Palo M
Looking good!

Palo M
Saw the box in a store today, that thing is big!

Palo M
Nice update, PE parts looking good!

Bryn Crandell
Watching this one.

Slavo Hazucha
Cockpit done and resting in it's place... A blend of the original kit, the very good Eduard interior sets and some scratch-built parts. No two Su-34 seem identical, so I guess this is a blend of everything from the prototypes up to today's planes 🙂 Next up is the canopy interior and an attempt at the curtains...

Bryn Crandell
The detail in the cockpit is amazing. With that much glass to look through you almost have to dress it up.

Slavo Hazucha
You are right Bryn, I would put some obligatory photos of the pilots girlfriends in there if I could print such small stuff😉

Michael Phillips
Oh yeah, count me in for this one!!!!! That cockpit looks fantastic, you are off to a brilliant start. I think this is the first 48th Fullback I have seen built on Scalemates. This is gonna be a fun follow!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks a lot guys for the early-build cheer-ups, I see I´m being watched by some formidable company... 🙂 Some having done their own great contributions to the flanker family... Well, here is a weekends workload of updates, the cockpit area is now done. This is what it is... Up to the landing gear and engines then! 🙂

Nathan Dempsey
Great looking cockpit. This is going to be a fun build.

Slavo Hazucha
To prevent further fiddling with the cockpit I sealed the canopy on now 🙂 That should do it for the foreseeable future... started work on the landing gear too...

Slavo Hazucha
A heavy metal focused weekend starting... Happy easter mates! 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
And this is how it went... a couple of fails & bck to primer loops, this is finally a result on the engines and stabilators I think I can live with...

Michael Phillips
Oh man this keeps getting better and better! So much good reference material for when I start my own build, particularly the curtain mechanism and curtains themselves. I also love the patina effect on the horizontal stabs. Really nice work so far Slavo!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Michael, motivation is highly appreciated! No two real-world Su-34´s seem to be truly identical, so I am picking what I like from multiple sources while vaguely going for the final look as seen on the MAKS 2017... The kit is a great base to work with so far, I recommend getting the BIG ED, kit engine nozzles deliver enough for my standards (but I´ll get those vectoring ones from AMUR when it´s time for an Su-35 or Su-30)

Slavo Hazucha
Somewhat more substantial update... 🙂 This is my first model after almost 20 years of abstinence... I could not keep myself from the weathering experiments... So this is now a Su-34 back from the future, where they will look so lovely worn-out like Russian jets do when left in the sun & rain...

Palo M
Looking great!

Nathan Dempsey
The camo came out great!

Tim Heimer
Nice work Slavo!

Michael Phillips
That looks great Slavo! The weathering looks fantastic. Quick question, what paints did you use for the camo? I have one of these in the stash and have not yet decided which paint to use. Yours looks pretty right to my eye...

Clifford Keesler
Very very nice.

Nigel
Absolutely superb camouflage and weathering there, Slavo! Inspirational!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks mates for all the encouragement!! - there is still some way to go on the project, so it's all much appreciated & needed 🙂 Michael, I cut some corners by using MRP colors for almost everything on this model (pic.21 - metals) - 202,203,204 are the specific camo colors for this scheme. Not much to do wrong 🙂 They come pre-thinned for airbrushing and do their job really well...

Michael Phillips
Ah, I know MRP well, I use it quite often and love it. Good to know you used those, gives me an excuse to buy some more if their paint.

Thanks for letting me know!

Scott Dutton
That's beautiful, great camo, beautiful weathering

Bryn Crandell
Camo work is spot on. Weathering is subtle but very effective and realistic. I am going to have to get some MRP paints for my russian birds.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Scott & Bryn! @MRP colors - I am just all-round happy with them for airbrushing, they come pre-thinned, cover is excellent even with super-thin layers... Not much use for anything else than airbrushing of course... Less happy with their primer & varnishes, but maybe that was just me doing something not 100% right there...

Chris Greathouse
I love the colors of the camo. Weathering and details are great!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Chris!

In the meantime, I finally decided & did some work on the armament... Researching Russian/Post-Soviet weapons introduced the fun that there appear to be only vague conventions on their finish, including all test, fake, airshow & co versions, but I finally decided on a 2BVR AA (long R-27's) + 2 close-range AA (R-73) and 3 AG missiles (2x Kh-31, 1x Kh-59). It's basically the config shown on MAKS (but there with fake missiles), but there were recent firing tests of these missiles from Su-34's, so I guess it's realistic...

Here is the result on the R-27's (the real deal, the highly popular zebra-stripes used on airshow/fakes afaik) and the Kh-31. MRP metals were a pleasure to work with again... 🙂

Nigel
Love the finish on those weapons...almost steampunk! 🙂

Nathan Dempsey
Those weapons came out awesome Slavo!

Clifford Keesler
Agree with Nathan, awesome weapons.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Nigel, Nathan & Clifford! A steampunk scratch-built rocket pod-racer is still an option if "something goes terribly wrong" on one of the remaining jobs on the Su-34 🙂

Holger Kranich
Very very nice Slavo!

Soeren R.
Indeed a really nice Fullback

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Holger & Sören! Just updated my task-list, still 200 lines of individual jobs to do until finish...

Slavo Hazucha
Fullback now ready for arming... Added the Kh-59 cruise missile, it needed some love & care & I added a few bits from an old smartphone to make the "eye" look somewhat better... The R-73 nozzles were also lightly updated... Landing gear up next! 🙂

Nigel
That is looking gooooooood, Slavo 👍

Spanjaard
Amazing job

Neuling
Top colours and weathering! As far as I´m concerned mother nature also got carried away with weathering. Problem is I don`t age so beautifully as your formidable plane!

Spanjaard
LOL I agree with Neuling

Nathan Dempsey
I'm putting off my Su-34 until everyone forgets how beautiful this one is. Great work Slavo! Getting so close to the big finish...

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks mates, it's a great motivation! I'll try to avoid dishonor in the finale 🙂

@Neuling - the comparison with the forces of nature is quite well placed, especially regarding my pace...
Also, maybe we could start a petition to Winsor & Newton to bring out a "for men" product line of anti-aging and weathering oils...😉

@Nathan - It would be cool seeing you build one! The Hobby Boss kit is mostly a walk in the park, leaving you a lot of time & energy to focus on things you like...

Clifford Keesler
It looks amazing Slavo.

Army inScale
Супер!!!

Martien Lourens
Amazing work.

Konrad -
Awesome 👍

Vladimir Sergeev
Incredible detailing and painting! The work of the master.

Chip H
Wow! Great work. The best thing about Russian stuff is that it can look brand new or weathered badly and it's still "right". Excellent!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks a lot mates for the words of encouragement 🙂 Really appreciated!

@Malkinn - agree on Russian jets - the more you neglect them, the better they look... And if something goes a bit wrong with weathering, you can still tweak it a bit, declare it for "intended" and get away with it😉

Slavo Hazucha
Had some difficulties finding proper time for the hobby in the past days - not really worth calling this a progress, but here we stand, at least with one leg...

Nathan Dempsey
Still Slavo, every time you post progress we get to see something really nice!

Holger Kranich
Looks fantastic so far! 👍

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Nathan and Holger! The rubber tires require some attention, I hope to get the main gear done this week...

Bryn Crandell
Nose gear looks amazing!

Clifford Keesler
Agree, the nose gear is stunning.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks James, Bryn & Clifford! I manage to do only that much of tiny wires pre-bending, positioning, gluing and painting per-day without lasting mental damage... now 50% through the main gear, pictures coming within 48 hours 😄

Kerry COX
That is some impressive work you have done there. 👍 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Kerry! Being on scalemates and watching all the great stuff you and many others are creating is quite some inspiration & motivation 🙂

Standalone landing gear builds are now finished, there is still a decent line-up of parts & cables coming after it connects to the airframe.

This was my first time working with rubber tires, which was interesting, particularly the weathering. Sticky, unyielding stuff, creating its own gravitation field & immediately bonding with every particle of dust & debris on the table...

Also had a first "meh" experience with MRP colors - the metal on the LG should be MRP "chrome", but it barely stands up to the expectation. went on black base & co... on a used Russian plane, I guess the result is still OK, but I need to work out what I did wrong... Anyone got experience with "Mirror-like metallic surfaces & how to spray them?"

Holger Kranich
Moin Slavo, i have no experiance with MRP but when it comes to metallic sufaces, i absolutely relie on Alclad II coloures!

Michael Drover
That's some tidy work Slavo. I love the blinds in the cockpit and your work on the ordnance too. Tagging along for the ride home on this one. Great stuff indeed.

Nathan Dempsey
Wow those rear gear came out really great. I'll be relying on your pics when I build mine.

Kerry COX
I agree with Holger and the BMF application. 👍 🙂

Chris Greathouse
The detail work is amazing!

Slavo Hazucha
Holger, Michael, Nathan, Kerry & Chris - thank you gentlemen for the support & tips!

I heard a lot about Alclads, but I did not try them yet... I am just returning to the hobby after many years & building up my tools & materials base. MRP's so far worked great, even the metals, but Alclad seems to be the way in the future. Already looking forward to try something new!

@ Nathan - Being used as a source was quite beyond my original scope with this build, I feel obliged to do more research now 🙂 I collected a decent amount of Su-34 references, will dig some more & when it's done post links & stuff here.

Clifford Keesler
Very nice landing gear.

Nathan Dempsey
Slavo: For me it's not always about references, but what looks good and the detail on yours is simply beautiful. I hope mine even attains a small percentage of what your kit looks like and I'll be happy for sure. I really liked those pics you put on the other thread of the eggplant colored Sukhoi. I now plan to do mine in this color. On the tires I purchased the Eduard set as I've never been able to get the rubber ones to look right. For the polished metal on the landing gear, I have always used Bare Metal Foil as I lack the skills with the metal paints .

Slavo Hazucha
I will be glad to be helpful in any way! I got your point & agree, trust me, my model includes a lot of "free artistic interpretation"... I just find it a nice side-challenge with Russian gear to puzzle together a good background for the model. The Kit i.e features a production version cockpit, but also several prototype features (like the nose, which in my humble opinion does not require an aftermarket replacement, but can be quite easily be sanded to reasonably proper shape...) & the cannon cooling grilles are not 100% ok, but there I did not bother to correct... I am sure you will do great, perhaps get the BIG ED pack of PE's & masks (mine did stick😉 ), then your "weathered Eggplant" will be a home run!

Bernhard Schrock
Great work especially painting and detailing of the undercarriage.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Bernhard - still some way to go in this area!

Finished one main LG well now - the result is a mix of references I believe come from the prototype, some real prod plane footage & a portion of Tolkien... 🙂 Now I have to do it on the other side as well...

Nigel
That is /insane/! 😮

When I see stuff like this, it makes me think that I should give up 🙁

Mathieu
Slavo this is great modelling. Very inspiring

Nathan Dempsey
Very nice.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Nigel, Math & Nathan!

@Nigel - no giving up on my humble watch please, there are masters here that outmatch me in airbrush, weathering, metal finish skills & co by a number of leagues... We love what we do (most the time I guess...😉 ), the way is the goal (the product once finished being pretty useless to the world in general 🙂 ) - there is no way a few pics of a bunch of bent wires could mislead you from the path...

Daniel
well, that ol' bunch of bent wires just blew me away, wheel wells look fantastic . I also like how you toned down and weathered those in-your-face-Colors, which sometimes make them look like toy planes. Yours looks like a well used weapon of war. Top notch modelling slavo

Clifford Keesler
Beautiful, How do you do stuff like that? That is just beyond amazing.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Daniel & Clifford! - it´s very motivating to see people notice those things I really focused to achieve, like the type of finish & colors - this side is done & sealed now, I´ll post some work-in-progress pics from the other in 1-2 days showing how things go together.

Nathan Dempsey
I was finally able to look at this on my home computer . Amazing work on the piping Slavo!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Nathan - I´m learning & getting a lot of inspirations en-route, so it´s mostly good fun...

I now did the other side (right) main well - I added some step-by-step descriptions of how I did what - for the most part, the whole thing is not so spectacular in my opinion - it is the final combination of dry-brushing & oil wash, color & the actual light conditions in the gear well that combined create the final effect.

I work with 3D computer graphics for a long time now, trying to achieve realistic lighting & colors... I took this from a "render" perspective - we see real planes landing gears & wells always from below, generally in shadow, never in bright sunlight - but the model is taken up and looked at usually in full light to see the details - yet we expect the LG to look like "real" - seen in the shadow, colors more dull & corners more dark - I tried to re-produce this principle & effect, toning down & de-saturating and de-contrasting colors in several steps & this is how the attempt ended...

Maciej Bellos
Grest build!

Clifford Keesler
It looks amazing.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Maciej & Clifford - all in all, I am happy this is dealt with now... Starting to see the faintest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for this project now 😄

Roland Sachsenhofer
A great outcome- and a well documented building report.

Nathan Dempsey
Each part of this build is it's own little masterpiece. Thanks for walking us through the methods as well!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Roland & Nathan! Doing the walkthrough actually helped me a lot to complete the same job on the other well... Got the light blue coat on the lower fuselage now too, but not worth posting yet 🙂 Really can recommend MRP paints for airbrushing!

Jos Jansen
What a great details....superb!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Jos!

A little life-sign from the Su-34 project - I´ve been struggling with the intakes & nacelles assembly a lot, but it is now in place and being worked at... Everything +/- heavy work in progress here, started weathering on one side, but that is not finished either. Will take a few days more until I get the result I am looking for, but we´ll get there in time...

Clifford Keesler
It just gets more amazing every time I see it Slavo. You sir are a true craftsman.

Slavo Hazucha
That's a great compliment from a man who dusts off and re-scribes a 48-scale Viggen while I struggle with one wheel and a gear-well door! 🙂 Some more progress made, lower airframe is still Work in progress with many To-Do's, the engines now have the rough layer on, will leave the oils to dry before starting the next layer of detailing and weathering.

Nathan Dempsey
Judging from the size of this model, the weathering will take forever! Keep soldiering on Slavo!

Kerry COX
Some special detail here and not unseen. 👍
Great work all round. 👍

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Clifford, Nathan and Kerry! - formidable company, I'll keep giving my best and defeat this build in reasonable steps one at a time! Flare dischargers up next... Now I even feel a slight breeze of fresh air coming from the end of the tunnel😉

Kerry COX
I was fascinated and so pleased to see just how much detail your creating in this build. I tipps my lid. 👍 😉

Nathan Dempsey
Ahhh the flare dischargers! I look forward to this part as I have no clear images of the real thing.

Holger Kranich
What a abeauty, Slavo!

Roland Sachsenhofer
That is just a peace of art- what a pleasure to watch it grow!

Peter Hardy
Slavo, that is fantastic mate! I LOVE Russian fast jets, they have such beautiful lines, like an Italian hypercar. You have done the weathering to perfection. And the detail! Just beautiful mate, beautiful! So much work, just to keep us entertained! Thank you!

Slavo Hazucha
Kerry, Nathan, Holger, Roland & Peter - thanks a lot mates, your eyes on the build & the comments are the fuel that keeps this thing going! (literally, I picked more than a thing or two from having a look at what you have built and posted here) 🙂 Thanks again & I´ll soldier on to get this one finished in a reasonable time now - I am back to the hobby after a long time, still finding a balance between this & work & family... 🙂

@Peter - I think 4th generation in general brings some of the best lines & raw power we are ever going to see in the air, from early Tomcats to late Flankers, just a joy to watch (& build) - add that "Winner of Le Mans" surface touch the Russian birds collect over the years of service and it´s all an aircraft-affine modeler can ask for...

Holger Kranich
I fully agree with the 4´th generation of fighters!

Chris Greathouse
I love the dirty blue weathered color 🙂 and fast jets are always awesome 🙂

Stephan Ryll
Very nice progress 👍 the colours look great 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Holger, Chris and Stephan! Chris & Stephan - MRP colors (less so metals & varnishes) really give you that extra bit of... "color" I guess for a lack of a better word... Cannot stress enough how happy I am with these!

Minor progress - basic weathering on one wing (leading edge will be sprayed in a light-greyish color, which I want to look less weathered, so that area is left out for now), tried to go for a palticular matt/gloss mix

And, last but not least, the flare dispensers - all in all a fun part to play with - it´s a PE from the Eduard BIG ED, which I heartily recommend to anyone going to build this kit in the future. The part is NOT on the exterior PE sheet, but comes on the extended INTERIOR plates, because... that makes you buy both, I guess...

Also, I noticed that the tail sting often collects a lot of oil & grime on the real planes, so I let go a little bit more on this area.

bughunter
Wow, that is a great show and build 👍 Looks amazing!

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome sir.

Michael Phillips
Amazing. Slavo, your detail work and paint weathering is among the best I have seen, period. And your step by step pics are inspiring, to say the least. I am eager to see each step forward on this project!

Donald Dickson II
Absolutely jaw droppingly amazing.

Soeren R.
That are a lot of amazings details and a perfect eye for stuff like that!

Jos Jansen
Nice subtle weathering Slavo....you have great craftsmanship qualities 👍!!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks bughunter, Clifford, Michael, Donald, Lode, Soeren and Jos! It´s almost done now - 2 last detail areas, some surface work & decals and: bingo! I feel the final countdown running now, but being cheered-up by all your great comments is the greatest motivation of them all, many thanks for that 🙂

Daniel Klink
Looks amazing and Punky 👍 Really like it

Kerry COX
I remember the F-111 I filmed and photographed having all the grime and graphite dust all over the back end, and here is a perfect representation of that effect. 👍
Great attention to detail. 👍 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Ooooh, the F-111 - I love that plane, roaring at low altitude, wings folded to one sharp triangle and that line of the "neck" behind the cockpit...

Building one is actually quite high on my ToDo list, and it´s going to be a Kangaroo-bearer for sure - the dark grey suit. The US-camo breaks the ageless form too much IMO... and I also appear to have an unfavorable eye-to-stomach reaction to that particular shade of light brown used on those...

I just need to find a suitable late-vintage, almost at-the-end of service life & proudly showing its scars of heavy use reference specimen 🙂

Palo M
Slavo, you built a F111 many years ago, are there no photos? I assume the built model itself is "lost".

Slavo Hazucha
It was this one, in '93 or '94, I think it was maybe the first kit I airbrushed:

F-111E Aardvark (Hasegawa 04036, 1:72)

If there is an accidental photo, it would be on 35mm film in some dusty family album 😄 Not aware of anything in existence... Time for a new one!

Kerry COX
Slavo. The Australian 'Pig' F-111 from Hobby Boss i/48 kit, in my humble opinion is the best kit on the market, as it has EVERYTHING in the way of detail. just a great kit. 👍

Kerry COX
Slavo, I built a Hobby Boss 'Pig' a few years back and it has some amazing detail if your looking to do oe again, and this is why I post the link to my build to give you some ideas. 🙂 Done in te old SEA cammo. 👍 Hobby Boss. F-111 with SEA Cammo | Album by RedRoo

Slavo Hazucha
Kerry thanks for the Aardvark connection!

James, I would not worry... The kit practically builds itself alone, just a touch with the cement brush here and there... so all your "esprit" can go into details and stuff you just want to have fun with😉 Building Ruskie gear is fun! You do it well - leave it well done... Made a mistake? - weather over it and declare it legit...😉

Peter Hardy
I hate it when KC is right, and he is, again! Slavo, PLEASE put a late version of an Aussie Pig on your build list. They were a menacingly good looking plane! Love to see what you could do with one!!! please??

Spanjaard
Those engines look weathered to perfection. Well, all done to perfection, really. Life is right, do not rush, take your time, this beast deserves the love you are pouring on it!

Bart Goesaert
oh boy... sure glad to not having missed this one completely... fantastic work... from start to finish...

Slavo Hazucha
Bart, glad to have you on board even at a late stage... this was not a fast build anyway...

Spanjaard, thanks a lot - actually the build is a chain of many +/- rush & push sessions whenever I find the time, which is the main problem... work-life-hobby balance issues... 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Peter, since the upkeep of good Austrian-Australian relations is of utmost concern to me, I will try to follow suit at a brisk pace! Research & order preparations already ongoing... Just hope I´ll not insult a whole continent with whatever the result will be...😉

Slavo Hazucha
And here comes yet another incremental update:

- one of the last 2 detail areas ticked off - the retractable underbelly sensor array!
- surface, decals & weathering of the underside complete - opening a view on one mean-shaped Christmas tree silhouette! Weapons a dry fit, but this is the layout...

Holger Kranich
Nice loadout!!! Its taking shape, Slavo! She´s got a beautiful shape, awesome!

Nathan Dempsey
Looking nice Slavo! I decided even if I dont use it I'm definitely building that monster missile you have on the center pylon. Going to look great with the landing gear attached 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice sir.

Stephan Ryll
Looking very good Slavo 👍

Peter Hardy
You know Slavo, if I was around in 2034 and I won a competition to go up for a flight in that thing, I wouldn't go. With all that leaking hydraulics the wheels might go up but they won't come down!

Agustin Prellezo
Fantastic work!

Christian Bruer
Excellent work 👍

Slavo Hazucha
Holger, Nathan, Clifford, Stephan, Peter, Hans, Augustin and Christian - thanks mates for bearing with me through this soap opera of a build... 🙂

Holger - the load-out is copied from configurations that were flown on MAKS airshow (with dummy weapons) - I have my doubts about the realism though - in Syria Su-34s flew much lighter configs - but I am quite sure the plane could lift it, at least for a short spin around the field 🙂

Nathan - The "for Mother Russia!" monster cruise missile was a fun side build, the kit version is somewhat simplified, but easy to pimp-up. Looking forward very much to see your version of this very nice kit go live!

Peter - In Soviet Russia, oil & hydraulic fluid do not leak, they lubricate the plane from the outside!! *

* Modelers short guide of excuses; Chapter 5: Over-weathered aircraft, tip 47 😄

Palo M
Slavo: I think we keep the Austrian-Australian dialogue running quite well 🙂. The F111 might indeed be the most interesting "down under" plane to build, though Australia recently received the first batch of F-35, which could also be nice, if not that weathered. And a MQ-4C Triton could be fun too, just not sure if there is a model kit.

Laurent VILLANUEVA "HELLER-forever"
fabulous

Scott Dutton
Slavo / Palo, Austria Vs Australia, I always remember seeing a T-Shirt in Austria "No Kangaroos Here" with a cross through the Kangaroo, and the title Austria.
Yes F-111 best looking aircraft here, though we have some nice nose art on WW2 birds. Yes just got JSF, I just presented a framed print of one from our recent airshow to my work for my retirement. Its an awesome aircraft as well. Saw a nice 2 seat Classic Hornet as well, in Tiger meet scheme, with Taail having Classic Hornet 1985 - 2019, its pretty cool, though I haven't found decals for it. Let me know if I can give you any help Aussie wise.

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Laurent, happy you like it & welcome on board for the finish!

Palo, Scott, Peter, Kerry & anyone else potentially interested in the Australian F-111 topic:

I am really keen to start an Australian Pig soon, and I do have a lot of questions - started a new project on that:

Australian F-111G | Project by slavatarko (1:48)

You are most welcome to drop me a line & help me with some preps on the project!

Clifford Keesler
That is one beautiful looking Fullback.

Kerry COX
Here are some images I took at Amberly air base of the "Boneyard wrangler". in 1997. IF your looking for some detail for your 'Pig'. 🙂 👍 The "Boneyard Wrangler" . | Album by RedRoo

Slavo Hazucha
No mates, it´s not finished... 😄 but it will be very, very soon...

Before I get there however, a story of horror and (temporary) despair is to be shared...

I was working on some last details on the underside of my slightly over-stretched Su-34 project and was getting results I could live with. Being done with these, I flipped it full back (now on its own wheels 🙂 ) when a speckle of strange discoloration in the cockpit caught my eye... And did not allow me to look at anything else... The rest of the story is in the photo update, with a temporary happy end, but I know it is still there...

Must have got in through the leg area, which, as I deducted much too late, is not completely sealed under & behind the instrument panel...

Peter Hardy
Some things Slavo, it pays to be philosophical about. Thank the Great Pumpkin you didn't "wall" it! Just been through the whole photo set again, WOW!

Bart Goesaert
Nice recovery...

Daniel
Oh, how I hate those sneaky particles! Hiding somewhere in the dark until you mask the windows and turn it around, then they zip to the next clear part and slowly embed themselves like ticks…particularly big&mean one there, very nice job of extracting that! Just be careful to never turn her around again😉

Bryn Crandell
One small piece of FOD. Ground the aircraft, fire the crew chief and strip the cockpit. In real life that is what would've happened. Your method of getting it out of sight worked out okay. If you are like me, you'll know its there and it will bug you till the end of time. Looks amazing though. I'll be looking back on this as I tackle Kitty Hawks Fullback. Not today but down the road.

Nathan Dempsey
Oh SlavoI know exactly how you feel! The same thing happened on my F-82G build. In the end I just gave the canopy a nice thump and it went back down into the shadows...

Slavo Hazucha
Now it's all fun & games and early into the build i would find a job like this a nice challenge, but while doing it now, I had all kinds nightmares going through my head - HUD coming apart rom the futile shakes, the A-10 canopy imagery from Stephans thread haunting me while I tried to drill... 😄 And Bryn you are right, I know it's still there... I cannot see it now, but it IS there... 🙂 The Kitty Hawk Fullback has some nice details, looking forward to see it once it gets it's slot...

Mathieu
Your way on telling the story on the pics made me smile hard. Happy on the ending tough

Donald Dickson II
Oh, it WILL have its revenge. LOL Good job with that sir!

Clifford Keesler
I can't see a thing. LOL. She looks good to me.

Slavo Hazucha
Always glad to provide a little bit of entertainment 😄

It's finished now, I am setting-up something that should do as an excuse for a photo booth (It's a fairly big model, I can't find a place to accommodate it and take reasonably angled pictures...) If the weather cooperates, something should go up online this evening...

Stephan Ryll
Very nice surgery Slavo 👍

Peter Hardy
Bring it to my place with beer Slavo! I got a great setup!

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Stephan!

Peter: Great setup for the beer I hope... 😄

Ingo F
Looks awesome. 👍 My favorite russian jet. 🙂

Francky
Excellent build and a funny "don't give up" story. With the build quality that I see on this site, I will never dare to show one of my builds 🙂

Peter Hardy
Francky, that is rubbish. You will find only help and encouragement on this site. We have all levels here, and everyone wants to improve. This is the place to do it!

Slavo Hazucha
I stand with Peter on this one - I´am fairly new on this site, got only good things to report and without mates, the references, inspirations and comments I got here this little build would never get where it is now 🙂

Regarding different levels, it is also all true... Some modelers here do not even bother to paint their results!!! (absolutely no jab in the direction of Mr. Kerry Cox intended... 😄)

Donald Dickson II
I will join the chorus line here. I have a real issue with guys who are "pros" taking the attitude of listen to what I am telling you I. I am a pro. My stuff is in magazines and won awards. If you want to improve you must do what I say because I am God. Well, there are some absolute pros here, Slavo being one, and i have yet to see them take that stance. And i would surely call them on it. Post your stuff Francky!

Slavo, I think Kerry got lazy on that one and used wanting to show all the PE as an excuse not to paint it.😉

Slavo Hazucha
Kerry built his naked gun so nice & clean it can be shown as the creator made it and walk away with a medal😉 Just my lazy jokes here...

Donald Dickson II
Oh I agree. I am simply harassing Kerry. If he ever looks. LOL

Martin von Schreckenstein
wow impressive firefighting! had a similar problem with my mig. got my peace through meditation🙂

Francky
OK, OK ,OK I surrender 🙂🙂
But this whole site just radiates quality. The IT and technical quality, the fantastic database, the build quality, and apparently also the friendship, I am starting to feel like a mate (a modest one 🙂 )

Martin Oostrom
Great save Slavo! I would have taken James' route too 👍
Francky, take a look at my mess from three/four years ago: Evolution of skills. | Album by Mahoo76
I'm sure you've got nothing to be ashamed about in my company 😄

Tim Heimer
Then welcome mate! We are here to encourage, help when asked( and occasionally when not) LOL! And harass each other in fun! I have been watching, asking and helping for about 5 yrs now. I have seen people slowly progress in that time as well as learned. This is where your imagination spreads it's wings! It takes time to learn that, which is why I coined the name Scalenuts!

Slavo Hazucha
While we were discussing important topics & philosophies here, I got it done 🙂 I like to leave this thread with the current final picture, so here is the finished stuff:

Su-34 Fullback 1:48 (Hobby Boss) finished | Album by slavatarko (1:48)

Igor Lyash
Nice result Slavo! Great bomber!

Igor Lyash
Tell me please what aftermarket are you used?

Slavo Hazucha
Thanks Igor! It's a great looking real plane and camouflage in the first place 🙂

I used the Big-ED set of Eduard PE's, the HB kit nose is wrong, but can be fixed by filling the panel lines (only prototypes had them) and sanding the overly round front to shape (along the lines of a final blueprint)

Then I used some old PE parts from 1:700 ships and some pieces from an old mobile phone on a few occasions. Not tol much aftermarket involved😉

Michael Hickey
This Su-34 is totally amazing.👍👍👍

Erik Leijdens
Amazing work...!

Igor Lyash
OK, Slavo. I understood you. I also want to make this model. Some small model companies is makes different aftermarket for this HB model - correct nose, outboard weapons, nozzles, seats, wheels, resin cockpit and other. Using all of this, can make a gorgeous model of this frontline bomber.))

Slavo Hazucha
Igor, I'm very much looking forward to see another Fullback in big scale! I think the HB kit is the right choice over the Kitty Hawk, although that one is supposedly OK too...

The Big ED PE really provides meaningful and visible extensions, except the cockpit curtains, that part I found unusable/unrealistic...

I used OOB Nozzles, which are OK, but Amurs would be better for sure - got those for an Su-35 and they are very nice.

Su-27/30/33/34 Engine nozzles (A.M.U.R. Reaver RC4817, 1:48)

Don't know about Reskits... maybe better, maybe not...

Sukhoi Su-34 exhaust nozzles (ResKit RSU48-0014, 1:48)

If you want to do a series model with the APU cooling, consider this set:

SUKHOI SU-34 APU SET (Cold War Studio CWS48012, 1:48)

The kits sting has no APU grid, nothing, even the panel lines on the sting are not 100% correct. I did some scratch reshapes, but the set surely does better...

Finally, for the nose, there are several aftermarket options, but I've seen articles showing that the connection to the sawed off kit parts is not great and you end up filling & losing more detail on the kit than with my method - there is enough plastic on the kit nose to re-sand it to correct shape...

In any case, enjoy the kit and the beautiful plane, I surely did! 👍

Igor Lyash
I m agree with you, Slavo

Roland Sachsenhofer
Uff! Most dramatic story! All incredients for a great plot, cliffhanger included... But I hope we won´t see a episode "Su-34 : return of the particle" 🙂

Igor Lyash
RES KIT very good set. There is still a good company AMIGO MODELS from Chelyabinsk (South Ural) which also makes excellent epoxy nozzles.

Igor Lyash
Here is the link..... amigomodels.ru/product-category/amigo-models/ (not advertising)

Igor Lyash
And price is quite loyal....))