Airfix Model World – July 2018

INTERMEDIATE BUILD
Su-34 FULLBACK

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

Su-34 FULLBACK

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 35

possible to determine whether the

chosen aircraft (Red #05) had the

exhaust, but it was decided to add

it anyway. This was achieved by

chain-drilling the specific stinger

panel, neatening and sanding the

edges and then gluing the exhaust

outlet on the inside.

At last the fuselage halves could

be brought together, and these

were secured with Tamiya Extra

Thin Cement (Quick Setting),

which allowed for speedy clean-

up within minutes. The fit was

superb, with all seams falling along

natural panel lines and edges,

such as the nose radome; just one

section required attention, and

this was the stinger underside (see

panel), which was treated with

Deluxe Materials’ Perfect Plastic

Putty (www.deluxematerials.co.uk).

Windows, wings and wheels

With the bulk of construction

completed, focus shifted to

the smaller parts, such as the

moveable control surfaces and

undercarriage. The tails were

designed cleverly, and slotted

into position from the rear, which

ensured the joins were along

airframe panel lines. In fact, the fit

was so good they were left off until

it was time to paint them, making

it far easier to spray and mask the

metal areas around the engines.

Several dielectric panels were

located on the vertical fins, and

upper and lower fuselage; these

and the nose and tail cones were

airbrushed with H305 Semi-

Gloss Gray FS 36118. Similarly,

the canard, wing and horizontal

stabiliser leading edges were

treated with Alclad ALC-112 Steel

(www.alclad2.com). The large

one-piece canopy doesn’t open in

the conventional manner on the

Fullback; instead the crew access

the cockpit via the nose gear bay.

This meant the canopy could be

fitted and faired into the airframe

as per any other part. First, the

interior was masked and sprayed

as per the cockpit interior, and then

the glazing fitted to the fuselage,

with the edges smoothed via

Deluxe Materials' Glue ‘n’ Glaze and

a wet fingertip. All previously

filli g without SA di g

The advent of acrylic and quick-drying lacquer-based putties has revolutionised

how modellers deal with blemishes and gaps on models. Where once one had to

fill and then sand a join/hole, inevitably damaging the surrounding detail, it’s now

possible to achieve almost all of this without the use of abrasives.

The key to achieving the best results

was to ensure the seam was as

neat as possible, especially with

poorly fitting parts such as the

stinger underside panel.

 Surrounding areas were then masked to avoid losing detail, before putty was

smoothed into the gaps, and the tape was removed before the latter had dried.

 Cotton swabs, moistened in thinners/water (dependent on putty type) were then

employed to remove any excess before the filler had dried.

 A new blade and a fine-grade skinny sanding stick removed the remainder of the original

panel, which allowed the exhaust mesh to fit from the inside.

 With the fuselage assembled and the tails dry-fitted, all remaining sub-assemblies were

laid out to see what could be attached before painting commenced.

 To allow the APU exhaust to fit, the integrally moulded recess acted as a guide for

chain-drilling the desired panel.