Su-27UB Flanker
Limited Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Eduard's 1/48 scale Su-27UB Flanker Limited Edition
is available online from Squadron.com for USD$135.00
 

Eduard continues with its 1/48 scale re-boxing of other manufacturers kits with upgraded parts. This time they have focussed on the Academy SU27UB 2 seat Flanker C. The original Academy kit was very nice but most builders complained about the simplified cockpit, exhaust nozzles and the shape of the radome. Most of these issues were addressed through replacement with expensive aftermarket items.

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Thumbnail panels:

Eduard has gone a long way to improving the kit at a reasonable price with the inclusion of some really nice detail such as:

• Completely new resin cockpit tubs with colour photo etch details

• Detailed resin K-36D ejection seats with photo etch details

• Resin nose wheel FOD guard

• Resin Pilots helmets

• Photo etched parts in colour and nickel

• Front and rear instrument panels

• Front instrument shroud

• HUD frames

• Cockpit sill

• Details for the wheel wells

• Intake FOD guards

• Auxiliary intake louvers

• IFF and RSBN antennas

• Details for the landing gear struts

• Canopy details and mirrors

• Paint masks for the canopy and wheels

• Decals

This kit contains all the standard parts that are included in the Academy kit and these are moulded in the typical blue grey styrene that Academy chose to mould the Flanker kits in. For me the ultimate upgrade would have been to replace the engine exhaust nozzles with more accurate resin and replace the radome as well and both of these are available in the aftermarket arena.

The photo etch detail goes a long way to add some extra detail to the undercarriage and wheel wells and the inclusion of the resin FOD guard to the nose landing gear is a massive improvement over the original Academy supplied part. Photo etched scissor links are provided to replace the solid links provided in the original kit, and hydraulic brake lines and bracing are also supplied to improve the landing gear.

The wheels while reasonably moulded can be replaced by purchasing the beautifully cast and detailed replacement wheels from Eduard Brassin range. The exhausts do get a bit of a work over with the inclusion of photo etched afterburner flame holders but the nozzles themselves are over simplified in detail with the Flanker having a very intricate nozzle assembly.

The original weapons supplied by Academy are reasonable but have very thick fins, fortunately these can be replaced by purchasing the beautifully cast and detailed R-27 Alamo missiles from Eduard Brassin range although I am not sure that the two seat training aircraft would have Alamo missiles regularly fitted.

Markings

Eduard provides markings for four very colourful aircraft:

• Su-27UBM1, Bort 53, Taldykorgan AB, Kazakhstan AF

• Su-27UB, Bort 20, Novyfyodorovka AB, Russian Navy

• Su-27UB, Bort 609, 6 FS, Asmara AB, Eritrean AF

• Su-27UB, Bort 74, 831 Tactical Air Bde, Mirgorod AB, Ukrainian AF
  

Eduard has provided complete markings for each aircraft as well as a complete set of data stencil for the airframe, pylons, and weapons.

Eduard has gone a long way to improving the Academy Flanker with the extra resin and etched metal details and further improvement can be made using some of the products from their Brassin range. The kit should make up to represent a very nice two seat Flanker and with the colour schemes that Eduard has provided the completed subject should be very colourful indeed.

Suitable for moderate modelling skills.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2012 by Mick Evans
Page Created 29 June, 2012
Last updated 29 June, 2012

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