Trumpeter Sukhoi Su-24M Fencer D 1:48 – build review

Feature Article by Jürgen Jaacks

A note from Geoff…
If you take a look in the SMN Aircraft Subscribers’ Gallery you will find several other fantastic projects from Jürgen, usually covering aircraft with unusual or rarely-seen markings that make his models very attractive and interesting. So, it’s great to be able to bring you another of his projects, this time the Trumpeter Su-24M Fencer D in 1:48 but finished in Algerian AF markings – how different is that? I love the finish Jürgen has achieved and what follows is his special feature article showing each step of the build, accessories used and all the how-to information you’ll need if you wanted to take on this or a similar project.

Here are a couple of pics of Jürgen’s completed Su-24 Fencer – how good is that?

The real thing

Often called the Soviet F-111, the Su-24 specifications were set early in 1966 and the non-swing wing prototype T6-1 with 4 separate lift engines flew for the first time in July 1967. Later the lift engines were abandoned and instead swing wings were introduced. Some influence on the design of the definitive aircraft came from the visit of the Sukhoi team at the Paris Air Show 1967, where the F-111 with its swing wings was displayed. So the T6-2I prototype was designed and built at the OKB-51 experimental plant at Moscow. First flight was in January 1970. The Su-24 Fencer was born.

The Fencer was accepted for Service in the Air Force and the Naval Air Service in February 1975. The Su-24M, the subject of this model, was introduced to service in June 1981. Other variants for reconnaissance and ECM were also developed. Export of the aircraft started in the nineties to countries like Angola, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Algeria. In addition several former Soviet states incorporated Fencers into their forces after gaining independence.

For my build I have chosen an Algerian bird. Algeria received ten to twelve Su-24MK’s, which were refurbished in 2001 by NAPO in Novosibirsk. The deal included also delivery of 22 refurbished aircraft from Russian stock.

Some pictures of Algerian Su-24 can be found in the book ‘Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft in Africa’ by Yefim Gordon and Dmitiry Komissarov, Hikoki Publications 2013
A good overview of the development with fine detail photos can be found in the book ‘Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer’ by Yefim Gordon and Keith Dexter in the Aerofax Line, 2005

What is around?

When the Trumpeter kit of the Su-24M was released in 2010, it was fairly quickly acquired for my stack of kits. Other companies followed with detail sets and decals. Here is an incomplete list of what´s available:

• Aires Set 4509 Cockpit
• Aires Set Radar
• Begemot Decal Set Su-24 Fencer Family full stencil set 48-020
• Begemot Decal Set Su-24 Fencer Family 48-019 for the full range of versions and users incl. detailed description of each bird covered
• Authentic Decals Islamic Fencers set 48-32 with choices for Iraq, Iran, Libya, Algeria early and late and Azerbaijan.

I used the Aires cockpit set together with one of the choices of the Authentic Decal set, Number KX-12 of the Algerian Air Force.

On with the kit and build…