2023 from Aires
Hobby Models is a 1/32 scale mixed-media kit resin kit of the Zvezda
K-36DM ejection seat as used in the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-22, as well as
other Russian built aircraft.
The kit comprises eight
resin pieces, a short length of copper wire (shades of Verlinden!) as
well as photo-etched fret containing twenty five pieces. The resin
parts are cast in a light grey coloured resin. This resin is a
departure from the type we normally see from Aires.
The photo-etch fret is
very comprehensive and the metal is soft and easy to work with
manipulate which gives you a second chance if you goof. Another good
point about this soft metal is that it allows you to manipulate and
drape the harness onto the seat to make it appear more realistic.
The casting superbly
done and all details are crisp and sharp. The upholstery and padding on
the squab and seat back of the one-to-one-scale seat has been faithfully
reproduced and will no doubt be enhanced even more with a wash and dry
brush. The entire seat has been faithfully reproduced, not just the
front, sides and top half of the back that will be visible once it is
placed in a 1/32 scale cockpit. A pity really but should you wish, you
could use the kit as a part of a vignette depicting the aircraft in a
maintenance scene with the seat removed and placed on a stand. There
are no miscasts or pinholes in my sample. Surprisingly, there is
absolutely no flash on any of the resin parts and I guess that this is
due to the new type of resin that Aires has used.
Click the thumbnails
below to view larger images:
A small instruction
sheet is included. It shows black and white illustrations of how to put
the seat harness together. As with all of the Aires kits that I have
seen and used, there are no painting instructions included. However,
the lack of painting instructions do not detract from the kit as a whole
as a quick 'Google' will reveal several hits that have colour
photographs of this seat. As usual, The Ejection site does not
disappoint at
http://www.ejectionsite.com/k36dmseat.htm Another site worth a
visit is AeroWorldnet at
http://www.aeroworldnet.com/1ra05319.htm as it will give you a
potted history of the K-36DM.
I'm impressed with the
packaging used by Aires and this kit is packed in the same manner. The
seat itself sits in a vac formed tray which in turn sits on top of the
cardboard header on which the photo etch fret and instructions are also
placed. A vac formed clear plastic cover is then slid over both the
tray and the header and it both traps and displays the seat and
photo-etch parts. Staples are then punched through the header card and
the plastic cover to fasten them together. Having said this though my
sample had two small pieces broken off it when it arrived in my mail
box. What is odd too was the fact that whilst these two bits had broken
off, the smaller and seemingly more delicate protrusions were intact.
An excellent kit from
Aires that will really enhance your next MiG-29.
Recommended.
Thanks to Aires for the review sample
Text and Images Copyright © 2005 by
Rodger Kelly
Page Created 26 April, 2005
Last updated 27 April, 2005
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K-36DM
Ejection Seat
