Flankerman Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Inspired by a discussion about building a Su-37 - The discussion suggested combining the back end of the 1/72 scale two-seat Zvezda Su-30SM with the front end of the Zvezda Su-33 to make the single seat Su-37. A new longer (and slightly fatter) nose is needed - along with taller, square-tipped fins - plus a few other minor changes - but the whole thing looks do-able. I have both kits in my stash, so I got both out for comparison - and liked what I saw.... so here goes.... As they are both from the same manufacturer, the panel lines match up - the Su-30SM is on the left - with the Su-33 on the right. The fuselages butchered / separated....... Note how the airbrakes differ. .... and swapped over (the left hand one will be the Su-37, the right-hand one will become a Chinese J-17/J-15D) Plastic card strips used the strengthen the joint. Now, I just need to work out how to do the fatter/longer Su-37 radome. More later.. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tapchan Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 I'll definitely follow this one. I have received my Su-30SM yesterday but I guess I won't be able to do such transplantations yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulsbrown Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Masterclass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mario krijan Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Challenge accepted by Ken!! Great work!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Way cool! Great that the left-overs will also yield a full model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 Progress...... The first application of filler along the joins....... I used the Su-33 cockpit tub - but with the Su-30SM decals as they have MFD screens - not 100% accurate for a Su-37 but with the canopy closed..... Zvezda provide the sliding throttle control on the left - but the Su-37 was fitted with a sidestick controller (right) - so I used the kit control column cut down...... Su-33 front end, married to the Su-30SM rear end.............. .... with the complete Su-30SM lower fuselage attached - and it all fits..... Now for some sanding/filling/sanding.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Mmmmm....hacking and slashing, love it! 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 Thanks Janne... more butchery.... I'm happy with the joint lines - they are now eliminated.... So it's onto that problematic nose...... Published dimensions give the T10 (Su-27) and T10M (Su-37) as having the same overall length - but the Su-27 length includes the nose pitot. That means that the Su-37 (which doesn't have a nose pitot) must have the nose / radome lengthened by the same length as the pitot (11mm in the kit) The radome is also slightly wider in diameter - and without the slight double curvature of the Su-27 radome...... I'm lengthening the kit radome by inserting a length of 15mm dia plastic knitting needle between the fuselage nose and radome - I'll fill in the recess with scraps of plastic later....... I'm not 'fattening' the radome - the difference is minimal in 1/72 scale - but I'll try and re-shape the curvature to an approximation of the Su-37 shape. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mario krijan Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) Wrong assumption 😁 Edited September 30, 2019 by mario krijan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 Care to elaborate Mario??? Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BLACK_MAMBA Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Looking at pictures of the 37 and 27 I think your assumption is correct Ken. The 37 nose does look visually longer and the lengths confirm this. I think once the nose is filled and re-profiled it will look the part. What is the diameter difference in real life and in scale? Perhaps a bit of extra beef there will help it look the part more after all? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mario krijan Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 11 hours ago, Flankerman said: Care to elaborate Mario??? Ken Ken it looks like i am getting old and blind 😀😀😀😀😀 Need to return to read again Flanker books 😀😀😀 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 More.... The gap betwen the lengthened radome and fuselage is filled in with scraps of plastic card.... .... followed by filler and a first sanding.... people of a nervous disposition look away now.. I've also made the new tailboom - using an 8mm plastic knitting needle cut and carved to shape - More butchery to follow... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DIO Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 The cockpit colour looks a little off... But great work at scratch building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 Fearsome hack'n slash modelling.....I'm watching the post through my fingers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tapchan Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Any progress? 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share Posted December 18, 2019 I'm afraid it has been relegated to the back burner due to other projects. I will get it finished - just not so quickly. Thanks for your interest. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I hadn't even noticed the project before today. Very nice that I finally did! Will be waiting for the return. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hemspilot Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Well, glad to see that master Ken followed my advice on Britmodeller and got the J-15D/J-17 project going, but has there been any progress since then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.