In Box Review of MPM 1/72nd Scale
Soviet Su-9 Jet Fighter (ex-German Me-262)
Kit no. 7203
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
HISTORY
In 1945-46, the USSR tested the prized German aeroplane Me-262A Schwalbe. This type was also considered to be introduced into production. At last, only the Jumo-004 engine (thrust 8,6 - 8,9 kw) were brought into production and, as a result of this, a new aeroplane should have been designed without any undesirable properties of the Me-262.
The work on the new plane started in the summer of 1946. It took off on 13 November 1946, being operated by its pilot A.G. Kotchetkov. This aircraft, designated K or Su-9, should have been a daytime fighter, but its bomb load-carrying capability (500 kg) predetermined this type to be a front bomber fighter.
Compared with the Me-262, the fuselage and wing clamping of the Su-9 were changed. Its undercarriage was completely new. It had very efficient brakes even on the nose wheel undercarriage, and a built-in brake parachute was taken into account as well. It was the first Soviet aircraft with a built-in ejector seat.
The plane was armed with a 37 mm cannon N-37 and two 23 mm cannons NS-23. It was possible to suspend either one 500kg bomb or two 250 kg ones under the fuselage.
The Sukhoi Su-9 was also tested with new engines RD-10 in February 1947. The flight tests met with success. The plane was recommended to be produced in series. Anyhow, the production was not implemented because of following reasons; Sukhoi had already designed a more powerful type SU-11, there were already used Mig-9 planes, and moreover, a conceptually up-to-date type, designated Mig-15, was just finished by Mikoan's designing team.
The Su-9 was a one-seat mid-wing plane of all metal construction. The plane's surface was smooth with counter-sunk rivets. The fuselage was a duralumin semi-monocoque. The wing had a main spar and two auxiliary ones. To shorten the take-off, bomber rockets U-5 were attached to the fuselage sides behind the wings.
In 1945-46, the USSR tested the prized German aeroplane Me-262A Schwalbe. This type was also considered to be introduced into production. At last, only the Jumo-004 engine (thrust 8,6 - 8,9 kw) were brought into production and, as a result of this, a new aeroplane should have been designed without any undesirable properties of the Me-262.
The work on the new plane started in the summer of 1946. It took off on 13 November 1946, being operated by its pilot A.G. Kotchetkov. This aircraft, designated K or Su-9, should have been a daytime fighter, but its bomb load-carrying capability (500 kg) predetermined this type to be a front bomber fighter.
Compared with the Me-262, the fuselage and wing clamping of the Su-9 were changed. Its undercarriage was completely new. It had very efficient brakes even on the nose wheel undercarriage, and a built-in brake parachute was taken into account as well. It was the first Soviet aircraft with a built-in ejector seat.
The plane was armed with a 37 mm cannon N-37 and two 23 mm cannons NS-23. It was possible to suspend either one 500kg bomb or two 250 kg ones under the fuselage.
The Sukhoi Su-9 was also tested with new engines RD-10 in February 1947. The flight tests met with success. The plane was recommended to be produced in series. Anyhow, the production was not implemented because of following reasons; Sukhoi had already designed a more powerful type SU-11, there were already used Mig-9 planes, and moreover, a conceptually up-to-date type, designated Mig-15, was just finished by Mikoan's designing team.
The Su-9 was a one-seat mid-wing plane of all metal construction. The plane's surface was smooth with counter-sunk rivets. The fuselage was a duralumin semi-monocoque. The wing had a main spar and two auxiliary ones. To shorten the take-off, bomber rockets U-5 were attached to the fuselage sides behind the wings.
THE KIT
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture short run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a generic white unwrapped tray and lid type box. The box art is a separate sheet glued to the lid of the box.
The box art shows a Su-9 flying above the clouds. It is overall bare metal with just a Soviet red star on the rudder.
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic. They manufacture short run multi-media type aircraft kits.
This kit came in a generic white unwrapped tray and lid type box. The box art is a separate sheet glued to the lid of the box.
The box art shows a Su-9 flying above the clouds. It is overall bare metal with just a Soviet red star on the rudder.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
The kit contains 2 single chalk-white vacuformed sheets, a sealed clear cello bag with a chalk-white injection molded plastic tree and the clear vacuum-formed canopy in it with the decal sheet and the 2 instructions.
The main instructions is 2 loose sheets printed on both sides in 12" x 8 1/2" format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing of the Su-9, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 is a 4-view line drawing of the Su-9.
Page 3 is an exploded drawing for assembly purposes, over specifications of the Su-9.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide. It shows a 3-view of the Su-9 in the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows Soviet red stars above the wings.
The second instruction sheet is the same size as the first one. It is only printed on one side. It has 8 illustrations down the left side showing how to work with vacuum-formed parts. The right side has a lot of Czech text.
The 1st chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: upper wing half, engine nacelles, lower wing center section,
cockpit floor and a bulkhead (9 parts)
The kit contains 2 single chalk-white vacuformed sheets, a sealed clear cello bag with a chalk-white injection molded plastic tree and the clear vacuum-formed canopy in it with the decal sheet and the 2 instructions.
The main instructions is 2 loose sheets printed on both sides in 12" x 8 1/2" format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white line-drawing of the Su-9, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 is a 4-view line drawing of the Su-9.
Page 3 is an exploded drawing for assembly purposes, over specifications of the Su-9.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide. It shows a 3-view of the Su-9 in the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows Soviet red stars above the wings.
The second instruction sheet is the same size as the first one. It is only printed on one side. It has 8 illustrations down the left side showing how to work with vacuum-formed parts. The right side has a lot of Czech text.
The 1st chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: upper wing half, engine nacelles, lower wing center section,
cockpit floor and a bulkhead (9 parts)
The 2nd chalk-white vacu-formed sheet holds: the lower wing halves, fuselage halves, elevator halves etc. (10 parts)
The clear vacuum-formed canopy is next (1 part)
The chalk-white injected plastic tree holds: wheels, seat, dashboard, landing gear legs etc. (37 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit.
There is no pilot figure included in the kit. Detail is the raised type. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.