Su-47(S-37) BERKUT

[shortCummins]

I'm building the HobbyBoss 1:72 Su-47(S-37) Berkut







the manual







I've never built a HobbyBoss kit before and 1:72 seems ever so small to me, my eyesight isn't what it used to be, however there doesn't seem too many parts so it should go together without too many dramas?

My only real concern is that its going to be very black, I'll have to do something about that

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[peppie]

That's a nice looking plane. I don't know this kit but I've heard a lot off good things about Hobby Boss kits.

My only real concern is that its going to be very black

I've heard a wise man say once: "Never use Black as a colour, only for mixing and shadows".
Since then I never do.
For the darkest colours I use something like Tire Black, and even then I lighten things up. Still makes it look like black.

Good luck building this

[shortCummins]

That's a nice looking plane. I don't know this kit but I've heard a lot off good things about Hobby Boss kits.

My only real concern is that its going to be very black

I've heard a wise man say once: "Never use Black as a colour, only for mixing and shadows".
Since then I never do.
For the darkest colours I use something like Tire Black, and even then I lighten things up. Still makes it look like black.

Good luck building this

thanks for the tip peppie, I've ordered some NATO black to add to flat black, tyre black and several shades of dark grey, it'll either work or look like a patchwork quilt

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (Russian: Су-47 Беркут—Golden Eagle) (NATO reporting name Firkin), also designated S-32 and S-37 (not to be confused with the twin-engined delta canard design offered by Sukhoi in the early 1990s under the designation Su-37) during initial development, was an experimental supersonic jet fighter developed by Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. A distinguishing feature of the aircraft was its forward-swept wing that gave the aircraft excellent agility and manoeuvrability. While serial production of the type never materialised, the sole aircraft produced served as a technology demonstrator prototype for a number of advanced technologies later used in the 4.5 generation fighter SU-35BM and current fifth-generation jet fighter prototype Sukhoi PAK FA T-50.
On 11 August 2014, Commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Forces, Colonel General Viktor Bondarev claimed that Russia is still continuing the research and development of Su-47 or similar forward-swept wing fighters. The new prototypes of such aircraft will be unveiled in the near future.

Development
Originally known as the S-37, Sukhoi redesignated its advanced test aircraft as the Su-47 in 2002. Officially nicknamed Berkut (Golden Eagle), the Su-47 was originally built as Russia's principal testbed for composite materials and sophisticated fly-by-wire control systems.
TsAGI has long been aware of the advantages of forward-swept wings, with research including the development of the Tsibin LL and study of the captured Junkers Ju 287 in the 1940s. Forward-swept wings yield a higher maximum lift coefficient, reduced bending moments, and delayed stall when compared to more traditional wing shapes. At high angles of attack, the wing tips remain unstalled allowing the aircraft to retain aileron control. Conversely, forward sweep geometrically creates increased angle of incidence of the outer wing sections when the wing bends under load. The wings experience higher bending moments, leading to a tendency for the wings to fail structurally at lower speeds than for a straight or aft-swept wing.
The project was launched in 1983 on order from the Soviet Air Force. But when the USSR dissolved, funding was frozen and development continued only through funding by Sukhoi. Like its US counterpart, the Grumman X-29, the Su-47 was primarily a technology demonstrator for future Russian fighters.

Design
The Su-47 is of similar dimensions to previous large Sukhoi fighters, such as the Su-35.To reduce development costs, the Su-47 borrowed the forward fuselage, vertical tails, and landing gear of the Su-27 family. Nonetheless, the aircraft includes an internal weapons bay, and space set aside for an advanced radar.
Though similar in overall concept to the Grumman X-29 research aircraft of the 1980s, the Su-47 is larger and far closer to an actual combat aircraft than its US counterpart.
Like its immediate predecessor, the Su-37, the Su-47 is of tandem-triple layout, with canards ahead of wings and tailplanes. Interestingly, the Su-47 has two tailbooms of unequal length outboard of the exhaust nozzles. The shorter boom, on the left-hand side, houses rear-facing radar, while the longer boom houses a brake parachute.

Manoeuvrability
The Su-47 has extremely high agility at subsonic speeds, enabling the aircraft to alter its angle of attack and its flight path very quickly while retaining maneuverability in supersonic flight. The Su-47 has a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 at high altitudes and a 9g capability.
The swept-forward wing, compared to a swept-back wing of the same area, provides a number of advantages:
• higher lift-to-drag ratio
• better agility in dogfight situations
• higher range at subsonic speed
• improved stall resistance and anti-spin characteristics
• improved stability at high angles of attack
• a lower minimum flight speed
• a shorter take-off and landing distance

Wings
The forward-swept mid-wing gives the Su-47 its unconventional appearance. A substantial part of the lift generated by the forward-swept wing occurs at the inner portion of the wingspan. This inboard lift is not restricted by wingtip stall and the lift-induced wingtip vortex generation is thus reduced. The ailerons—the wing's control surfaces—remain effective at the highest angles of attack, and controllability of the aircraft is retained even in the event of airflow separating from the remainder of the wings' surface.
A downside of such a forward-swept wing design is that it geometrically produces wing twisting as it bends under load, resulting in greater stress on the wing than for a similar straight or aft-swept wing. This requires the wing be designed to twist as it bends—opposite to the geometric twisting. This is done by the use of composites wing skins laid-up to twist. The plane was initially limited to Mach 1.6.

Thrust vectoring
The thrust vectoring (with PFU engine modification) of ±20° at 30°/second in pitch and yaw will greatly support the agility gained by other aspects of the design.

Specifications
Data from World Aircraft & Systems Directory
General characteristics
• Crew: 1
• Length: 22.6 m (74 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 15.16 m to 16.7 m (49 ft 9 in to 54 ft 9 in)
• Height: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 61.87 m² (666 ft²)
• Empty weight: 16,375 kg (36,100 lbs)
• Loaded weight: 25,000 kg (55,115 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 35,000 kg (77,162 lbs)
• Powerplant: 2 × Aviadvigatel D-30F11 afterburning, thrust vectoring (in PFU modification) turbofans
• Dry thrust: 83.4 kN (18,700 lbf) each
• Thrust with afterburner: 142.2 kN (32,000 lbf) each
• Thrust vectoring: ±20° at 30° per second in pitch and yaw
Performance
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.65 (Achieved in test flights[8]) (1,717 km/h, 1,066 mph)
• At sea level: Mach 1.16 (1,400 km/h, 870 mph[3])
• Range: 3,300 km (2,050 mi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,050 ft)
• Rate of climb: 233 m/s (46,200 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 360 kg/m² (79.4 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 1.16 (loaded) / 1.77 (empty)

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Nice entry, good luck on this one!
And wear some glasses....lol

[shortCummins]

Nice entry, good luck on this one!
And wear some glasses....lol

thanks, 1:17 is way too small , having said that this is a BIG aircraft

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

so I've put together and painted the cockpit…


I made the blue by mixing Akan 7: Blue and Hobby Color H63 metallic blue green.

the IP was a simple decal, as were the side consoles


the completed cockpit, lightly dry-brushed and weathered


here's the cockpit, I think it looks OK especially for 1:72


even though it'll be flying I decided to leave out the pilot, he didn't look much and I couldn't be bothered painting him

next up I nailed the fuselage halves together, much clamping but an excellent fit


canards, wings and stabilisers fitted


I'm going to display her "in flight" so I've closed the landing bay doors, not much detail in them anyway


the canopy has been masked and fitted, then I gave her a shot of primer


so next will be deciding how I'm going to depict 50 shades of black
until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Nige201980]

WOW that was quick great work so far mate

[shortCummins]

WOW that was quick great work so far mate

Ha ha, Nige, there's hardly any parts to this kit so the painting is what's going to take the time

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

just a small update.

Following Peppie's advice I'm going to paint this using a number of different shades of black and dark grey

I've outlined the panels with Tamiya XF-24 Dark Grey


The idea is to use this as a buffer giving a slightly faded appearance (hopefully)

The first "black" Im using is Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black



I used small circling movements rather than the "normal" backwards and forwards motion to give a slightly uneven colour spread, I'm trying to make the colour look as if its faded rather than patchwork, when the next blacks go on I should be able to judge how well (or otherwise) it works

Next will be masking some of the panels and spraying the next black which will be Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Lee]

I have this kit as well, it's not bad at all. I got the original version (HobbyBoss rebox it) for £3...!!!

This bird in 1/72 is quite a bit larger than an F-16 in 1/48...lol

[shortCummins]

I have this kit as well, it's not bad at all. I got the original version (HobbyBoss rebox it) for £3...!!!

This bird in 1/72 is quite a bit larger than an F-16 in 1/48...lol

when its "done and dusted I'll take a photo of it next to the I-16 at 1:48

I wish someone would do a 1:48 of both this and the Grumman X-29 (both have forward swept wings), they both look as if Gerry Anderson designed them

[Lee]

I have this kit as well, it's not bad at all. I got the original version (HobbyBoss rebox it) for £3...!!!

This bird in 1/72 is quite a bit larger than an F-16 in 1/48...lol

when its "done and dusted I'll take a photo of it next to the I-16 at 1:48

I wish someone would do a 1:48 of both this and the Grumman X-29 (both have forward swept wings), they both look as if Gerry Anderson designed them

Yep, agree. Although the Berkut would be mahoosive in 1/48....!!!

[shortCummins]

another small update.

Once again I free-handed the next shade of black, this time it was Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black


you can really see, from the photo of the underside, the circle effect created.

I'd left a number of panels more or less untouched, this needed masking…


… and then I used Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black



The contrast between the different shades of black was a little too much, only two of these aircraft have been made and their experimental so I'm guessing that they won't be excessively worn, so I need to tone-down the differences. I've done this by giving a very light coat of extremely thinned XF-1, approx. 95% Ultimate thinner - 5% XF-1.



The underside is still a bit too contrast but I think I'll leave it as is rather than go too far and loose all of the contrast

So next will be fitting the nose cone and engine exhaust, giving it a gloss coat, decals and then weathering with either Ultimate light dirt or concrete

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Lee]

Top half looks awesome mate

I would go for it on the underside too

[martin57]

Very smart kit , and you have done great work so far on the paint job

[shortCummins]

Top half looks awesome mate

I would go for it on the underside too

I know, I was just dithering, I've given the bottom another light overspray again, its not quite there but I'm really nervous about stuffing it up

Very smart kit , and you have done great work so far on the paint job

thanks Martin, black isn't a colour I'd recommend to tackle unless your comfortable with what your doing, I'm happier now that I've done this and haven't (yet) completely messed it up. This is my first HobbyBoss kit and I must say that its excellent, so much so that I'm looking at one of their kits for the Pacific Ocean Theatre GB later this year, hopefully by then I'd have moved house and be settled (yer right)

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

decals on…




next up Ultimate concrete wash… scary stuff



the wash polished off and a matt coat applied




so I'm on the final stretch now, a few antenna to fit and cut a hole for the stand and she'll be done

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[peppie]

I think using the different shades of gray worked out great, it's great

[ScaleArmorBuilder]

The black tones turned out awesome on this.

[patrickroos]

Great build and love the paintwork, black is really hard, excellent work!!!
Looks mean!

[shortCummins]

I think using the different shades of gray worked out great, it's great

thanks peppie

The black tones turned out awesome on this.

cheers ScaleArmorBuilder

Great build and love the paintwork, black is really hard, excellent work!!!
Looks mean!

thanks Patrick, now I know how to do it its easy

thanks lads
John(shortCummins)

[shortCummins]

The final antenna were fitted, the engines nailed on the back and all that was left was to fit it to the stand.

I decided to show the Berkut "in flight", the kit doesn't come with a stand so I bought one from ICM, the ICM stand comes with 3 stands one each for 1:144, 1:72 and 1:48. Because the Berkut is such a large aircraft I ended up using the 1:48 stand!

here's the hole I made for the stand


to give you an idea how big the aircraft is here's both the 1:48 I-16 and the 1:72 Berkut together


as Lee said its mahoosive

you can see the reveal shots here…
http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 51&t=16201

until next time
as always, any suggestions or comments will be gratefully received.
rgds
John(shortCummins)

[Nige201980]

Cracking build mate love the black paint job.