Full Review by Aurelio Reale
A note from Geoff…
Did you see that we already have a full build of the HobbyBoss 1:48 kit featuring this impressive Russian FB? Dave C did a great job with his build and now when Trumpeter released their smaller scale 1:72 kit I wanted to get a different take on the aircraft and up stepped Aurelio who’s done an equally impressive job – thanks Aurelio!
Here’s a couple of photos of Aurelio’s completed 1:72 Su-34 Fullback…
Over to you Aurelio…
Russian “Duck” over Syria
Introduction
The Sukhoi Su-34 is a Russian twin-engine, twin-seat, all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24 and first entered service in 2014 with the Russian Air Force. Based on the Sukhoi Su-27, two-seat Su-34 is designed primarily for tactical deployment against ground and naval targets (tactical bombing/attack/interdiction roles) on solo and group missions in daytime and at night, under favourable and adverse weather conditions and in a hostile environment with counter-fire and EW counter-measures deployed, as well as for aerial reconnaissance. The aircraft shares most of its wing structure, tail, and engine nacelles with the Su-27/Su-30, with canards like the Su-30MKI, Su-33, and Su-27M/35 to increase static instability (higher manoeuvrability) and to reduce trim drag.
In September 2015, six Su-34s arrived at Latakia airport in Syria, for attacks against rebel and ISIL forces. Russian air attacks in Syria started on the 30 September, in the Homs region. On 1 October, the Su-34 was used to bomb Islamic State targets in Syria.
The Trumpeter kit
The kit arrives in a fairly large box, inside which are a fairly staggering 550 parts spread across 34 sprues of grey plastic (not including the upper and lower fuselage/wing parts, which are not on a sprue) and a single clear sprue. You have to hand it to Trumpeter, they know how to cram a lot of plastic into a box!
The parts are well protected and the quality of moulding is up to the usual Trumpeter standard, with fine, consistent panel lines and plenty of detail. The overall shape and arrangement of parts appears to match photographs and plans of the real aircraft well, with the only exception being the shape of the nose. Some modellers have commented that this could be improved with a little work with a sanding stick, but I’m not so sure. Anyway, Red Star Scale Models is making a resin set to replace the tip of the nose in order to have the best shape for this Su-34.