Western Impressions of Soviet Aircraft

[Mossie]

During the Cold War, the West often had little information on Soviet types, sometimes just a single grainy & silhoueted photo.  Consequently, artistic impressions of the aircraft were often commissioned but could fall wide of the mark due to the lack of information.  I recentley picked up a 1978 copy of Soviet Air Power & two aircraft in particular followed this trend, the 'Su-19' Fencer & 'Tu-26' Backfire.  Designations were incorrect & the pictures were on the right kind of lines, if not quite there:

Sukhoi Su-19




Tupolev Tu-26



There must have been plenty of these over the years, so please post if you have them!  This also translated to plastic, the most famous being Aurora's MiG-19, but there must have been plenty of kits that were not quite as drastically off the mark as that one.  Kits like this might be no good to the general modeller, but we might make good use of them.  Anyone know of any kits that might be snapped up on the second hand market?

Simon

[Maverick]

There's always the Dragon 'Soviet Attack Helo' that sorta-perhaps-vaguely looks like an Mi-28.  Then of course, the completely fictitious Italeri "MiG-37 Ferret E". I'm unaware of the Ka-58's production status (if any) so Zvezda's kit of the same is another possibility.

On the home front, there's the Italeri F-19 (also reboxed by Testors) and the original 'Stealth Bomber' by Monogram (?) that looked nothing much like the B-2.

Regards,

Mav

[elmayerle]

There's always the Dragon 'Soviet Attack Helo' that sorta-perhaps-vaguely looks like an Mi-28.  Then of course, the completely fictitious Italeri "MiG-37 Ferret E". I'm unaware of the Ka-58's production status (if any) so Zvezda's kit of the same is another possibility.

On the home front, there's the Italeri F-19 (also reboxed by Testors) and the original 'Stealth Bomber' by Monogram (?) that looked nothing much like the B-2.

Well, Revell's 1/72 Stealth Bomber kit was an interesting concept but rather unlike the real thing (I was working on the real thing when it came out) and, before that, Model Technologies mixed-media kit of the B-2 wasn't particularly accurate, either (though it looks striking).

As for F-19 kits, let's not forget the Arii 1- and 2-seat variants which show evidence of having been derived from the Italieir/Testors kit.

[Taiidantomcat]

Any pics of the Model Technologies mixed media kit? im surious but can't find any pics.

Revell 1/72 Flanker

[elmayerle]

I don't have any pictures to hand and the kit's a long ways away.  basically, it had a large triangular planform, one large enough that it could use B-1 landing gear.  Without having the kit to look at, I believe it also had three weapons bays in a 1-2 pattern, each capable of carrying a fully loaded CSRL.

*chuckle* I've always been tempted to do that Revell "Stealth Bomber" kit as a CB-2 in the markings of Aerotransportes Medellin with their classic markings, so remeniscent of Canadian markings, but with a different leaf in the center.

[Jschmus]

Over on the Secret Projects forum is a whole thread devoted to this very subject:

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,275.0.html

There's some interesting stuff in there, including mis-identifications of the MiG-29, Su-25 and others.

[Mossie]

Great, just the kind of thing I was looking for!

As well as in the west, the same thing probably went on in the USSR too with mis-interpretations of western aircraft, although I guess these'll be harder to come across?

[Maverick]

To be honest Simon,  I don't think there'd be the degree of ambiguity and sometimes plain bugger-ups regarding Western aircraft given the amount of info that is routinely available for even the latest aircraft (excepting those 'black' types).  Whereas the USSR only 'officially' released info on the Yak-9 WW2 fighter in the late 50s, I find that the latest Western types are almost 'old friends' within weeks after arrival on the scene.

Regards,

Mav

[Sauragnmon]

By comparison, definately, in the modern days there is such a big difference in how much information we see in the west regarding new planes.

Germany - we generally see a few pics

Britain - again, we get info

China - wait a little while, we might see the prototype (J-XX pics are out there, including workshop pics)

Russia - not a snowball's chance, not until, IF, that prototype flies (you want contemporary, look at how many Artist Impressions there are, but no REAL pics, of the PAK-FA.  We didn't know about the MFI, which was in development through most of the 90's, until she rolled out onto the tarmac at Ramenskoye to be shown off to the public.)

[Mossie]

I think your right guys.  I would think the attitudes to 'freedom of information' in the east may have had something to do with it as well.  A Russian taking pictures a public airshow in the west (unless it's Greece! ) might well be allowed to leave with those, I can't imagine the opposite would be true?

[Deino]

Any pics of the Model Technologies mixed media kit? im surious but can't find any pics.

This one ?!! ... I have one at home in my stash !

Cheers, Deino 

[Mossie]

That's nice, reminds me of the B-3 from 'Broken Arrow'.  I guess that kind of fits into this subject, hollywood too has 'mis-interpated' aircraft designs.  Fantastic Plastic are due to release a kit in 1/144:
http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/B-3BomberCataloguePage.htm

[Sauragnmon]

That reminds me of a book I had, Weapons of the 21st Century, got it a number of years ago, a lot of newer edge stuff at the time.  Mentions projects like Tacit Rainbow if I recall, as well as some of the others at the time.  That model reminds me of one entry they had, some prototype bomber with the nickname "Flying Dorito"  I can't remember the details off the top of my head, and I'd have to dig out the book for more info.

[Taiidantomcat]

Thanks Deino!!  that does look pretty cool 

[Maverick]

"Flying Dorito" was a moniker bestowed upon the ultimately canned A-12 Avenger II, a smaller flying wing attack aircraft concept for the US that would have replaced the A-6 in service.

Regards,

Mav