Kitty Hawk Models 1/48 Su-27UB Flanker C Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | July 2020 | Manufacturer | Kitty Hawk Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Su-27UB Flanker C | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 80168 | Primary Media | Styrene, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Many possibilities | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $TBA |
First Look
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In the world of Soviet tactical aviation, there were two types of aircraft: fighters and trainers. As with tactical aircraft around the world, two-seat versions of a given aircraft type are needed to transition a new pilot into a given type. The MiG-15 had the MiG-15UTI trainer that would also serve as the transition trainer for the MiG-17 and MiG-19. With the MiG-21 series came several variants of the MiG-21U/UM, ditto with the MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, Su-7, Su-9/11, and Su-15. All of these trainers could carry a variety of armament to provide supervised weapons delivery training but were not equipped with the same radars (or any radar in some cases) as their single-seat counterparts. That all changed with the introduction of the Su-27UB, which was equipped with the same mission systems and armament as the single-seat versions. As the Su-27 was upgraded into the Su-27SM with new radar and weapons, so too did the two-seat version as the Su-27UBM. As two-seat multi-role aircraft became more prevalent in other air forces, the Su-27UB evolved into the Su-30 which paralleled the capabilities of the Su-27SM and Su-35. With the success of the Su-27UB as a combat-ready two-seat aircraft, similar advances were made with the Su-25 family with the Su-25TM/Su-39 two-seat multi-role aircraft as well as with the MiG-29M/MiG-35 two-seat combat aircraft.
Here is the third Su-27 kit recently released, the Su-27UB. This is one of three Flanker variants in this batch, which also includes the Su-27 and Su-30. While some of these parts trees are used in the other two new Flanker kits, none of these trees are out of the Su-35 kit released by Kitty Hawk a few years ago. Molded in gray styrene, this kit is presented on 12 parts trees plus one tree of clear parts and one small fret of photo-etched details.
Among the features and options in this kit:
- Nicely detailed front and rear cockpits
- Nicely detailed K-36D ejection seats which provide photo-etched crew restraints
- Detailed AL-31F engines
- Positionable ventral intake shutters
- Intake ducts to the engine faces
- Starboard gun bay with positionable access panel
- Detailed forward avionics bay
- Positionable avionics bay/radar access
- Choice of early (dish) or later (phased array) radar antennas (not mentioned in the instructions except the color guide)
- Positionable dorsal speed brake
- Detailed landing gear and wheel wells
- Positionable leading and trailing edge flaps
- Positionable stabilators
- Positionable radome
- Positionable parachute door
Weapons included:
- GSh-30 internal cannon in gun bay
- 2 x R-27ER/ET (AA-10 Alamo)
- 2 x R-27R/T (AA-10 Alamo)
- 2 x R-60 (AA-8 Aphid)
- 2 x R-73 (AA-11 Archer)
- 2 x R-77 (AA-12 Adder)
Markings are provided for six subjects:
- Su-27UB, bort 64, Soviet VVS
- Su-27UB, bort 65, Russian VVS
- Su-27UB, bort 10, Russian VVS
- J-16, bort 28/11128, PLAAF
- J-16, bort 11137, PLAAF
- Su-27UB, bort 14, Soviet VVS
- Su-27UB, bort 23, Russian Knights aerial demo team
- Su-27UB, bort 74, Ukrainian Air Force
- Su-27UB, bort 52, Russian VVS
- Su-27UB, bort 389, Sukhoi Test/Demo aircraft
For a look at this kit built in our quick-build format, look here.
Here is a list of paints Kitty Hawk identifies for use with this kit and their equivalent colors from other brands. Also included are the 'standard' colors for the Su-27 camouflage:
B095
C095
B328
C328
B038
C038
Gray-Blue
H002
N002
B125
C125
A012
36107
X01
H003
N003
B276
C276
36131
X07
H005
N005
B220
C220
X03
H008
N008
B003
C003
36190
LP11
X11
H018
N018
36191
X10
H025
N025
H051
N051
C048
A063
H057
N057
H058
N058
B211
C211
XA1117
N017
B115
C155
H076
N076
XF84
H077
N077
XF85
H080
N080
C152
XF67
H083
N083
H090
N090
X27
H094
N094
H095
N095
X19
H305
B031
C031
A066
H306
B053
C054
A064
H316
B049
C049
A062
H324
H331
H335
B141
C141
XF83
XA1003
H338
B050
C050
XA1139
H339
B061
C061
XA1129
H416
B040
C040
A005
XA1203
My sincere thanks to Kitty Hawk Models for this review sample!