Sukhoi Su-27P
in Ukrainian Air Force

IBG, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

The Polish company IBG has long been associated with lovely 1/72 scale AFVs and softskin military vehicles which contained great detail and fine levels of moulding quality. Most of these and more have been released in 1/35 as well to provide modellers with a heap of choices.

In the last couple of years they have branched out into aircraft in the ‘one true scale’. Their catalogue is filling up with a range of aircraft, principally of Central European origin.

This kit follows that route and represents the Su-27 Flanker B fighter as used by the Ukrainian Air Force for most of this century. It is not an IBG kit as the parts are from Trumpeter with a new set of decals. The giveaway is the totally un-IBG style of instructions, which contain Chinese as well as English instructions.

The kit comes in a strong top-opening box with a CAD illustration of one of the decal choices, a Flanker in the remarkable digital scheme of blues and greys. The other schemes are illustrated on the side of the box. Inside is a mass of parts, totally dominated by the two part fuselage pieces which are held together by an elastic band!

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Thumbnail panels:

Under this are five mid-grey sprues, a transparency sprue in a soft foam sleeve, a large double set of colourful decals, a six-page colour fold-out showing the colour schemes and decal placements, and an 8-page landscape instruction booklet in English and Chinese. 

There are 14 construction steps, all clearly drawn and with, mostly, clear colour indications. Paint colours are given for Hataka, Vallejo and AK Interactive - all acrylics. We enamel users are left to our own devices. The final page shows the various combinations of weaponry carried by his beast - all provided on four of the sprues.

Parts are well-moulded and surface detail is quite good, but interior details are scant on the whole, especially the wheel wells and cockpit - the super-detailer will need to look at after-market goodies for any refinements he or she chooses to make. The seats are very basic and should be replaced. Cockpit panels are provided as decals. 

Markings

That said, the basics are there for a substantial modern jet fighter, or simply as a bare canvas for some pretty decorative schemes, and this is where the decal sheets come in! These sheets are 260x180mm and, apart from the national markings, unit insignia and striping, provide literally hundreds and hundreds ( I’m not joking) of stencils that will keep the happy modeller amused and occupied for many a night. Or alternatively, just give up!  One sheet is devoted to the digital camouflage, giving you the major dark blue and beige shapes to apply over a sky blue base coat. 

The four choices are :

1. Blue ’58’ at Ozerne  in August 2016, in the digital scheme,

2. Blue ’39’ at Ozerne in July 2011, in the same colours but a more ‘blobby’ pattern,

3. Blue ’56’ at an airshow in Bratislava in June 2004 in the same colours but an angular pattern, and

4. Blue ’57’ at the same airshow in June 2002 in a toned down version of the angular pattern and with a colourful set of stripes and arrows in the Ukrainian national colours of yellow, blue and some white lining - these are provided as decals.

The main camo schemes 2 ,3 and 4 will have to be masked and painted by the modeller. The decals are glossy, in perfect register and have almost no carrier film edges.

This is a substantial kit that should appeal to the modern jet fanatic who is willing to add a few detailed accessories or use it as a simple canvas for some great schemes.

Thanks to IBG for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2024 by Graham Carter
Review Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 March, 2024
Last updated 20 March, 2024

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