Sukhoi SU-25UB/UBK Frogfoot

[Mike]

Sukhoi SU-25UB/UBK Frogfoot

1:48 KP Models

The "Frogfoot" is the Soviet equivalent to the A-10, and shares a number of traits with its cold-war opponent. Originating as a single-seat aircraft, the UB model is the 2-seat trainer, with the UBK the export version of that airframe.

It was designed from the ground up as a Close Air Support (CAS) platform, with a titanium bathtub for the pilot, and thick head armour, to protect the crew. The nose mounted 30mm cannon sits below the crew compartment, and there are 11 stations for attack munitions. The two engines are non-afterburning turbojets, mounted at the wing root either side of the fuselage for protection. All that sound familiar?

The Frogfoot has seen extensive combat in Afghanistan during Soviet occupation, with the Iraqi airforce in the Iran/Iraq war, and the first Gulf War, where the majority were destroyed on the ground. The export versions have also served in a number of smaller conflicts in Africa.

The kit is a new release from KP Models, and as the name suggests, there is a link to the old Kopro brand insofar as inside the box are the old Kopro sprues. Use of the word "old" perhaps gives the wrong impression, as the kits have engraved panel lines and the part count is high. If you don't remember the original kit, it was considered to be a better bet than the Monogram kit (which is said to share more with the prototype than the in-service machine), as it is overall more accurate shapewise. That's difficult for me to add my comment to, as the kit is still on its sprues next to me.

Where the Kopro kit suffered was in the cockpit area, and KP Models have addressed this failing with vigor! More on that later.

The box is a compact affair, and the black lid is adorned with an excellent painting of an Iraqi Frogfoot firing its cannon. A dogtag image denotes this release as part of the Masterline Series, and adds to the already stylish look of the satin finished box.

Inside the box is quite a haul. Five sprues of mid grey styrene, a large bag of resin parts, a clear sprue, two frets of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, a set of pre-cut masks, a sheet of film for the instrument panels, a colourful sheet of decals and an instruction booklet that is printed on glossy paper in full colour. Again, an air of attention to detail stands out here.

Looking at the sprues, it's immediately evident that the Kopro moulds haven't suffered since they were last in use, with only a little flash on the sprues themselves and the nose gear bay, which can be cut away in a few seconds. The old cockpit parts are still on the sprues, and are referred to separately in the instructions if you want to build the "simplified cockpit".

Construction starts with the cockpit of course, and the resin parts are used here to great effect. The parts are all cast on sturdy pour blocks, and the resin has a very strong, almost plastic-like feel, with excellent detail and no moulding defects that I could spot. The two Zvezda ejection seats build up from a combination of resin and PE parts, and a lovely detailed spine to each seat is made from an outer C-shaped fold and 9 strengthening parts, all in PE. The leg restraints are also made from PE, and have the pull-tight straps for attachment to the seat. A full set of seat belts are also included.

Moving on to the cockpit itself, each pilot has a separate tub, into which PE rudder pedals fit on a resin frame. Sidewall detail affixes to the interior of the fuselage, and here a small 2mm section of the cockpit sill needs removing from the part between the two crew. The instrument panels build up from PE and film parts, and attach to two beautifully sculpted coamings.

Now we come to a tricky bit... the instructions tell you to cut the single piece canopy into four parts. Yikes! The end result, assuming you don't break it, is a very detailed canopy assembly with PE frames and a film blast shield between the pilots - I'm tempted just because of the large PE insert that provides strengthening rib detail in the rear canopy, which is partly skinned at the rear. If you get it wrong though, you'll need to go cap in hand to KP Models for a replacement. The single part is large and intimidating, but clarity is good for the most part, and a dip in Klear/Future should help greatly. The chunky framework is well represented too, and the inclusion of the pre-cut masks will compensate the modeller for the time taken to cut the canopy apart.

Jumping past the "Simplified Cockpit" steps, the engine pods are next. I initially thought that it was a strange way to accomplish the task, but I'm starting to see why it was done that way for moulding simplicity, and to remove the need for any inserts as in the Monogram kit. A straight-through tube is built up with compressor fans fore and aft giving the impression of an jet engine between intake and exhaust. Here there are a couple of ejector pin marks to obliterate, but I'd be tempted to put some FOD guards on, as they add a little colour to the finished model.

The wings and tail are next, each made from two halves apiece, while the horizontal tail parts are single pieces, and happily free of sink marks. Once these are built, the whole airframe is assembled, and any cleanup of the seams done. Here we hit another negative from my point of view. The wheel bays are totally devoid of any internal detail - they're just empty boxes.

Granted, the main nose gear bay door will most often be closed in practice, but I would have hoped for a few small additions here to bring it somewhere near the standard of the excellent cockpit. The main gear bays are similarly blank, and the modeller must cut the doors to pose the main door closed while the smaller door hangs inboard of the complex gear legs.

Munitions aren't in short supply with this kit, and you get 8 x standard pylons with a further two plus adapter rails for the R-60 Aphid missiles. The full complement of munitions is as follows:

2 x S-24B Rockets

2 x R-60 Aphid

2 x PTB-800 Fuel Tanks

2 x B-8M Rocket Pods

2 x SPPU-22-01 Cannon Pods

A load-out chart is included as step 38 of the instructions, showing which munitions are carried on which pylons.

The build is completed by the usual complement of aerials, antennae, lumps and bumps - most noticeable of which are the two probes either side of the nose. Additional masks are provided to cover dielectric panels on the wingtip sponsons, as well as the wheels and the window on the tip of the nose.

The decals are bright, in good register, with good colour density, and include many stencils applicable to all airframes. A separate stencilling diagram is provided on the back of the instruction booklet, and it appears that there are approximately 100 of them, although there are some with the same numbers on each side of the airframe, so estimating is tricky.

From the box you can build one of the following airframes:

SU-25UBK Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force, Shiraz Shahid Dastghaib International Airport, May 2009

SU-25UB Peruvian Air force, Grupo Aereo 11, Escuadron Aereo 112, El Pato AB "Los Tigres", 2005

SU-25UBK Czechoslovak Air Force, 30th Ground Attack Regiment, Pardubice AB, 1992

SU-25UB Macedonian Air Force, 101st Avaiation Squadron, Petrovec, Aerodrom Skopje, 2006

SU-25UB Russian Air Force, Red 99 of Chained Dogs Squadron, Kubinka, May 1999

SU-25UBK Bulgarian Air Force, 22nd Attack Air Base, 2/22 Attack Squadron, Bezmer Ab, August 2010

Conclusion

It is good to have this kit readily available again, and the detail in the cockpit is exemplary. The additional parts and the inclusion of a set of masks is also good, but I guess that in order to keep the cost of the kit to a sensible level, the gear bays were left as they were. This shouldn't really bother the majority, as not much can be seen once the bay doors are correctly closed up, but I'll probably end up scratching some details from my references.

If you plan on following suit, remember that the UB's wheel bays are somewhat different from the single seater (as far as I know), so check your references carefully before adding any detail.

It's one of my favourite Russian aircraft (if you'd not already guessed), and I'm looking forward to building it as an Iranian airframe - a free gift from Iraq at the start of GWI.

Review sample courtesy of

[Paul A H]

That looks like a quality product Mike.

[Antoine]

Whow!

I know KP since a long time, but I've neverheard about this new line.

Who stock those kits?

Hannants maybe?

[Moofles]

i must say that does look deeply impressive.

[Mike]

Whow!

I know KP since a long time, but I've neverheard about this new line.

Who stock those kits?

Hannants maybe?

Here's a link to their distributor list

Clicky

[brighton rock]

You could try Producers Modelimex, this is a web based service specialising in East European kits.

They are based in the Czech Republik, and are very efficient and deliver to the UK.

for me I would prefer to have the 1:72 version of this same kit..Hope Kopro come to this

[Greased Lightning]

Thanks for the review Mike!

Excuse my ignorance but is the original KP kit from the same mouldings as the old OEZ offering?

I do think we are truely spoiled these days for 1/48 Russian jets, I know some of the Trumpeter kits have come in for some negative comments but at least we have these aircraft in injection moulded plastic! We also have a Forger to look forward to this year and we're also getting the two seater! Now that is a weird looking aircraft!

[Graham T]

Here's a link to their distributor list

Clicky

If you're "ebay capable" it's worth keping an eye on seller "Heepdrutt", he often has KP products & is a highly recommended seller (no connection with me!)

He's listing it now at £49.95

Edited July 25, 2011 by Graham T

[Antoine]

Thanks, Mike.

And Graham.

[andy hood]

Wow that looks to be a very nice kit indeedy!!

[Arkady72]

Mike, do you have painting schemes too? Model is very tempting.

EDIT: I found it on their homepage. Model is ordered!

Edited July 28, 2011 by Arkady72

[Richard Kiss (KP Models)]

Mike, do you have painting schemes too? Model is very tempting.

EDIT: I found it on their homepage. Model is ordered!

yes, you're right, on our website published a free downloadable brochure shows & describes all features:

http://www.kp-models.com/kp-models/news/ma...sed-just-today/

Edited July 28, 2011 by Richard Kiss (KP Models)

[robw_uk]

that cockpit looks the dogs danglies (ie very very good)... and love the peruvian markings (tiger head).... may have to add to my wish list (I know its not USN but...)

[Arkady72]

Just arrived in my stash. Cockpit is absolutely stunning.

[Calum]

Just wished they'd tooled an open cockpit, or given 2 clear sprues so you can cut it without worrying about the other parts

[Arkady72]

Just wished they'd tooled an open cockpit, or given 2 clear sprues so you can cut it without worrying about the other parts

I thought exactly the same...

[Tim T]

That looks great. I love the Peruvian scheme.

[Julien]

Whow!

I know KP since a long time, but I've neverheard about this new line.

Who stock those kits?

Hannants maybe?

Aviation mega store in Holland has these for Euro 45

http://www.aviationmegastore.com/suchoi-su...0&art=98583

Julien

[Antoine]

Thanks, Julien, but P&P by AMS is always overpriced.

[Julien]

Thanks, Julien, but P&P by AMS is always overpriced.

Expensive yes, overpriced no.

They have a policy of sending overseas orders by fully tracked UPS parcel service. This is expensive compared to the post, but no overpriced for the service you get. I tend to only get stuff from AMS if I can get it no where else because the postage is high. They do offer a great service though.

Julien