Kitty Hawk 1/48 Su-17/22UMK-3 Fitter Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

For a brief introduction to the Fitter series, look here. Last year, Kitty Hawk introduced two installments of the Fitter series: the Su-17M3/M4 and the Su-22M4. The box art in both of those kits made other claims, but these were the variants that could be produced out of those boxes. In this release, we have the parts to render the Su-17UM3 or Su-22UMK3, both NATO Codenamed: Fitter G. Externally, both aircraft appear identical (hence the same codename) though the Su-17UM3 is the Soviet Air Force variant with standard avionics, and the Su-22UMK3 is the export version with less-capable avionics. Both aircraft were powered by the AL-21 engine, whereas the Su-22UM3 was powered by the R-29B and the parts are not in the box for this variant.

Whatever you call it, this variant is the two-seat training version of the Su-17M3 Fitter H and Su-17M4/Su-22M4 Fitter K.

As before, among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed cockpit tubs
• Detailed K-36D ejection seats with choice of seat cushions and photo-etched restraints
• Instrument panels and side console decals
• Positionable canopies
• Positionable aux intake (blow-in) doors
• Detailed AL-21F engine
• Choice of Su-17M3 or M4 vertical stab fairings
• Positionable speed brakes
• Positionable rudder
• Positionable stabilators
• Positionable ailerons
• Positionable leading edge slats
• Positionable trailing edge flaps
• Movable wings (not if the flaps and slats are posed extended)

External stores include:

• 2 x R-73 (NATO: AA-11 Archer)
• 4 x R-60 (NATO: AA-8 Aphid)
• 2 x Kh-23 (NATO: AS-7 Kerry)
• 2 x APU-60-2 R-60 twin-rail launchers
• 2 x BETAB-500 Bombs
• 2 x BETAB-500-ZD
• 2 x RBK-500-250 Bombs
• 2 x FAB-500-M54 Bombs
• 2 x OFAB-250-SZN Bombs
• 4 x FAB-250-M54 Bombs
• 4 x FAB-250-M62 Bombs
• 4 x F2B-250-TS Bombs
• 4 x SAB-100 Bombs
• 2 x B-13 Rocket Pods
• 2 x S-24 Rockets
• 2 x S-25L Rockets
• 2 x B-8M Rocket Pods
• 2 x UB-32-57 Rocket Pods
• 2 x SPPU-22 Downward Firing Gun Pods
• 2 x UBK-23 Gun Pods
• 2 x SPS-141 EW Pods
• 2 x External Fuel Tanks
• 1 x KKR-1T Reconnaissance Pod

The kit provides markings for six subjects plus a set of airframe stencils:

• Su-22UM3K, 707, Polish AF, Tiger Meet
• Su-17UM3, Bort 88, Soviet AF
• Su-22UM3K, 98+16, WTD-61, Luftwaffe, Manching AB, 1994
• Su-22UM3K, Bort 09, 31 KTF, Hungarian AF
• Su-22UM3K, 7310, 322 TRS, Czech AF, 1994
• Su-22UM3K, Bort 77, Ukrainian AF

The kit itself looks nice out of the box but here are a few thoughts:

• The kit fuselage consists of three sections. The rear section division is at the maintenance break so you can pose the tail removed to reveal the details of the nice AL-21F. The instructions don't indicate that this is an option
• With the exception of the AL-21F, the kit doesn't waste time/resources with details you won't see after assembly (not over-engineered)
• As with some Tomcat kits, the outer wing panels are hinged to move, but as with those Tomcat kits, you don't want to leave those pivots unglued if you opt to pose the flaps and slats extended
• When Kitty Hawk announced an extensive weapons set for this kit, they weren't exaggerating. You'll have plenty leftover to bomb up a number of other WarPac subjects
• The color profiles indicate that the Su-22UM subjects are UM3 (R-29B powered) but they are indeed all Su-22UM3K (A-21 powered)

Aside from the confusion of the variants presented in this box, as well as the odd centerbody radome (fixed by KASL), this kit goes together quite nicely and offers an impressive array of loadout options.

For a look at the single-seater kit built-up, look here.

My sincere thanks to Kitty Hawk Models for this review sample!