ijozic

Since it's an upgrade, most of the differences are internal (cockpit, radar, engines). The only external difference I'm aware of is the aforementioned IRST position (central on the regular, moved to the right side on the SM).

It comes with both the regular and SM cockpits IIRC, but it only had the windshield part designed for the SM (with a side mounted IRST) in the Su-27 box. Not sure if this was rectified in the later boxings, but you should be able to build an SM kit with it; it's the regular one that might be more problematic 🙂

Is that like an early batch problem or it's a very widespread issue? Better check mine, though I didn't jump on it at the first chance.

It's a refueling flow indicator. Why do you think it shouldn't be there since you've marked it on the actual photos (some of which clearly include the SVP-24-33)?

Yeah, the linked document mentions the OFP317 upgrade (1997) as containing the PTID unit, etc. as seen on the photo, but before the CDNU was installed.

That should be the CDNU unit, apparently installed as part of the OFP320 upgrade starting in 1999. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=489894d0f53809356019da11adb25d91c30bd431

I believe the Su-27 pilot would be a better match. That's what I used on my GWH 9-13, the 480211 kit, IIRC. But, looking at their photos, I guess the main difference is in the helmets which is not that obvious. Don't recall what's the difference from 480159, perhaps one of them is made to fit the Academy kit?

I have the AS-4 on my 1/72 Tu-22M3 and they're huge, so was hoping for something else if I do an M2 (1/144). But, I see that they never added support for the AS-6 to Tu-22M variants, unfortunately (as it was a scaled down AS-4 so it could be carried by Tu-16 and Tu-95, I guess they didn't need to). The AS-16 would have been interesting, but as you said, it was supported by the M3 variant only and they didn't bother with the M2 with it since it was problematic anyway.

A pointless discussion for sure, but couldn't help notice there might be a slight difference in contexts, given one was 80 years ago and the other is still ongoing as we type? Back to the kit, what are those missiles hung under it? I would prefer if it came with AS-6 Kingfisher missiles as I don't do post-USSR Russian stuff, but I guess a Ukrainian one might do.

From another forum..

AFAIK, Hasegawa makes pretty much the only Harrier II (i.e. AV-8B/+, Gr.5/7/9) kit worth considering in 1:48 (also reboxed by e.g. Revell), while Kinetic makes the original Harrier (I) kits (Gr. 1/3, FRS.1, AV-8A, etc.). Don't think it was announced yet, but I would be surprised if Kinetic doesn't follow up these with a line of Harrier II kits soon enough.

Perhaps you could post an image from a side perspective, showing fuselages in a nose to nose perspective. If I understand correctly, the issue is that the GWH nose doesn't point downwards enough? That would be quite an error for the price it goes for.

I didn't hear anything about YF-23, but I'd rather wager on e.g. Amusing Hobby to tackle that (supposedly they might be working on a Yak-41 in 1:48) or perhaps ModelCollect (who will release their A-12 soon in 1:48). Since I already have the HB kit, I'd prefer an F-23 (like a fictional in-service edition), though. Always hated how it lost to seemingly inferior F-22 (in non-economic parameters).

Yes, that would be awesome! I would really like to make a what-if Soviet Air Force Su-27M model. The only way to do that now is to find a Sol Su-35/37 conversion kit for the Academy Su-27, bit it's usually expensive as it's OOP and requires cutting up the model to fit which is not really my cup of tea, presumably.

Well, there's also the upcoming Trumpeter one as an alternative. I have an OEZ Su-17M3 somewhere, but kind of doubt I'll bother with it when newer alternatives are available.