Sukhoi SU-41 "Fistfull"

[Spey_Phantom]

as our friend AnthonyP would say, Za Rodina!

Back History:

In 2006, Russia began to lose its credability as a fighter-developing nation. China already had new designs in service such as the J-10 and the secret J-XX Stealth Fighter, while the US was offering the F-35 and F-22 on the market. it was clear to russia that the succesfull and superiour designs, such as the MIG-29 and SU-27 were become outdated and unatractive on the export market, witch was blooming with Chinese imitations. in the Kremlin, it was clear that Russia would need to develop and buy its own Staelth fighter, if it was to regain its possition asan aircraft-developing nation, but PAK-FA was suffering a lot of setbacks, particulary financially, as the project was becomming very costly.

besides the PAK-FA T-50, Sukhoi was also designing another Stealth fighter as a backup, in case PAK-FA would fail. using experience gained with the SU-35/37 and the SU-47, OKB Sukhoi developed what they called project "T-51". it had an airframe, very similar to that of the cancelled US YF-23 ATF proposal, but had a conventional tail design. as work on the PAK-FA came to a stand-still, the Russian Defence ministery had no other choice then to transfer the funding for PAK-FA into the T-51. in 2009, Sukhoi rolled out the first prototype of the T-51, witch was now redesignated SU-41, NATO codename: "Fistfull". the Russian Air Force placed an order for 380 SU-41's, including 46 SU-41K naval fighters. deliveries commenced in 2016.

the SU-41 is powered by 2 Trumansky Jupiter AL-38 engines with 2D nozzles, the AL-38 was developed out of the experimantal AL-35, witch was tested on a modified flanker, the SU-27LL-PS back in 1996. in its internal weaponsbay, it could carry 4 R-77's or 3 R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) air to air missiles, laser guided bomb or long range stand-off missiles. underneath the wings there is an option to carry more weapons or spare tanks on 6 hardpoints.
the hart of its fire-control and search system is the passive Zhuk-ME Radar system, an AESA system originally intended for the MIG-35 and SU-37.

The Model:

the model is a 1/144 Revell YF-23 kit as a baseline, the tailplanes i scratchbuild myself. the forward landing gear is from a 1/144 MIG-29 kit, the 2 (crappy) AA-10's are from an old (early) revell SU-27 kit. the big problem was that there was no canopy in the kit  , but i had an old trumpeter YF-23 on the scrapyard, so i salvaged the canopy from it. another problem was that the canopy didnt fit  , that problem was easely solved, build the model with an open canopy (witch i never did before on this scale  ). the decals are from a 1/144 academy MIG-21 (who became the entry for the Flying sorcer GB).

[gunfighter]

WOW 

[lancer]

ME LIKEY!!!!!!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Overcome, Improvise, and Adapt. 

I think you addressed all three with your "Fistfull" and in that one picture it looks like your cat provided a 1:1 scale hair to your paint job.  Hate it when that happens.  Compared to the 1/72nd scale F-23 kit I must say there is quite a lot of detail contained in that small package.  Good adaption of the AA-8 Aphid shapes to your internal weapons bay where they now look like large air to surface missile for precision attacks. 

[anthonyp]

(Soviet National Anthem blares on phonograph in background)

COMRADES!!!!!

Is GLORIOUS day in GREAT Soviet Union!!

Comrade Nils has once again rekindled the Socialist fires that were becoming mere embers with this wonderful display of Workers' ingenuity!  Turning the decadent West's most attractive fighter ever conceived into one of our projects is pure genius!

The Order of Lenin is on its way, Comrade!

ZA RODINA!!!

Comrade Captain Anatoly Iosef Pakizorich, Naval Aviation Bureau

(A part of me died when I saw this was a YF-23.  But then I realized that it was a 1/144 YF-23, and all was well.  (I'm like all "Save the Penguins" just insert "1/72 YF-23's!" instead of "Penguins")  Looks natural!  Well done!)

[Maverick]

Nice stuff Nils,

The reworked tail really looks the part & for 144th it's a bang up job!

Regards,

Mav

[Brian da Basher]

Nice work in such a small scale, Nils! I really like the camo scheme and your treatment of the exhausts.

Brian da Basher

[Shasper]

Bravo Zulu sir!

Shas

[suflanker45]

 

That tail configuration just looks so right on the YF-23. Nice job!

[Patrick H]

Nice, very nice. I'd even say very very nice.

[sotoolslinger]

COOL