Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: trickyrich on February 12, 2015, 09:28:14 PM

Title: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: trickyrich on February 12, 2015, 09:28:14 PM

ok the final one, well post some more in a week or two, but now for some ‘heavy metal”!!!

This one was built for a Swing Wing GB. Naturally I would have gone for a F-111 as I do have a soft spot for the old girl and I use to fix them when I was MUCH younger!

But this one just grabbed my attention as soon as I saw it, plus it was a bit unusual. Again a 1/48 Eduard model was the basis, the Su-17/22M3 Fitter, and again lots of extras were thrown in. Including a very dodgy re-cast  of the Cutting Edge External Detail resin set (I thought it was genuine when I bought it)! It caused so much extra work!!!  A huge amount of time was spent trying to get the flaps and their mechanisms to look and sit right! Plus the undercarriage was crap, so it was all cut up and rebuilt as the aircraft didn't have the correct stance it has in real life. Plus a few additional dramas along the way during the build, made the whole project very interesting. Oh and it was the first time I had ever sprayed using acrylic paints!

The end product is what I would consider one of my best models, I just love! Some much in fact that I have a second one complete with all the extras and no dodgy recast, just waiting to be started!!

(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0914_zps20fc45ec.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0913_zpsb8e5bcf7.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0920_zps622454fd.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0915_zpsc678de39.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0906_zps6ef9db52.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0902_zpsa9228cdf.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0900_zps638dd587.jpg)
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/DSCF0911_zps1dac66bd.jpg)

build link http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234937803-finished-photos-148-eduard-sukhoi-su-17m3-fitter/ (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234937803-finished-photos-148-eduard-sukhoi-su-17m3-fitter/)

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: taiidantomcat on February 12, 2015, 10:09:00 PM

That looks wonderful  :-*

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: deathjester on February 12, 2015, 10:29:17 PM

Wonderfully battle worn!  One of the the best of these kits I have seen - including the one from the Airfix mag!!

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on February 13, 2015, 12:15:38 AM

Very nice work on your Fitter. 

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 13, 2015, 02:52:25 AM

 :)

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: elmayerle on February 13, 2015, 02:56:34 AM

Most gorgeous and impressive!

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: trickyrich on February 13, 2015, 03:50:02 AM

  thanks everyone.

I should have posted this photo as well as some may have wondered (or maybe not) as to why the gun pods are the wrong way around! Well they are not. This was an alternate configuration for the SPPU-22 gun pod which I found out about as I was researching the weapon load outs for this aircraft. I’m not sure how common this configuration was but suspect it was very mission/theatre specific, something maybe learnt from Afghanistan.

(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q722/trickyrich62/Swing%20Wing%20GB%20-%20Su17-M3/SPPU-22GunPodFitted_zps2d74cf9b.jpg)

These gun pods could easily be mounted facing either direction, all that was required was the addition of a control cable for rearwards facing. The barrels deflection was manually set from 0° to 30°.

The thought was that after a bomb/unguided rocket run the locals would be a bit upset and liable to shot/fire something off at the departing aircraft. In this configuration 4 x 23mm cannons firing backwards would defer rash decisions like that! Aim was not that important, 4 x 23mm cannons would spoil anyone's day. 

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: elmayerle on February 13, 2015, 04:42:28 AM

Yeah, that should be enough to make them keep their heads down until you've exited the area.

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 13, 2015, 06:06:45 AM

Really terrific

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: ed s on February 13, 2015, 11:41:04 AM

Great looking model. One of the best realistic finishes I've seen.

Ed

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Modelling_Mushi on February 13, 2015, 07:56:05 PM

 :D

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Camthalion on February 17, 2015, 06:08:46 AM

Looks fantastic.  Great work

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Frank3k on February 17, 2015, 08:58:19 AM

The Fitter is one of my favorite Soviet AC and you've done a great job with it!

Title: Re: Soviet Naval Aviation Su-17M3 Fitter H "Blue 09"
Post by: Brian da Basher on February 19, 2015, 08:16:04 AM

That's some of the best paint-chipping and weathering I've ever seen!

Brian da Basher