Modeling Soviet and Russian Airforces in 1/144th scale.

LAST UPDATE - 29 July 2008

Welcome to my ongoing project to detail all the Soviet, Russian and foreign aircraft in Russian service available in 1/144th scale. As you can see from the listings, modelling post WW2 Russian aircraft offers a large range of subjects with most kitted multiple times. Trying to model indigenous Russian designs from WW2 is the exact opposite, with not a single injected plastic kit of any of these important types.

What's new.

Post War Aircraft.

Aircraft	Comments	Boxes	Model	Model
Modern Weapons	Ever lamented the fact that apart from some unguided rocket pods you can never get decent Russian air to surface weapons for your kits? Ever been dismayed by the comical air to air missiles you get? Help is at hand. OzMods has now released a range of resin air to surface and air to air weapons for your Russian kits. Munitions covered in the first set include FAB100, 250 and 500kg bombs; 500kg LGBs; AS-10, 11, 13 and 20 ASMs; AA-2 (early), AA-7 and AA-12 AAMs. The first photo at right shows the first batch fresh from the packets without any cleanup; nice aren't they. Second batch of masters is pictured at far right and these are also in production. I do still plan to add the AS-17 and MER, and if time permits I'd like to add a good AA-8 and maybe an AA-9. Middle photo is of the OzMods WW2 pilots. They also do a standing LRA pilot to give you a specific Russian one and there is a seated generic modern pilot too, and I'm sure the others can be useful.
Aero L29 Dolphin	Attack are continuing their support of 1/144th scale kits with a number of cool releases. Sometime in 2006?
Aero L39 Albatros	The Aero L-39 kits from Attack are out, and they include a fair bit more detail than the Mig-17 and -15 kits, including a cockpit interior. A minor short-cut taken with wheel wells, but a nice kit. Again, tons of decal options too.
Mig 13	FE Resin produces a resin kit of this interesting dual power aircraft.
Mig15 Fagot	Very impressive short run injected kit with crisp recessed detail and two very clear vac formed canopies from OzMods. Features Soviet, Czech, Chinese and NKAF decals. Now, Attack have also released both Mig-15 and Mig-15UTI kits. No cockpit in these, so they could benefit from a donation of OzMods parts! The two built photos are of an OzMods model by 1/144th guru, Roberto Masukawa, built basically OOTB.
Mig15UTI Midget	OzMods injected kit with vacform canopies and Polish and NVAF decals. Also released by Attack.
Mig17 Fresco	The initial release by FE-Resin. Very poor and sold out. Thankfully another Czech firm, Attack, have come to our rescue with a short run injected plastic kit. Very nice short run kit although like their Mig-15s no cockpit detail is present. J-Bot decals do an extensive range of decals for Mig17s available in 1/144th scale.
Mig19 Farmer	Russian Projects release (OKB-144 really). Injected with photoetch parts. Very crude and a pretty difficult build. At far right are two pictures of a much better scratchbuilt Mig-19 in PAF markings made by Herb Arnold.
Mig21 Fishbed	A good early F-13 version produced by ACE. Incorrect drop tank, too many weapons pylons and poor nose wheel are minor irritations. The one major problem is the area ruled fuselage. A build is the second picture at right. Second generation PF produced by Crown and currently sold by Minicraft. Raised panel lines and not a lot of detail but generally ok. A PF also released by Creation Chabet (as pictured with an SA-9 Gaskin). Probably best of all are the F-Toy Mig21PF and PFM collectable miniature releases, both in NVAF markings. The next build picture shows the F-Toy Mig21PF refinished as a Soviet aircraft. Finally, someone has decided to do a third generation Mig-21, with Attack releasing their Mig-21SMT. This is a very good kit featuring a resin cockpit interior, a nice choice of ordinance and markings for 2 Soviet examples. It goes together nicely and the decals are very thin, though perhaps a bit too grabby. They also don't like the water too hot. Build photos at far right. Trumpeter also released a range of Shenyang F-7 kits: all are poor.
Mig23 Flipper	A prototype aircraft (Ye-150?) mistakenly thought by the West to be in production and briefly allocated the Mig23 designation. An ancient and generally poor kit by Crown is still being reboxed. Much better is the Anigrand resin version that comes with their M-50 kit.
Mig23 Flogger	At least 3 different moulds exist.  Only one worth considering is the Dragon/DML Flogger B kit.  Even this appears to be based on the old Hasegawa 1/72nd kit complete with totally bogus AA-7s and other minor shape problems. See Mig27 entry. Progress and final photos at right show my Flogger K conversion. While the most noteable changes are the vertical stab and AA7s, there are around a dozen other modifications to the basic kit.
Mig25 Foxbat	Again, at least 3 different moulds exist. By far the best is the LS/AMT/ARII version, which is of an early Foxbat A. It has some problems with the most noteable one being the lopsided rear fuselage, and could stand a heap more detailing, but is a good basis for a fine model of the Foxbat. Japanese garage manufacturer Liliput Airforce has made a Mig-25RB conversion set. Unfortunately it only replaces the nose so you'd still need to do work to do a proper conversion. It does come with a nice set of decals giving Indian and Bulgarian options. You can also get a set of accurate Acrids from OzMods. Pictured at right is another of Herb Arnolds' builds, this time finished as a Libyan aircraft with two AA-6 Acrids. The second photo is an excellent build of a Foxbat in the museum at Monino, looking rather tired, by Michael Bartnick. You may have seen some of his other works over on the Luftwaffe page.
Mig27 Flogger	Another kit with multiple molds. The DML version is the least terrible, and that has a nose section seriously too short. Main fuselage, wings and undercarriage are common with their Mig23 kit, but overall these are probably most accurate for a Mig-27.
Mig29 Fulcrum	I know of three different moulds for the Mig29 as well.  A basic kit realeased in Revells' cheap "baggy" Micro-Fighters, the generally decent DML kit, and a nice recent boxing by Academy.  Not sure of the provenance of the first and last versions, though they share some interesting similarities. The build photos far right are of the DML version basically OOTB, by Roberto Masukawa.
Mig31 Foxhound	Kit originally produced by Tsuda and reboxed by Revell. Unfortunately, it only vaguely approximates an actual Mig31. The overall dimensions are pretty much all wrong, the forward fuselage is far too narrow toward the intakes, the main gear is just wrong, there is no gun, the tail pipes are too short and more. At right is an in flight build by Herb Arnold. He has stretched the fuselage and tail pipes and added a brace of AA-9 Amos underneath to make it a little more authentic looking.
Mig 1.44 MFI	Very nice recent release by Revell AG. Model by Roberto Masukawa. Also shown with the DML Mig29 to give an idea of the size of this aircraft......she's a big bird.
Su-7 Fitter	No need to wait any longer, Attack have released their Su-7B, Su-7BMK and Su-7UM kits. I now have these in hand and I am very impressed. Easily their best kits to date. Big improvements in the area of intake, wheel wells and cockpit interiors, and correct differentiation between the versions. Excellent decals as usual, though you only get Russian subjects on the Su-7B for obvious reasons. They are not without some flaws though, and you need to watch for sink marks on some parts.
Su-9 Fishpot	No kit exists yet, but you would imagine it'd be a relatively simple conversion from the Attack Su-7. While we're waiting, here are a couple of photos of Herb Arnolds' excellent scratch built Fishpot.
Su-15 Flagon	No mainsteam kit exists yet. A very limited production resin kit was produced by Tsuura Seisakusho in Japan. Easier to get is the Anigrand Flagon A which they included in their M-50 kit, though this is an expensive way to get an SU-15! Pictured at right is a major conversion from a J-8 Finback to a late model Su-15 Flagon courtesy of Herb Arnold.
Su-17C Fitter	Hobbycraft early variable geometry Fitter. Ok looking kit as long as you don't compare it to any scale plans. Significant errors to fix if you are a stickler for accuracy...probably better just to take the wings and an Attack Su-7UM and work from there. The wings are generally ok but are fixed in the swept position and all wing fences/pylons and the cannon are massively overscale. It appears this kit has a Chinese copy on the market too....I've seen it under the Kitec brand.
Su-22 Fitter	Hobbycraft and DML both released Su22's. The Hobbycraft SU-22 has common wings and details to the above kit but new fuselage/canopy. Alas, it these are awful, bearing only the vaguest resemblance to a late model Fitter. DML kits are far more accurate, but like the Flanker are very significantly underscale. Some detail parts could be reasonably used on the Hobbycraft kits (recon pod, ASO Flare racks). Hard call to make really....do you want one that looks correct but is 20% undersize, or one that is about the right size but makes you cringe to look at. Academy recently reboxed the Hobbycraft kit with Hungarian markings. Pictured at right is a build up of the Hobbycraft kit courtesy of Herb Arnold. He has moved the wing to its forward position and fixed up the fences and guns. It looks better for the changes.
Su-25 Frogfoot	A very good early Frogfoot kit exists. I first saw it as a Hobbycraft boxing, but have seen it sold under the Idea, ACE and Academy brands. Mike Grant decals do some interesting tail art for a Slovakian Frogfoot.
Su-27 Flanker	There are two kits available of the Flanker. Revell sold an Su-27 as part of their Micro Fighters range in both baggy and box. This kit is a strange mix between the original T-10 prototype and the production Su27 and would need extensive re-work to look like the real thing. DML produced a Flanker nominally in 1/144th that captures the lines of this distinctive aircraft quite well. Unfortuantely, the kit scales out at around 1/163 and the finished model is obviously way too small when side by side proper 1/144th kits. Cafe Reo brough out a collectable miniature version which scales almost perfectly 1/144th scale. It generally looks good from a distance too. Alas, up close and one major problem emerges. The nose cone is horribly disfigured and distorted.....blatantly wrong. Other minor issues are the silly looking AA-10s and a canopy that I suspect is subtly wrong as well. Still not quite the Holy Grail. Great news is the F-Toy Acrojet 2 versions has landed and its just about the goods. Like a lot of the F-Toy releases it is a bit crudely constructed straight out of the packet, but we have ourselves a decent Flanker now IMO. The finish of the camo version isn't great either. It pulls apart fairly simply, and reconstruction should be a doddle. Intakes aren't great though. Middle photo is of my first one pulled apart, cleaned up a little and press-fit back together. Now, I wonder what will remove that paint. The far right photo shows the F-Toy one after supergluing, decalling and some weathering. I still want to strip and rebuild one from scratch! See the Su-35 / Su-37 for comparison shots.
Su-30 Flanker	The news that Dragon will be releasing an Su-30 Flanker as part of their new range of 1/144th "2 in 1" kits looks like it was smoke and mirrors. See the SU-37 listing for what they have actually released...sigh. Hopefully they will follow their F/A-18E with an all new tool SU-30, but I sure aint holding my breath.
Su-32FN Flanker	See Su-34
Su-27K / Su-33 Naval Flanker	This aircraft is produced in kit form by DML. Essentially the same as the Su-27 but with new nose wheels, arrester hook and canards. This of course does not a Su-27K make. To make matters worse, the piece for the canards is inaccurate, but at least the part can be used as the basis for the LERX extensions and then you can add properly shaped canards. That is, if you want a 1/163rd scale Naval Flanker.
Su-34 Fullback	Trumpeter produce a kit of the "platypus nosed" Flanker derivative, listing it as the Su-34. The kit could equally be used as the Su32FN Maritime Strike version.  Unfortunately this is one of their early releases, featuring irregular, trench-like panel lines, indistinct edges, and generally abominable fit.  On the upside, a full suite of weaponry is included, though these too suffer the same moulding problems.  Despite this, and with a LOT of filling and filing, this should make a decent representation of an interesting aircraft, and is (regretably) the best Flanker in kit form in 1/144th.
Su-35 / Su-37 Super Flanker	As best I can tell, the impressive TVC Su-37 has effectively become a one off technology demonstrator, with bits of it being used on the -27SM upgrades for Russia, and the -30MKI for India. In the latest entrant to the Japanese trading kit genre, Cafe Reo have released an Su-37 Super Flanker, AKA Terminator, as part of their J-wings set. It is pretty decent as far as Flankers in scale go. Fresh out of the box and the first thing that strikes you is the size of this aircraft...they got the scale right, it's big. Second thing is the odd matt-satin-gloss paint finish...a coat of matt clear will do wonders. Now, it's pretty much a ringer for the Su-27M/Su-35 with canards, tall square fins and offset IRST, even down to the missile launch detector. They have also captured the shorter, fatter radome though the demarcation line slopes the wrong way making it look off. Wing tip launchers are way too long (and probably should have been ECM pods in this version), and the molded on bumps for Alamo "pylons" are just crude. Nothing to indicate this is a TVC aircraft so I don't know where the SU-37 name comes from either. So, a quick cleanup of the tip rails and a coat of matt varnish and you've got a pretty decent Su-35. Find some way of drooping the nozzles and you can make the Su-37. Now, for real production models; shorten/raise the stinger, backdate the radome, clip the fins and add a hook and you've got a -27K. Remove the canards, clip the fins and add some ECM bumps and you've got a -27SM. Now, I wonder about a -27KUB :-) Dragon now have released a twin kit marked as an SU-35 and SU-37. Alas, it is their old underscale offering with new fuselage parts. So, we get proper canards....and nothing else has been fixed. So it's way too small, the canopy is wonky, the fins are wrong, the nose hasn't been enlarged, the stinger is wrong and.....well, you get the picture. Just to make it really clear, the centre photo shows the Cafe Reo "Terminator", F-Toy Acroject, and Dragon "Su-35" top views! The third photo is of the Cafe Reo version turned into a passable Su-35. Tip rails shortened, bit of a cleanup, some weathering and matt varnish. Pity it is in the hypothetical US Marines agressor markings. The photo should show the (perhaps a little too) short radome, and the decent Alamo-C's.
Su-47 / S37 Berkut	Both Revell AG and Trumpeter produce kits of this interesting prototype. The Revell kit is all that you would expect from this manufacturers recent releases. The Trumpeter kit doesn't look too bad in the plastic either, and has the added bonus of a weapons bay complete with a horde of AA-12s, and additional underwing ordinance (AS-18s and another, as yet unidentified weapon...possibly an Alpha). Building it however and you notice how crude it is compared to the Revell kit. Photos are of the Revell kit built by Roberto Masukawa.
Tu4 Bull	The unlicensed copy of the B-29.  Both Crown and Fujimi produced B-29 kits.  The Fujimi kit is beautifully moulded with very nice detail, except for the flat plate where the engine detail should be, and the ludicrous looking boxes for propeller hubs.  The Crown mould (sold by Minicraft currently) can provide replacement cowlings with decent engine detail, but regretably also features stupid looking props.  So, Aeroclub to the rescue, with aftermarket white metal props that still aren't stellar, but are an improvement over the other two options.
Tu16 Badger	The third release by Russian firm OKB-144.  OKB kits are short run injected kits that include photo-etch parts (I believe these guys were the first to do so).  They appear to be nicely mastered but the translation from master to mould seems to be less than great.  Their early kits have lots of often thick flash and it's sometimes hard to tell where flashing stops and part starts, the "clear" parts aren't, detail parts are crude and fit can be woeful.  The photo-etch is often counted on to make up for the limitations in the plastic detail parts and can be extensive.  Ok, that out of the way, it's is with much regret that I have to report that IMO the Badger is their worst kit to date.  The major problems include, but are not limited to, fuselage halves of different length; different thickness wings obviously taken directly from their Tu104 which when glued to the engine pod leave gaps of 5mm; clear parts with air bubbles and so badly miss-aligned you might as well paint them out, engine intake and exhausts indistinct and badly miss-aligned and two piece wheels of varying thickness and outline.  If you are looking for a challenging build then this is it!   OKB produce two versions which are basically the same, but the K-26 variant includes two additional sprues containing pretty average AS-6 missiles and the right hand half of the weapons pylon.....yes you really only get one side of the pylon.  As the only other game in town is the old Monogram kit of around 1/180th scale if you want a Badger, this is it. Just to prove I'm a sucker for a Russian kit, at far right are two pictures of my first build. Still plenty of flaws even after maybe 200 hours work, but it does look like a Badger. I think I could do a better job in less time now I know what to look for....maybe one day.
Tu22M2 Backfire	A decent kit that has been boxed by Sunny, Revell, AMT and probably others that builds into a good looking model. It is of course highly inaccurate and surprisingly similar to the Esci 1/72nd scale kit in that regard. Revell boxing may include markings for a Naval Aviation aircraft.  12 Squared produced a conversion set to make an M3. With the arrival of the Zvezda Blackjack, I decided I'd start on its' little brother for some practice. Built basically OOTB, with some minor corrections, no underwing pylons, and Krystal Kleer windows.
Tu22M3 Backfire	I've only seen this in a Minicraft box.  Basically the exact same kit as above but with new chisel style intakes and revised nose for the M3 Backfire. Nose and cockpit area don't look quite right to me, and the aux intakes are definately wrong, but I have no decent plans to compare the outline to. (Update: actually, the whole kit is way off, but you can improve the look greatly by extending the nose and repositioning the aft windows.)
Tu95 Bear	Revell produced this large aircraft in kit form. OOP for probably 10 years but still relatively easy to come across. I believe the fuselage is a bit too wide and there are bound to be some inaccuracies, but it is a well engineered kit that makes for an impressive model. Heaps of conversion possibilities too if you have tons of space :-) Trumpeter has now released its' 2 new Bear kits. The first is a TU-95MS Bear H missile carrier, and the second is a TU-142MV Strategic Missile Submarine relay aircraft (strange choice IMO). I have the former and it is a really nice kit, though mine had some minor issues with the propeller face detail. Bra.Z Models have released a TU-20 backdate conversion kit which is basically a new nose.
Tu104	OKB-144's first kit.  Is quite flashy, but doesn't suffer the major fit problems of the Badger.  But the wings are of differing thickneses (looks like the mould collapsed).  The windows are all individually moulded "clear" parts..
Tu126 Moss	New release announced by Anigrand. This should be an interesting kit. Also comes with 3 "Soviet electronic recon aircraft"...there aren't many candidates there and almost all of them are exciting! However, all my guesses were completely off the mark. The only real aircraft included is the Kamov Ka-25 ASW, which is a nice addition admittedly. The other 2 subjects are real clangers though....a Yak-44 and a Beriev P42, neither of which progressed beyond wooden mockup. A terrible missed opportunity IMO and I almost certainly wont be buying the kit now. If anyone out there wants to sell me the Ka-31 do drop me a line. Another option now exists as Bra.Z Models have released a conversion set for the Trumpeter TU-95 kit. Nice looking, but it is unfortunately even more expensive than the Anigrand kit though!!!
Tu160 Blackjack	After scratching our heads at the 1/288th and 1/72nd scale versions, Zvezda has finally come to our rescue with their inagural 1/144th kit, and what a subject to start with. It is a truly outstanding looking model, with highly detailed cockpit and full weapons bay included. See the Ruslan listing for a photo comparing sizes. Just to reprove the old "it never rains but it pours" adage, Trumpeter have released their own Blackjack kit. It doesn't have the internal weapons bay of the Zvezda kit and is more expensive, but looks pretty competent. I'll have to get one.
My4 Bison	The only kit of this important type is the 50s vintage Revell kit (re-issued at least once in the 90s) that was called an IL-38 on the box, complete with raised lines where the markings go :-)  The scale is reportedly around 1/160th, and the kit has a ton of inaccuracies.  However, it does look like a Bison and is a nice straightforward kit.  Replace the undercarriage with 4 wheel units, make the nose solid and give the intakes the proper oval shape and it'd be a significant improvement.
M-50 Bounder	Very big news is the Anigrand has released its resin M-50 Bounder kit! While pretty expensive, you will also get 3 tailed delta interceptor kits together with the Bounder....a "Mig-23 Flipper", early SU-15 and La-250 Annakonda. Breaks the theme I know but a Tu-128 instead of the La-250 would have been great. The kit itself is interesting. Fuselage is 4 piece and will be a little tricky to get together, and the quality of the casting is not particularly good, with plenty of bubbles, voids and casting gates to clean up. Fairly rough really, and somewhat dissappointing considering the price.
Be12 Mail	There are two kits of this amphibian.  The first is the old Leoman/Masterkit version which is pretty crude and none too accurate.  OKB-144 have also produced this aircraft in kit form.  This appears to be a major improvement over the Badger.  My major concern is the complex undercarriage done mostly in photoetch, and there is still a fair deal of flash, but overall it looks pretty decent in the box and test fittings have been promising.
Il-76 Candid	You have three options to build a basic IL-76.  Welsh were first with their reportedly good but very expensive vacform.  OKB-144 were next with perhaps their best kit to date of this big aircraft.  A generally very good short run kit, with minimal flash and photoetch kept to a minimum.  The only blemish I saw was decent sized sink marks around the fuselage injection point.  The third option is the only military version with tail gun position and comes from Trumpeter.  This is a very nice, but quite expensive (at least around here) kit.  Reportedly the engines aren't accurate and replacements are available from Braz models.  See also the IL-78 and A-50 listings.
Il-78 Midas	Basically the same as the Trumpeter IL-76 but with the three point air to air refueling pods for the "probe and drogue" system employed by modern Russian aircraft.
Yak36 Freehand	There is quite a good looking resin kit of this forger predecessor, but you have to buy the Anigrand Lun Ekranoplan to get it!
Yak38 Forger	No mainsteam kit exists yet. A very limited production resin kit was produced by Tsuura Seisakusho in Japan. I am expecting a limited run injected kit to be released at some stage. I will post a photo of the Fuselage test shots I have. You can now get a decent looking resin kit, but you have to buy the Anigrand Lun Ekranoplan to get it! Pictured at right are photos of yet another of Herb Arnolds excellent scratchbuilt aircraft.
Yak40 Codling	OKB-144's second release. It features a fuselage molded in a hard, rough, translucent plastic. Extensive photo etch is used to provide details. A tough build. Photo is of an OOTB build and using the kit supplied VVS decal scheme.
Yak141 Freestyle	There is quite a good looking resin kit of this supersonic VTOL prototype, but like the Yak-36 you have to buy the Anigrand Lun Ekranoplan to get it!
An-10 Cat	A venerable kit from Russian firm Krugizor reportedly in 1/150th scale was produced.  No undercarriage and clear plastic disks instead of props are features, along with raised "markings". By my measurements based on the 1962 Observers book, it actually scales out to 1/167th scale.
An-24 Coke	A very similar kit to the AN10, this time by East German manufacturer VEB. I scale it out to 1/165, so it's a bit small beside true 1/144th stuff.
An-72 Coaler	Among the numerous new Albatros and Provider variants, A-Model have announced an AN-72 kit for 2006. Given their propensity for releasing multiple variants of a kit you could reasonably expect to see civil and military transport versions, and maybe the AN-72P or even an AN-71 Madcap. Looks like it will finally arrive in 2008!
An-124 Condor	Perhaps one of the most surprising things is there are now 2 kits of the mighty Ruslan, with both Welsh and Revell AG releasing kits in 2005. The Revell kit is awesome, with a full interior, about 5 different build options and tons of decals including Russian AF. The decal sheet is as big as the impressive box. At right I've included a shot of a taped up Ruslan, Blackjack and Backfire together just so you can get an idea of how huge this kit is.
Mi-6 Hook	A decent vacform kit by Air Craft models was produced. Out of production and hard to get.
Mi-8/17 Hip	Airspede models produced a resin/multi-media Hip kit. Out of production and scarce.
Mi-24 Hind D/E	Two kits available from Revell and DML.  Both are quite good, but of noticeably different sizes.  Given DML's track record I suspect the Revell kit will be the more accurate dimensionally of the two. New on the collectable miniatures scene is teh Heliborne Collection. Amongst the 4 subjects covered is the Mi24 in both Czech and Soviet markings. The Soviet version is pictured at right, as it comes out of the packet.
Mi-24 Hind F/P	Again, kits by both Revell and DML based on the above, but with new parts for the fuselage mounted cannon, later missiles and in the DML kit at least, flare launchers, IR jammer and heat boxes for the exhaust.
Mi-26 Halo	A decent vacform kit by Air Craft models was produced. Out of production and hard to get.
Mi-28 Havoc	DML produced a kit of the unsuccessful contender for the new Russian attack helicopter.  Apparently there are some inconsistancies with the nose sensors but it is a decent looking kit.
Ka25 Hormone	This is a very limited production resin, white metal and photoetch kit made somewhere in the Ukraine. Reportedly it was produced as a one off order for a client who is building 1/144th scale Soviet aircraft carriers! I'll have to see if I can get photos of them.
Ka27 Helix	The real life replacement for the Ka25, this kit is by the same manufacturer as above, although in short-run injected plastic form this time around. The client has also ordered Yak-38s and Ka29s so I hope to get a copy of those too. At right are final build photos. They are pretty poor and I may replace the photos. Overall I'm pretty happy with the end result here.
Ka50 Hokum	One of Revell AGs masterpieces in 1/144th.  I'd rate this with the Rafale and NH90 as their best kits to date.  Decals are for the airshow "Black Shark" scheme.
A50 Mainstay	The third of Trumpeters IL-76 based kits.  A very nice, if expensive, model kit though noteably lacking the "winglets" mounted on the undercarraige pods and the flare dischargers usually seen on this aircraft.  The kit contains additional, undocumented, parts that would enable you to build the earlier glazed nose version.
A90 Ekranoplan	Is it a plane, is it a boat, is it a flying boat?  Regardless, this is an interesting kit of a unique subject.  Accuracy problems with the cockpit area but makes for an impressive model.

WW2 Aircraft

Aircraft	Comments	Boxes	Model	Model
KOR-1	A pre-WW2 biplane recon floatplane later called the BE-2. This is another one of Peter's Models resin kits. These were originally made for RC warships but have evolved into pretty decent scale kits. You will have to do a fair bit of your own strut work though!
Po2	Very basic resin kit from FE-Resin includes wire for struts.
U2M	Very basic resin kit from FE-Resin of the floatplane version of the Po2. Includes wire for struts.
Polikarpov I-15 family	True North produce white metal I-15, I-152 and I-153 miniatures. Designed for miniatures wargaming rather than true kits. Pictured at right is the True North I-15. It is pretty basic.
Polikarpov I-16	Both True North and Reviresco produce a white metal I-16, and FE Resin produces a resin kit. Creation Chabet also do one - pictured. Just to prove it never rains but it pours, a Japanese resin manufacturer Kami de Korokoro are producing 3 versions of the I-16 family too. I have an I-16 Type 10 and it is a very nice "garage" kit and I should knock it together quite soon.
Mig 3	True North produce a white metal Mig-3, and FE Resin produces a resin kit.
LAGG 3	True North produce a white metal LAGG 3.
La-5 / 7	True North produce a white metal La-5, La5FN and La-7. FE Resin produces a resin La5FN kit. Don Schmenk also produces an La-5FN in resin, though it may be listed as an LA-7. Not my best work but photos Don's kit completed as a LA-5FN at right.
Yak 9	True North produce a white metal Yak-9. Amazingly, Bandai have remembered that Russia produced the odd aircraft in WW2 and have released a Yak 9 as part of the Wing Club L3 set. Interestingly, while the packaging and instructions claim it is a Yak-9D, it is very obviously in fact a -9T. Even more interesting, you get supplemenatary decals for at least 7 versions, and at least one of them is for a -9B. One set almost looks like a -9T flown by Alexander Ivanovich Vybornov (20 victories) but only shows 16 stars and no slogan under the cockpit. Maybe it's an earlier aircraft of his. MYK will no doubt do a set of decals for it too.
IL-2 Stormovic	True North produce a white metal IL-2. Bandai released a collectable miniature version as part of their Wing Club series, as did F-Toy in the Warbirds series. At far right is the F-Toy version. Nothing major here; I constructed it, correcting some of the really bad joins, brush painted some Future on, added the decals and then sprayed it flat.
Petlyakov Pe-2	True North produce a white metal Pe-2. So does Creation Chabet and it is pictured at right.

Foreign Aircraft in Russian service

Aircraft	Comments	Boxes	Model	Model
P-39 Airacobra	A good 70's vintage kit from Revell/Lodela. Scarce.
P-40 Toma/Kitty/Warhawk	A good 70's vintage kit from Revell/Lodela of the P-40E; very scarce. Average P-40N by ARII, and very nice P-40B in Bandai's Wing Club set. Reviresco produce a P-40B and P-40E. A pic of the latter can be seen on my RAAF page.
P-63 King Cobra	A semi-passable kit currently sold under the ARII brand. Decent outline and recessed detail, but typically awful canopy and some bizarre details.

Russian Navy

Manufacturer	Comments	Boxes	Model	Model
Trumpeter	Most of you have probably seen the 1/144th Kilo by Trumpeter. They have also released a "Chinese Type 33" submarine which is basically a Russian Romeo class sub.
Ukrshipmodel	The most compelling reason I added ships was this firm. If you want a 1/144th Soviet Aircraft Cruiser...Kuznetsov or Kiev...go no further. Want a Sovremmeny and Krivak to go with your carrier...they've got it covered. Ukrshipmodel - Awesome.

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Small-Scale Air Forces of the World

|  RAAF  |  (R)CAF  |  USSR  |  Poland  |  Federal German  |