1/72 VES Su-15TM  

by Dima Mudrakou

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When I got this model and opened the box, I understood at once why so many people
say that the VES models are not simple to assemble.
The model has good detail but not in the areas I wanted or would have been desirable.
The pendant fuel tanks were spoiled to the point of being unrecognizable, not speaking yet about any of the finer details. The rockets poorly done as well.

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Before I built the model, I acquired the following items:

  • 1. Wheels from Elf.

  • 2. КS-3/4 ejection seat  from NeOmega.

  • 3. R-60 rockets from VES.

  • 4. The UPK-23-250 gun containers from VES (unfortunately for me, it was  possible to get only one).

The assembly of model required a lot of time. Sometimes it was necessary to use special magic words from great Russian.  The difficulties began with installation and adjustment of engine details.  These were badly joined between the case and nose, and also wings.  I removed the alignment pins on the wings and glued the engine cases together. Flaps did not sit in one angle as a rule.  But the solution was found, I have made drafts, as by the real plane, and with their help has fixed them at the necessary angle.
The instrument panel was modified, details were added and it turned out not too bad.  The ejection seat  from NeOmega presented it's own surprises, it simply did not
want to go into place with out some effort. 

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Unfortunately, I don't have photos of inside the cockpit.  After assembly of all the parts, the laborious work of rescribing the panel lines was completed. The model was painted with Revell ".aluminium" paint. The separate panels were painted by this paint tinted slightly to create a darker shade.  The exhaust nozzles and their internal parts were painted with Model Master metalizer.  Landing gear bays and the cockpit were painted with a light-blue Revell paint,  although it should be more  correct grey. The model after painting was covered with a layer of a gloss varnish, after drying I installed the decals. Then the model was covered with a mix of a black oil paint and solvent.  The final coat was a layer of a matt varnish.

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The time for installation the landing gear and fine details has come. The aerials are made of medical needles and pieces of a wire.  I'd like to send a big thank-you to my friend Zakharov Vladimir who rendered the help with manufacturing aerials for my model.

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After painting it became visible, that the efforts were not for nothing.  The model has a perfect kind, however, all is visible on a photo. During assembly of my model the drawings from a magazine the AEROPLAN #8 (from Belarus) and photo from the Internet are used.

Best regards!
Dima, Belarus

Photos and text © by Dima Mudrakou