Sukhoi T-50 Russian Fifth-Generation Fighter

[Paul A H]

Sukhoi T-50 Russian Fifth-Generation Fighter

1:72 Zvezda

The Sukhoi T-50 is the product of Russia’s PAK-FA programme, designed to fulfil a requirement for a fifth-generation multirole fighter to replace the Su-27 and MiG-29 in Russian Air Force service. The prototype T-50 first took to the air on 29 January 2010, in the capable hands of Sukhoi test pilot, Sergey Bogdan. To date it has made at least forty flights and a second prototype is due to join the programme shortly. India is also a major backer of the programme, and is expected to be the first customer apart from Russia to receive the new jets.

Zvezda’s latest kit arrives in a sturdy top-opening box with a (very) tight fitting lid that takes some effort to prise off! Inside are four sprues of grey plastic; one each for the large top and bottom halves that make up the airframe, a large sprue containing the rest of the components needed for the aircraft, and a small sprue containing two models of Mr Bogdan; one seated and one standing. A rather nice, delicate access ladder is also included, allowing the builder to put together a simple diorama straight from the box.

A small transparent sprue, a stand and a tiny decal sheet make up the rest of the package. The quality of mouldings is very good, with crisp, fine, engraved panel lines featured throughout. The external surfaces of the airframe feature a slightly textured finish, giving them a matt appearance.

By modern standards this is a relatively simple kit, comprised of only seventy parts. The instructions are clear and concise, taking up only one sheet of folded A3 paper. Before the two halves of the airframe can be joined together, several internal structures must be assembled and painted. In the case of the T-50, these are the cockpit and the full-length engine intakes/undercarriage bays. The engine intakes must also be fixed in place at this point. The cockpit itself fits into the fuselage beautifully, but features no raised detail. Instead, the instrument panel and consoles are represented by decals. The K 36 Ejection seat is also rather nicely rendered.

Once the two halves of the aircraft are joined together, construction continues apace with the stabilators and all-moving vertical tails. Assembly of the rest of the usual gubbings follows in a logical order. The engine exhausts deserve a special mention as they feature rather nice afterburner injectors. The canopy is moulded in two halves, and hydraulic arms are provided should the builder wish to pose the canopy open. The T-50’s design features two main ordnance bays, located in the fuselage between the two engines, and two supplementary ordnance bays for air-air weapons located under the wing-fuselage join. None of these bays are included in this kit, which helps to keep the part count and cost down, but may frustrate those who wish to build the model with the bays open. The moveable leading edges above the engine intakes are also moulded into the wing.

Painting instructions and decals are provided for the single prototype. Paint references are provided for Zvezda’s own range of paints and the Model Master range.

Conclusion

This is a nice kit of a subject that will interest fans of modern jets or Russian hardware. The quality of the mouldings is very good and the kit looks like it will be relatively straightforward to build. The kit has been criticised on some forums, with the shape of the top of the fuselage being cited as the main area of weakness. Having studied the kit for myself and compared it to photographs of the real thing, there does appear to be a slight issue; the bulges over the engines should taper to an almost seamless blend with the downward-sloping fuselage behind the cockpit. Zvezda have moulded these complex curves without this feature. For comparison, the box artwork actually shows the correct shape quite well. Nevertheless this is a nice kit and is available for a pretty reasonable price. Slight shape issues aside, it should build into a nice model and will please most modellers.

Review sample courtesy of my wallet.

Edited January 5, 2011 by Paul A H

[David Womby]

Very tempting! I love these new generation (4th and 5th) Russian and Chinese jets. It would look great next to a Mig 1.44! I am also thrilled to see they put in a pilot and a stand - I wish more manufacturers did that nowadays.

Thanks for the review.

David

[Stephen]

Nice review, I wish it was in 1/48 scale.

Stephen

[Col.]

Thanks for the review Paul. Nice to see both pilot figures and stands in a kit again Quite tempted to add one of these to the stash now.

[mrvr6]

f 22ski?

[MiG31]

From comparing photos of the real plane with photos of the dry-fitted model, the intake shapes also appear to be very wrong. They have too much rake compared with the real PAK-FA, and may not have the proper width or depth.

I still haven't seen photos showing the model with its canopy attached.

f 22ski?

Could we avoid this kind of discussion in this thread?

Edited January 6, 2011 by MiG31

[bungynik]

Here you have an review that pointing on some problems with this kit. http://inscale.org/pub/index.php?topic=788

According to this there is some serious errors on the kit, but mainly at this stage of development of the T-50 prototype and considering how closed was Russia for leaking any information, this doesn't seems so bad model.

[Paul A H]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! It does seem there may be some other shape issues with the kit, but I'll be posting a work-in-progress build very soon, so you'll be able to take a look and decide for yourself as it goes together.

[Max Headroom]

I'm getting a front row seat for this!

MH

[Paul A H]

Build thread is now underway here.

[general melchett]

Ah shame, I think I'll hold off on getting this until all the errors can be identified and then it'll be out with the Milliput and in with the wet and dry. Good for Zvezda but perhaps it would have been more prudent if they'd waited a bit longer to get the thing right................nice to see it though..

[Mike]

Ah shame, I think I'll hold off on getting this until all the errors can be identified and then it'll be out with the Milliput and in with the wet and dry. Good for Zvezda but perhaps it would have been more prudent if they'd waited a bit longer to get the thing right................nice to see it though..

It's one of those things thought isn't it Andy? Look back at the old Italeri F-35 kit, and it now looks a bit crappo, but that's with the benefit of hindsight, and knowing which way the design process went. I'd imagine whatever differences in the kit are there, were put there in good faith only for the design to change at some point down the line.

I'll be first in the queue when this gets the 1:48 treatment - even at this early stage of its development, it's a striking looking aircraft

[general melchett]

True Mike, I'm not totally sure if it's right but it has been mentioned that Sukhoi weren't too forthcoming with design details early on, (understandingly really) so I'm guessing that Zvezda went with the information that they had at the time. To be honest the remedial work doesn't seem that daunting to those of us who don't mind a bit of extra work.

Hopefully HPH will do the honours with their 1/48th version later in the year...

[Paul A H]

There are pics of the HPH prototype on their website here.

[worm]

Oh, all those What-if possibilities.

[bungynik]

Begemot has released decal set for Sukhoi T-50 in 1/72 scale . This is the full set with stencils for "Blue 51" prototype.

I have found only one link to review http://inscale.org/pub/index.php?topic=1040.0

If somebody have something other about this decal sheet, please post the link or info!

Edited March 5, 2011 by bungynik

[Paul A H]

Excellent, thanks for the update!