Beriev Be-12 - Amodel 1/144

[RodolfoMas]

Hi everyone, I thought I’d get started on the 1/144 Amodel kit and build it as a ‘Yellow 55’ of the Ukrainian Naval Aviation, set in the 1990s, depicted floating above a (resin) sea with the undercarriage retracted, as I find this configuration particularly appealing.


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

Before making a proper start I’ve been having a read through a few build threads and comments on the kit, just to get an idea of where the awkward spots might be.
From what I can gather, most of the work seems to be in the fit rather than the basic shape.
The outlines look rather good, but it does seem very much a short-run kit, so I’m expecting a fair bit of dry-fitting, adjustment and general tidying up along the way.

The areas that seem most likely to need a bit of attention are:
- the fuselage/hull join, which may leave a fairly noticeable centre seam and some unevenness along the surface
- the wing roots, where gaps and alignment issues could affect both the appearance and the dihedral
- the engine nacelle joins, particularly if the instructions are followed without checking the fit carefully first
- the nose glazing and canopy, both of which seem to benefit from a bit of care and perhaps some light trimming
- the wheel wells, which may be especially relevant in my case if I do go ahead with the undercarriage closed

It doesn’t look like one that will simply fall together, but that’s part of the attraction with some of these less common subjects.

If I can get the joins sorted out neatly and make the closed undercarriage look convincing, I think it should build into a very appealing model.

At the moment, I suspect the wheel wells, fuselage join, wing roots and clear parts will be the main things to keep an eye on once I get underway.
In any case, I’m looking forward to making a start, as the Be-12 is such an interesting aircraft and not something that turns up all that often on the bench.

Before starting, a look inside the box:


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr


by Rodolfo Masti, on Flickr

[digger303]

Sounds like a tricky one and interesting to watch it come together.

[RangerNeil]

Be very wary of Amodels - parts that look like they fit often don't. I've done 2 so far - the Mi-6 and the Mi-V-12. Neither were straightforwards with mating parts that had different profiles......

[Stokesy44]

Looks like a fascinating subject and a real test of your skills.

Good luck with the build