB Wholesalers for the review sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Phil Parsons
Page Created 13 September, 2012
Last updated 13 September, 2012

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