Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => COIN Aircraft GB => Topic started by: Frank3k on October 18, 2015, 09:06:45 AM

Title: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Frank3k on October 18, 2015, 09:06:45 AM: This is the Amodel 1/72 Yak-32 and the second Amodel kit I've built this year. I'm done with AModel for a while.

I'm doing this as a Peruvian Air Force COIN from the 1980s, before they bought the Su-25.

So much promise...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/757/22072884989_22a9405b70_o.jpg)

Maybe I've developed a thick skin, but this build was pretty quick. Nothing beyond the usual Amodel disasters (poor fit, lack of finesse, thick canopies):

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5789/22259746065_b07529657e_o.jpg)

The canopy was Coke bottle-ish but it fit pretty well. I added a resin injection seat and gun-sight/HUD but not much else. I passed on recreating the FOD fence on the intakes.

I added two UB-32-57 rocket pods from my rapidly dwindling box of DML "Modern" Soviet Aircraft Weapons set and modified a HIPEG 20mm gun pod from the Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons set:II US guided bombs and gun pods. The starboard imaging/targeting pod is from some anonymous kit:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/648/22270230361_7ca6b3c664_o.jpg)

I also added a flare dispenser and plastic bump of high importance to the underside of the tail area.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/638/22072884569_a4c13461f2_o.jpg)

I added four short pieces of brass tubing to act as the gun barrels. The rear of the pod is supposed to be a fuel cell:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/760/22270230181_c7a45b973c_o.jpg)

I reused the Peruvian roundels from a previous build. The flat finish is a little rough and I had some issues with the camo pattern, but building an Amodel kit is usually a battle between finishing the dammed thing and tossing it in the trash, so I pushed on:

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5635/22259745545_26482d601c_o.jpg)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/564/22270229861_11d1f70945_o.jpg)

And beauty shot:

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5801/22072884009_fe67bba739_o.jpg)

The back story is that the Peruvian Air Force needed an effective aircraft to attack the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) rebels in the hinterland. The Soviet Union provided the otherwise failed Yak-32 project as an option. The Yak-32 gave Peru valuable experience in operating COIN and CAS aircraft, which they put to good use when they obtained the Su-25 in 1998.

You guys know the best part of building an Amodel kit is? When it's done and on the shelf. Thanks for looking!
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: GTX_Admin on October 18, 2015, 04:52:42 PM: Nice work
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: The Big Gimper on October 18, 2015, 06:29:25 PM: Ditto. A good fight to a great finish.
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: LemonJello on October 18, 2015, 07:34:26 PM: You'd never know there were any struggles in this project with that finished product to display. Excellent execution of an eclectic example of engineering!
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Old Wombat on October 20, 2015, 07:51:59 PM: Nice piece of work there, Frank! :)
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Frank3k on October 20, 2015, 09:28:53 PM: Thanks guys! I was rearranging my models yesterday and found a couple of Amodel kits... not building them for a long time.
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: ChernayaAkula on October 20, 2015, 09:35:39 PM: Gorgeous little plane! :-*
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: John Howling Mouse on November 09, 2015, 05:24:37 AM: Extremely likable.
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Weaver on December 08, 2015, 10:30:26 AM: That's pretty - nice one! :)
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Tophe on December 08, 2015, 12:09:54 PM: Good rare model and unusual colors. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Peruvian Air Force Yak-32
Post by: Buzzbomb on December 08, 2015, 10:43:08 PM: Another great job