Airplanes

How to build the 1/32 Trumpeter Su-27 Flanker. A step by step guide for novices

by Masa Narita © 2005 Masa Narita / Modeler Site

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Big size photos are only available in our PDF format.


Editor note: This month we’re showing the 1/32 SU-27 from Trumpeter, a scale the manufacturer is making good use of, introducing 2 or 3 new kits yearly. Masa Narita has accomplished a great job, not only on the model itself but also writing a step by step building diary which is useful either for novices or advanced modelers. This article was gently offered to Modeler Site and HLJ, by Masa Narita, and we’re proud to be able to have it online. I have to mention that the original note is online on Masa’s own site, with a simple text we’ve tried to polish it up, in order to offer it in a more easily comprehensive way for those who are less experienced in modeling. The article is really very extensive and though it will be offered for free, you may also get a PDF version with bigger pictures not only in the English but in the Spanish version as well. This model has won several contests and was worthy of special mentions.

 


Building step by step….day by day

As soon as I looked inside this beautiful kit, I could not hold my horse. I had to stop other projects (1/35 Hetzer, 1/32 F-15J). I decided to build this kit straight from the box because I really wanted to see the completion as soon as possible. Also this time, I will update these pages while building the kit. So let's build this wonderful giant kit!!


Day 1: Assembly

I began by cutting the joint to the sprue in half. Be careful not to damage the parts.

Then, with the help of a nipper, I cut a little more. I love Tamiya's fine nipper.

Finally, I sanded it out with #320 -#800.

Clear parts were thinned down since they were too thick to see the instruments.

I sanded with a sanding plate which helped me to remove the pin marks from the parts' backside

Parts were polished with compound.

You can appreciate what a nice thin panel I got.

I cut the unwanted flashes with a cutter. Mr. Yamada, a very  famous modeler, suggested me to use this thin cutter knife. It's amazing and allows you to cut plastic very shapely. Try it!!

It's not usual to find this kind of mold in recent Japanese kits.

I puttied it and the following day was sanded.

I assembled all the parts that would be later painted "Bluish Gray". 

The front gear bay was also instructed to be painted "Bluish Gray", so it was assembled.

These parts should also be painted "Bluish Gray". The wires were painted  separately and placed into the bay later.

Day 2: Assembly

I wanted to get rid of this gap so; it was puttied.
Although the engine fin would not be visible, I glued it just as a support without painting.
What is this for?  Is this a mesh to avoid the birds being aspirated?
I applied putty to remove these pin marks
The edge of the air inlet is bent like this. I straightened it by pressing with my finger.
I glued the horizontal stabilizer firmly.
I applied putty to clean the gap.
The mold line on the metal gear should be cut with a cutter, but even when cutting it clean, some parts had trench along with the line, so I had to apply putty to remove it.
Flex filer is very handy for curved surface.
I just sanded to get this "metallic" finish.
Once puttied, I allowed it to cure for a day to sand putty off.

This special issue is only available in pdf format. This is a technical article of 59 pages. Includes more than 380 high res pictures. > Here

 

     
   
     
   
     
     

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