Kitty Hawk Models 1/48 Su-30MK Flanker C Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Su-30 (NATO Codename: Flanker) is a multi-role combat capable version of the Su-27UB two-seat trainer. Like many two-seat combat aircraft around the world, the Su-30 provides another set of eyes in the cockpit providing a more robust combat capability. As the Su-30 continued to be modernized and tailored to the requirements of different client nations, some aircraft received capabilities found in the Su-35 including advanced radar and thrust-vectoring engine nozzles. One design feature that appeared with the advanced Su-30 series was the canards originally developed with the highly maneuverable Su-37 prototypes to offset the increased weight of advanced avionics in the nose. One feature that came and went from the airframe was the canard system ahead of the wings. The Su-30s that received the upgraded avionics suite also received the canards to offset the heavier electronics in the nose. These canards also appeared on the early Su-35 airframes equipped with the same avionics. Before the Su-35 went into full production, additional improvements were into a new radar system that also weighed considerably less and this radar was adopted for the Su-35S which also eliminated the need for the canards.

It has been interesting to read many of the posts online claiming Kitty Hawk/Panda Hobby are no longer in business. As Mark Twain once wrote: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." If you prefer Monty Python and the Holy Grail: "I'm not dead yet...I'm getting better!" The Wuhan virus basically shut down the planet, and production ceased for many companies including Kitty Hawk/Panda Hobby, but throughout their shut-down, the owner continued designing future projects. Once the shut-down was lifted, they began to produce new kits and five of those have come across the pond. Surely five new kits is a reliable sign of life!

We looked at the Panda Hobby German self-propelled howitzer a few days ago, so next up is this new-tool kit, the Su-30MK. This is one of three Flanker variants in this batch, which follow the Su-35S kit released three years ago. 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. Molded in gray styrene, this kit is presented on ten parts trees plus two trees of clear parts and one small fret of photo-etched details. Unlike the Su-27 and Su-27UB kits, this release does not have any weapons sprues included.

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
• Positionable canopy
• 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
• Nice phased array radar antenna
• Positionable dorsal speed brake
• Detailed landing gear and wheel wells
• Positionable leading and trailing edge flaps
• Positionable stabilators
• Positionable air refueling probe
• Positionable radome
• Positionable parachute door
• Wingtip Sorbitsya pods

Weapons included:

• GSh-30 internal cannon in gun bay

Markings are provided for six subjects:

• Su-30SMK, bort 501, Sukhoi test/demo aircraft
• Su-30SMK, bort 502, Sukhoi test/demo aircraft
• Su-30SMV, bort 0564, Venezuelan Air Force
• J-11BS, bort 12, PLAAF
• Su-30M2, bort 504, Sukhoi test/demo aircraft w/mural of Pavel Sukhoi on port vertical stab
• Su-30M2, bort 20, Russian test aircraft

Notes:

• Out of the box, this kit will build into a number of nice examples
• Using aftermarket thrust-vectoring nozzles, you can also expand the subject possibilities
• There have been some aftermarket canard conversions that could be adapted to this kit to render examples like the Indian AF Su-30SMI
• There are two clear trees included, one out of the Su-27UB kit for the long canopy and the other out of the single-seat kit for the windscreen

I dry-fitted the fuselage halves and the fit is exquisite. The layout of the kit is very straightforward, but the proof will be in the building. I'll be doing a quick-build of one of these three Flanker kits so we can see if this beauty builds as nice as it looks. Stay tuned!

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:

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