Su-27 Flanker B Cockpit
1/32 scale for Trumpeter

Aires

Uncommon Quality

I may be slightly jaded now as I see a high volume of new and wonderful products cross my desk on a regular basis and therefore may have unreasonably high expectations of the after-market resin producers. But then if it is possible by one then why should we be willing to pay the same prices to get less elsewhere?

Aires started a while back garnering a reputation for superb casting and great detail with a less that optimal fit. I have used a few of their more recent releases and can say that as far as I am concerned they have kept up the quality of casting and have addressed the fit problems as I had no such issues.

Having a look at this neat little box of goodies, they certainly live up to their reputation of quality detail and casting. In fact this goes well above and beyond the usual. I was very impressed with what I saw as I began to more thoroughly investigate the contents of this set.

All of the instruments are represented in as accurate of detail as is possible, and the instrument panel is further enhanced with the inclusion of a sheet of acetate film for the readings and a clear resin panel. Out of habit I may negate the usefulness of the clear panel and drill out the centres to be filled with Kristal Kleer post painting. I know, I know, It’s work either way, masking or drilling, and I am creating myself another job, but I am a creature of habit and I prefer fitting the painted panel over the dials and filling them in as opposed to masking and painting. I may not do it though we’ll have to wait and see what mood I’m it when the crunch is on.

The side walls and displays are superbly detailed as well, and with the attention to accurately depicting these smaller details this set is starting to come together very nicely.

The back wall of the cockpit is a mess of wiring, tubing and valves, much like a genuine Flanker, and where Aires could easily have escaped doing a lot of the detail work as “ it wouldn't be visible anyways” in the words of the detailing shy modeller, they have outdone themselves.

The Bang seat is jaw dropping. Broken into the main seat and headrest the detail matches the rest of the cockpit, and worth noting is the fact that the Zvezda K-36M ejection seat is available on its own ( AIRES 2023 ) to be fitted into that Fitter. Or Fulcrum.

The interior of the canopy framing follows along much the same mind blowing lines as the rest of the set so far, and I am going to have to find a way of mating this part with he equally impressive Zactomods canopy correction which I will also be adding to my Flanker.

As you can no doubt gather from the photographs, my description of this set is hardly necessary as the quality is as plain as the nose on your face. I cannot recommend this set highly enough and if you are even slightly tempted by this set, give in and have one. You will not regret it.

Highly Recommended.
 

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