Tupolev TU-91 BOOT goes tropical.

[chrisonord]

During the late 40's early 50's, Stalin ordered an aggressive naval expansion to counter the U.S naval threat. This include both ships and naval aircraft. One such aircraft proposed, designed and built in very small numbers was the TU-91 Boot. A long range naval attack aircraft, with the ability to carry a heavy payload in all weathers. After Stalin's death, the project was cancelled, and the 6 aircraft built, were left with a very uncertain future. After 15 years sat in a storage facility, in Tupolev's factory, they were then moved to the Morino museum in moscow, where they spent another 5 years. Due to cuts in the museum's funding, some of the exhibits had to go to the scrap yard. Just one, TU-91 was allowed to stay and be saved from the scrap yard, the other five were now on death row. The five aircraft were taken to an airfield, that was used to fly in and scrap many military aircraft, and they were parked after being transported by road. Here they were spotted by the hardware buyer for the Nicaraguan cartel, who was there with the then chief of the Nicaraguan airforce purchasing parts and aircraft for their air force. The Carte buyer looked in to what these huge and ugly aircraft were and immediately, thought, close air support for these girls. The aircraft were all bought, 4 for service the 2 for spares, and any other parts and engines that could be grafted on to them to keep them in the air. The aircraft were taken apart and driven to the Baltic port of Kalingrad, for their long journey to Nicaragua, and their new life as heavy close air support aircraft. A job they have done very well as they are able to stay on station for hours on end. Some Honduras military experts likened them to a giant Skyraider, as they were almost impervious to ground fire and heavily armed.
The kit which I took a big gamble hoping it would be done by the deadline is the Modelsvit TU-91 Boot in 1/72nd scale, I hope to have it finished tonight or possibly Sunday. No pics as yet as it may just not get done thanks to the stupid 4 piece fragile landing gears
Chris.     

[Thorvic]

So would that be a case of "The Boots on the Other Foot " then ? 

Quite looking forward to seeing this in tropical colours 

[chrisonord]

So would that be a case of "The Boots on the Other Foot " then ? 

Quite looking forward to seeing this in tropical colours 

Ha ha, more like the boots legs keep breaking off. Seriously bad kit I am telling you.
Chris

[zenrat]

Wonderful aircraft.  Looks like an airbourne sturgeon (the fish, not the politician).

I'm looking at a build on Britmodeller and the legs do look tricky.

[Old Wombat]

Seriously ugly piece of hardware!

Be interesting to see what you do with it.

[chrisonord]

Not been home long but about to put a mat clear coat on, no time to weather it but will stick landing gear back on, again 
Will try and photo it later too.
Chris

[PR19_Kit]

At the Gloucester IPMS Show today there was a model of the Boot test-bed, the one where it's mounted in the #3 engine position on a Tu-4. Bizarre rules OK! 

[chrisonord]

I bet that looked amazing Kit, at least it wouldn't have to use the horrendous kit landing gears. I am not going to finish this for the group build, it just won't stand on its wheels as the rear legs are too fragile, and I can't put enough ballast in the nose to stop it from tail sitting, other than that it is done.so looks like it will have to have scaffolding when on the shelf. I have tried allsorts to get the landing gears to stay in one piece, and hold the thing up. I will take some pics of how it looks now though.
Chris.

[chrisonord]

Here is a couple of pics from on my bench for you.




Chris.

[PR19_Kit]

Here's a pic of the actual model I saw today, built by Ken Duffy, the master of Soviet aircraft modelling.



His web site has a great write-up on the 'Boot' itself and the Tu-4/'Boot' hybrid, which is here :-
http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_tu-91.html

The 'Boot' build is first, just scroll down for the Tu-4/'Boot' hybrid.

[chrisonord]

That is brilliant, Cheers for that Kit.

[zenrat]

...built by Ken Duffy, the master of Soviet aircraft modelling.
...

Tophe is going to freak...

...and then give us a series of variations.


It's a shame time and the vagaries of <insert kit manufacturers name here> plastic beat you Chris as it looks fantastic.

[Dizzyfugu]

That paint scheme looks sexy on the Boot! Reminds me a bit of the German WWII "Hinterhalt" scheme, or the USAF JAWS scheme?

[NARSES2]

Love your camo Chris 

Ken's builds were in SAM last year (think it was last year) interesting builds

[Librarian]

I like the 'Boot' and that camo/loadout look superb .