Tu-134SKh Conversion Set
(for Zvezda)

Small Stuff, 1/144 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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Background

The Tu-134SKh conversion set offers an interesting variation of a civil airliner I think, and is for a Soviet agricultural survey aircraft equipped with two side-surveillance radar pods under the wings; and a large camera pod on its centre under-belly. The camera pod contained a number of cameras operating in different areas of the visible and infrared spectrum, it was pressurised and slid open to expose the cameras. Eleven of these aircraft operated in Soviet times to monitor the USSR’s large agricultural zones to assess crop progress and identify ongoing management needs.

The conversion set is intended for Zvezda’s 1/144-scale kit of the Tu-134; which seems from the accounts I have read to be a very good kit. Although it lies outside my scale of interest, I must say that the images I have seen of it do look good. I also know from buying recent Zvezda 1/72-scale kits that they are turning out some nice products at a good price. Zvezda’s Tu-134 can be complemented and significantly enhanced by Small Stuff’s superb Tu-134 detail set that I reviewed here on HyperScale.

This is just one of a few Tu-134 detail and conversion sets I shall be reviewing by this company (as well as a couple of 1/72nd items). They do not seem to have a high profile, but they produce some of the best resin I have seen in a while, so take the time to check out their website. I hope that they go from strength to strength.

The Conversion Set

The components and their instructions come in an A-5 plastic zip-lock bag along with a card header. The resin parts are in individual small bags, further enclosed by a bubble-wrap bag for protection. There are two sets of instructions, one dealing with the resin conversion parts, and the other the decals and colour schemes.

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The conversion instructions are one A-4 page, have a parts map, use very clearly drawn diagrams, and are printed in three colours. They are very easy to follow, and use English for any written directions.

The colour scheme and decal guide consists of six A-4 pages printed in colour. These are extremely comprehensive, and include a guide for placement of stencils, of which there are plenty. The guide also covers the use of the pre-cut paint mask (for windows and wheels) and the scribing template (for an additional fuselage door). All written instructions are in English, and paint colours are cross-referenced to FS-595. The decals, masks and templates are produced by Avia Decals in association with Scale Models.ru.

Resin caters for the two radar pods, their mounting pylons (a choice of types), and centre camera pod. The parts are beautifully cast on easily removed pour stubs. A nice touch is that all parts are clearly numbered on their pour stubs, akin to mainstream injected kit sprue numbering. The conversion instructions also identify those kit windows needing to be blanked out; and locations where new ones should be drilled.

The decals also appear to be of excellent quality, with very crisp registration and what looks like very good colour density. They have a semi-matt finish. The three sets of markings are all for the USSR’s Ministry of Agriculture colour scheme, although there are some variations other than just aircraft serial numbers.

The paint masks a made from a thin grey vinyl, whilst the scribing template is made from a thicker red vinyl. The template is to be aligned with two fuselage windows, and being self-adhesive will not shift whilst being used. I think its inclusion is a nice touch that just adds to the obvious thoroughness that has gone into designing this conversion set.  

I have used Small Stuff’s website images, as my photography cannot better them.

This is a superb quality conversion set, and a very complete package. The inclusion of a comprehensive pre-cut paint mask and scribing template are nice touches that just make the modeller’s life easier. I think it should result in a most interesting model that is a bit different from more run of the mill airliner options.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Small Stuff Models for the review sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2013 by Mark Davies
Page Created 17 June, 2013
Last updated 17 June, 2013

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