Yak-49M, '14 Red' of 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016

Dizzyfugu · January 01, 2016, 08:44:32 AM

This has been delayed for weeks due to specific Begemot decals that came from Moscow. It is actually the result of two thoughts/inputs:
a) Can an X-32 actually be converted into something you can look at without a nervous itch?
b) A profile from SPINNERS that popped up in October 2015 which actually adresses this issue - this one:

More here: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,18821.1635.html

With both in mind and an Italeri X-32 in the stash I decided to create my hardware interpretation of the topic/problem. And this eventually came out:

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

As a side note: while work was going on but I had decided upon my build's livery, SPINNERS was so kind (Thanks a lot, Alfie!) to respond to my request for a respective skin for his MiG-37, coming close to my hardware model

:

(More here: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,18821.1650.html)

Some background:
The Yakovlev Yak-49 is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth attack aircraft, introduced to the Russian Air Force in 2013. The fifth generation combat aircraft is designed to perform ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, and, to a limited degree, air defense missions. A navalized version is expected to appear soon, too.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The Yak-49, designed by the famous JSC A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau, today part of the United Aircraft Building Corporation, is the result of a long development line that dates back to the Yak-141 supersonic VTOL fighter and its side projects.
One of these had been the Yak-43 from 1997, a third generation VTOL/STOL fighter with rudimental stealth properties, to follow and eventually replace the Yak-141M. The Yak-43 remained on the drawing board, though, since even the Yak-141 never made it beyond the prototype stage. Nevertheless, the Design Bureau Yakovlev's experience was not wasted: some of the project's research and VTOL know how with separate lift jets went into Lockheed Martin's X-35/F-35 program for the US Joint Strike Fighter program, and the feedback was put to use in the most recent operational military aircraft, the Yak-49.

Development of the Yak-49 attack aircraft started in 2002. Its specification was tailored to the Russian Air Force needs, which demanded a stealthy and supersonic successor to the highly successful Su-25 ('Frogfoot') and MiG-27 ground attack aircraft, with the potential for a navalized version that could be operated from the Russian ski jump carriers. The aircraft was to be powered by two jet engines and offer improved performance and esp. stealth capabilities in comparison with its 3rd generation forerunners.

Basis were layouts and studies conducted for the VTOL Yak-43, but, compared with the highly ambitious X/F-35 program, the Yak-49 was a much more modest and conventional approach. Simplicity, robustness as well as ease and economy of operation being in focus beyond the aircraft's operational effectiveness.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In order to improve radar cross section, the Yak-49 was to carry at least a part of its ordnance in an internal weapon bay, so that its stealth properties in clean condition would be superior to anything the Russian Air Force had in in its arsenal at the time. The contemporary benchmark was the new Su-34 bomber, rumored to have a radar signature comparable to a cruise missile. And the targets for the Yak-49 were even higher.

The result was a relatively conservative and compact design, a tailless aircraft with clipped delta wings and only two canted fins as tail surfaces. The broad and flat fuselage was designed around the central ventral weapon bay, large enough to carry a wide range of ordnance.

The air intakes were placed at the lower fuselage flanks, under the wings' LERXs where they are partly shielded from the front by pronounced chines that extend up to the aircraft's pointed nose. Ducts for the tail-mounted pair of Klimov RD-33MK jet engines were led around the weapons bay. An unusual feature for a ground attack aircraft were engines' afterburners - but these had been incorporated for better field performance on short airstrips, supersonic dashes and improved agility in the secondary air-to-air combat role. Another simple reason was the commonality of the RD-33MK with other Russian aircraft, like the MiG-35 fighter, as well as its potential naval use without further modifications.

The Yak-49's clipped delta wing was designed around a large single piece of carbon fiber composite material, and many structural elements were fabricated with this material, too, saving weight, improving stiffness and further reducing radar reflection.
The wing had a span of ~11 meters, with a 55-degree leading edge sweep. Integral tanks held up to 20,000 pounds of fuel. The purpose of the high sweep angle was to allow a thick wing section, to be used while still providing limited transonic aerodynamic drag, and to provide a good angle for wing-installed conformal antenna equipment.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

All around the hull, radar-absorbing material and coatings reduced the aircraft's radar cross-section. Figures haven't been published yet, but in clean condition the Yak-49 is supposed to have a frontal radar echo that is comparable with a medium-sized bird.

The cockpit was placed far in the front and the pilot enjoyed a rather high position under a wide bubble canopy, offering excellent vision - probably also with foresight towards a navalized version. The robust tricycle landing gear's main parts retract forwards into the thick wing roots, while the front wheel retracts backwards. All wheel elements rotated 90° to lie flat in the hull and occupy as little space as possible.

The first Yak-49 prototype made its maiden flight in April 2009. A second aircraft, featuring 2D vectoring jet nozzles, followed in January 2010, but this machine was quickly lost in an accident in June. A third machine, again with normal engines, was finished in July 2010 and joined the first prototype in the state acceptance trials, which were successfully finished in March 2011.

Series production of the final aircraft, designated Yak-49M (модифицированный = modified), started quickly in late 2011 and incorporated several minor adjustments and enhancements. These included updated avionics, additional kevlar armor for the cockpit and other vital systems, as well as a sophisticated Sorbtsiya L-006 ECM suite, recognizable through long fairings on the wing tips, reminiscent of the Su-25's "crocodile" air brakes.

Armament of the definitive aircraft consisted of a fixed GSh-30-1 30mm cannon in the port wing root with 150 rounds, an internal weapon bay plus six optional underwing hardpoints, for a total ordnance payload of 4.500 kg (9.000 lb). Internally, four iron bombs of up to 500 kg (1.100 lb) caliber could be carried, a pair of video or laser-guided KAB-500 smart bombs or, with special bomb bay covers, a single, semi-recessed laser-guided KAB-1500 smart bomb or a nuclear, tactical 'special stores'.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

More and bigger loads (including ECM Pods, drop tanks, pods with S-8 and S-24 rockets, iron bombs, Kh-25, Kh-29 or Kh-29 air-to-ground missiles with TV, IR or laser guidance) could be carried externally under the wings. Each of the inner wing hardpoints could carry up to 1.000kg (1.100 lb), while the outer wing hardpoints were primarily reserved for light loads of up to 250 kg (550 lb) like infrared homing air-to-air missiles for self-defense, e. g. the R-60 or R-73 AAM.

The Yak-49M was not outfitted with an active radar, but sensors include an optical Kyra-23 laser-television sighting system, fitted in a fairing under the nose. It is combined with a S-31E2 KOLS, a combined laser rangefinder and IRST in an "eyeball" mount forward of the cockpit canopy.
The capabilities of the aircraft were enhanced by the incorporation of various avionics systems consisting primarily of two Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) Mission and Display Processor (MDP), Sextant Ring Laser Gyros (RLG INSI), combined GPS/GLONASS navigation, HUD with UFCP, Digital Map Generator (DMG), jam-resistant Secured Communication, stand-by UHF communication, data link and a comprehensive Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite.
A mission planning and retrieval facility, VTR and HUD camera were also fitted. The aircraft retained stand-by (conventional) instrumentation, including artificial horizon, altimeter and airspeed indicator, to cater for the failure of HUD and the MFDs.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The first operational Yak-49Ms arrived at assault air regiments in late 2013, where they were promptly christened 'клин' ('Klin' = wedge) by the crews. The type became quickly popular because of its good handling characteristics, thanks to the low wind loading and the responsive, powerful engines, and the spacious, modern cockpit. These machines replaced early Su-25 sans suffix attack aircraft. Until today about 50 Yak-49Ms have been delivered, distributed among two squadrons (an operational attack squadron and a training unit), and more are to follow. Production is kept up, even though at a rather slow and steady pace, due to the lack of funding. The production program is expected to last until 2018. The potential ship-borne Yak-49K is still on the drawing board, and so far the Yak-49M has not been offered to export customers.

General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length (w/o pitot): 43.16 ft (13.17 m)
Wingspan (incl. Sorbtsiya ECM pods): 37,75 ft (11.55 m)
Height:13.61 ft (4,16 m)
Wing area: 590 ft² (54.8 m²)
Max. takeoff weight: 38,000 lb (17,200 kg)

Powerplant:
2× Klimov RD-33MK afterburning turbofans with 5,400 kgf, 53.0 kN (11,900 lbf) dry thrust
each and 9,000 kgf, 88.3 kN (19,840 lbf) each with afterburner

Performance:
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,699 km/h, 917 knots, 1,056 mph) at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Combat radius: 908 km (490 nmi, 564 mi) (lo-lo-lo, external fuel)
Ferry range: 3,524 km (1,902 nmi, 2,190 mi)
Service ceiling: 14,000 m[137] (45,900 ft)
Climb to 9,145 m (30,000 ft): 1 min 30 sec

Armament:
1× 30 mm (0.787 in) GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds
Internal weapon bay plus six underwing hardpoints for a total of 4.500 kg ordnance,
including drop tanks, guided and unguided bombs and missiles, unguided missile pods and
napalm tanks.
The internal bay can also take pallets with ECM and reconnaissance equipment.

The kit and its assembly:
This one came almost incidently - after using leftover parts from an X-32 for my AF-16 whif I had the X-32 on my radar. And if this aircraft is anything, then it's certainly UGLY! The gaping air intake looks ridiculous, as well as the stalky landing gear. Everything might be necessary due to technical restrictions or requirements, but it is still an ugly aircraft. But with lots of whiffing potential!

Anyway, right before I started work on the AF-16, fellow user SPINNERS posted a modified X-32 CG rendering at whatifmodelers.com - not only bearing Red Stars, but also a multi-color camouflage scheme and - most important - a different nose section with lateral air intakes. The profile reminded a bit of the F7U Cutlass, but it showed the way for a potential design solution. This basic idea stuck to my mind...

Being in the mood for major conversion after the Jordan AF-16 I dug out another X-32 from the pile and started sawing and gluing: The primary task was to get rid of the huge sugar scoop air intake and the kangaroo belly associated with it. I wanted to keep the rather elegant original nose, though, as well as the complete upper fuselage (which actually is a single piece in the kit!).

After some rough measure I cut away a large, long wedge from the lower hull half, right under the wings. Towards the rear only ~2mm of fuselage depth were lost, but towards the front this dissection accumulated to almost 10mm! Actually, only the fuselage bottom (incl. the front wheel well) was left, as well as the lower wing halves, held together by a thin band of styrene. But, as a result, the aircraft bottom could now be place in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the kit, the overall shape now reminding more of an F-22.

But there were prices to pay and additional changes to make: the original weapon bay (placed at the right flank!) had to be closed, and I had to think about the internal layout of the aircraft. Besides, three new design problems arose: how to fix the new "floor" to the rest of the kit (a 1-3mm gap was now running all around it now!), and how and where to place the air intakes and the landing gear?

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The air intakes had to be constructed first, and I experimented with openings under the wing roots - much like SPINNERS suggested initial CG design, because this position in the lower front fuselage flanks under the wing roots is the only sensible alternative to the central nose intake.
But creating extra intakes in real life is rather tricky and it took some experimenting, serious carving and sculpting to create two new intake openings of considerable size and plausible shape from leftover fuselage parts, styrene strips and lots of putty.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Once this was settled (and the OOB cockpit mounted inside of the fuselage), the loose fuselage bottom was fixed in place with inside struts and a generous amount of carpenter putty - after having implanted the original weapon bay in a new ventral position between the air intake ducts.
BTW, the original plan to move the landing gear into the fuselage (MiG-23/27 style) was dropped at this phase, because there'd hardly be any place left for it! So, the X-32's landing gear position under the wing roots was retained, as well as the OOB landing gear. The front wheel bay was retained, too, even though the strut had to be lengthened by 4mm in order to compensate for the loss of fuselage depth.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The X-32 fins were replaced by alternatives of Soviet origin, in the form of MiG-29 fins from a Kangnam kit, slighty reduced in height. They change the aircraft's profile considerably, making the leftover X-32 look rather compact and stout.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Furthermore, following Russian Air Force doctrine, the original single engine (with the vectoring nozzle) had to go, since any new military aircraft is to be powered by at least two engines. Consequently I opted for two smaller jet engines with conventional nozzles (taken from an Italeri F-18), placed in a widened fuselage opening with faired side walls. The tail looks a bit F-15-ish now?

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Under the wings six pylons were added, taken from two Matchbox A-7 and an Academy MiG-23 kit. The doors of the ventral weapon bay were placed in an opened position for display.

The ordnance comes from various sources, including four iron bombs from a Dragon weapon set, four Kerry AGMs (from two Kangnam Yak-38 kits, horribly wrong and slightly modified) and a pair of R-73 AAMs from a Master Craft set.

Painting and markings:
Since this aircraft was to sport contemporary colors, I did not go for the multi-colored tactical schemes of the 80ies or SPINNERS' initial scheme, but opted for the current, rather boring livery in a uniform, medium grey upper on the upper surfaces and light blue undersides. On the other side, such a simple design leaves lots of room for details and other color highlights...
As a side note: once the project progressed towards painting, SPINNERS was so kind to provide a modified CG rendition of the aircraft upon request in the livery that I'd use on my kit! Thanks a lot for the extra inspiration and motivation.

But my livery differs in certain details from SPINNERS' version. I took similar Su-25s as overall benchmark, but also stole details from other modern Russian fighter aircraft.

One major difference is the lower waterline, with the upper dark grey extended to the flanks under the wings and the nose section. The basic colors are Humbrol 173 (Neutral Grey) and RLM 65 from Modelmaster's Authentic Enamels line, which IMHO comes closest to the real thing.
Panels on the upper/lower surfaces were shaded/highlighted with Field Grey (Modelmaster) and a mix of RLM65 plus FS 36375, respectively.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The cockpit was painted in typical Russian Cockpit Teal, combined with a canopy tinted with thinned clear yellow. The landing gear wells are Aluminum (Humbrol 56), while the struts were painted with a mix of Aluminum and pale light blue (Humbrol 44). The wheel discs are bright green (Humbrol 131), the well covers are red on the inside (seen on several Su-27s).

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The weapon bay was painted in a mix of Aluminum and Chrome Yellow (Humbrol 81). Yes, rather ugly, but a nice contrast to the pale blue belly and the rest of the underside. Di-Electric panels/covers were painted with Emerald Green (Humbrol 2), some bright blue trim added around the air intakes and the window for the Kyra-23 system under the nose and the front ends of the wing pylons painted in a brownish pale grey (all seen on contemporary Su-25s). Leading edges on wings and fins were "decorated" with grey decal strips.

The kit received a black ink wash and some detail painting. In real life the grey paint seems to be very porous, so that oil stains and leaks create visible, dark glows and stains all around the hull, while sun bleaching seems to have thorough effects, too, so that the aircraft tend to look shabby.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Decals come from various sources, including sheets from Begemot and PrintScale for various aircraft types (incl. a L-39 Albatros, a Su-25 and a MiG-29). The Russian Air Force markings on the tail also come from a Begemot sheet.
Finally the kit was sealed with acrylic matt varnish from the rattle can.

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 United Aircraft Building Corporation (Design Bureau Yakovlew) Yak-49M, aircraft '14 Red' of the Russian Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)'s 899 'Orsha' Guards ShAP, Buturlinovka Air Base, early 2016 (Whif/Italeri X-32 conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The Yak-49 looks harmless, but creating this 'Low Rider' from a stock X-32 took major surgery work. On the other hand, the resulting aircraft looks pretty good and even plausible - it reminds me somehow of a fat Dassault Rafale, and appears to me like a modern interpretation of the A-4 Skyhawk?
Anyway, many thanks to SPINNERS for the initial inspiration ("Showing the way"), and the follow-up with the grey/blue livery update that resembles my hardware build!

Steel Penguin · January 01, 2016, 09:07:28 AM

I hadn't realised it was a cut and shunt, till the assembly pic nice one Dizzy

PR19_Kit · January 01, 2016, 11:37:37 AM

That's a VAST improvement on the original Boeing heap Thomas, and the twin fins are the icing on the cake.

That's a masterclass in cutting and shutting for sure, well done indeed.

And I thought you'd grafted a Rafale intake/nose onto it until I read the thread too.

su27rules · January 01, 2016, 12:34:44 PM

Very nice, great idea and so much better design than original X-ugly-32!!

DogfighterZen · January 01, 2016, 12:46:06 PM

All i can say is th's a perfect way to start off 2016!!

Excellent stuff, That is a big improvement over the X-32's original design!

I've had a similar idea but keeping the chin inlet, although modified, and doing some changes to the nose. And i also like the fact you've changed the country of origin.

Raptormodeller · January 01, 2016, 03:10:47 PM

What a beauty...

major · January 01, 2016, 05:18:49 PM

Just, WOW!

Tophe · January 01, 2016, 10:13:13 PM

Beautiful, congratulations!

loupgarou · January 02, 2016, 12:02:06 AM

Fantastic! Congratulations for your surgery skills!
Do you have some free time, should I need an heart transplant?

Dizzyfugu · January 02, 2016, 12:56:48 AM

Quote from: loupgarou on January 02, 2016, 12:02:06 AM
Fantastic! Congratulations for your surgery skills!
Do you have some free time, should I need an heart transplant?

If you are not afraid of mini drill surgery and putty on the wound...?

Thanks a lot to everyone. Yes, this was/is a major conversion, and the "design" was a bit tricky, too, because everything (air intakes, ducts, weapon bay, wing spar, landing gear...) needs its place somewhere - and the Yak-49's layout is what came out? I like the result very much, though, and the thing looked so Sowviet/russian from the start in SPINNERS' CGs that I kept that part of the concept, even though coupled with the contemporary grey/blue livery. Just took six weeks longer than hoped for to materialize due to a long delivery time from Russia for decals, they just arrived aftre the 2015 Xmas holidays.

Again, thank you very much!

NARSES2 · January 02, 2016, 05:44:47 AM

That is simply stunning and a great way to start 2016

comrade harps · January 03, 2016, 12:27:31 AM

Awesome and soon to be seen over Syria, no doubt.

Btw, what putty do you use?

Dizzyfugu · January 03, 2016, 01:31:33 AM

In this case, the rough work was done with a white carpenter putty, from a domestic company called "Albrecht" (found in a clocal DIY store and better than cheaper private label offerings I treid before, primarily for air field or street surfaces in dioramas), the stuff is pretty generic. Actually, I am not certain how the putty is actually called in English language - in German it is called "Malerspachtel".

Detail work and surfcae finish was done with my favorite "Presto Finish" nitrous compound putty (the brownish stuff). The carpenter putty is, when fresh, more stable and easier to sculpt (a bit like wet plaster), and it can bridge gaps more easily than the Presto stuff. The carpenter stuff's weakness is that it shrinks a bit, resulting in cracks in thick layers, and it is relatively soft when dry, so that it clogs sand paper or a file easily. Not recommended as a final finish material, unless you can apply it in a very thin layer.

loupgarou · January 03, 2016, 02:35:54 AM

Dizzy, is your carpenter's putty water-based, nitro-based or what?
Does it stick well to plastic? I am always wary of putties that don't "bite" enough the plastic.
I have been using nitro putty or more than forty years, but it's becoming difficult to find it here (Italy). Last year I bought some of "your" Presto and it works well. Problem is , that Presto is a brand with a lot of putties and similar products. It took me a while to identify the right one.

Dizzyfugu · January 03, 2016, 06:18:43 AM

It's even hard to get hands on Presto Finish here, at least in amounts that are suitable for model kits. I eventually found tubes at a car supply store chain (ATU in Germany), and they are the only local retail source. The putty itself can also be found at DIY stores, but only in large tin cans with 500gr, much too much.

You get the stuff through ebay, though, e. g. here:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/151418993298?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.de/itm/181811360500?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.de/itm/370998334902?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Not certain about international delivery, though.

The carpenter putty is epoxy-based, but it is by far not as smelly as the Presto NC putty. I guess it is very similar to Revell's Plasto, because it slightly bonds with styrene, but it is more "dry" than the Revell goo.

That's the stuff, but you should easily find an alternative in your local DIY store in the paint section: http://www.lack-albrecht.de/menu/produkte/bautenlacke/spachtel/kunststoff-spachtel.html