In Box Review of MPM 1/72nd Scale
Soviet Sukhoi SU-5 Fighter
Kit no. 7208
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
HISTORY
In the second half of WWII, when the possibilities of the platon engine aircraft had been nearly exhausted, there were new fighters, exploiting jet engines constructed in Germany, the USA and the United Kingdom.
In the USSR this program progressed slowly due to the evacuation of research and designing facilities to the east. The priority as given to various proposals for mixed-power fighters. In 1943-44, an "acceleratrex" (air turbo-compression reaction engine) was constructed, designed by Engineer Khalshchevnikov. Two prototypes were made: Mig-7 (I-250 N) and Su-5 (I-107).
The Sukhoi Su-5 took off in spring 1945. It was powered by Klimov VK-107, A 12-cylinder vee engine (1700 hp/ 1240 kw). The diameter of the constant four-blade propeller was 2,90 m. Below the nose there was a large air intake duct.
The air was lead to the cooler and to the compressor, as well. The compressed air was blown to the Khashchevnikov's reaction engine in the rear fuselage.
To fulfil its interceptor tasks, the fighter-plane was armed very well; a 23 mm Nudelman cannon fired through the propeller spinner and two 12.7 mm Berezin-UBS-machine guns were housed in the engine cowling.
Factory tests continued until mid June, 1945. The calculated top speed was 810 km/h. This testing program was cancelled in favor of more advanced designs for jet aircraft only, promising much better performance.
It was a sturdy all-metal low-wing monoplane. Two-part single-spar wings were slightly bent into N-shape. All metal tail areas were situated above the rear outlet jet pipe.
In the second half of WWII, when the possibilities of the platon engine aircraft had been nearly exhausted, there were new fighters, exploiting jet engines constructed in Germany, the USA and the United Kingdom.
In the USSR this program progressed slowly due to the evacuation of research and designing facilities to the east. The priority as given to various proposals for mixed-power fighters. In 1943-44, an "acceleratrex" (air turbo-compression reaction engine) was constructed, designed by Engineer Khalshchevnikov. Two prototypes were made: Mig-7 (I-250 N) and Su-5 (I-107).
The Sukhoi Su-5 took off in spring 1945. It was powered by Klimov VK-107, A 12-cylinder vee engine (1700 hp/ 1240 kw). The diameter of the constant four-blade propeller was 2,90 m. Below the nose there was a large air intake duct.
The air was lead to the cooler and to the compressor, as well. The compressed air was blown to the Khashchevnikov's reaction engine in the rear fuselage.
To fulfil its interceptor tasks, the fighter-plane was armed very well; a 23 mm Nudelman cannon fired through the propeller spinner and two 12.7 mm Berezin-UBS-machine guns were housed in the engine cowling.
Factory tests continued until mid June, 1945. The calculated top speed was 810 km/h. This testing program was cancelled in favor of more advanced designs for jet aircraft only, promising much better performance.
It was a sturdy all-metal low-wing monoplane. Two-part single-spar wings were slightly bent into N-shape. All metal tail areas were situated above the rear outlet jet pipe.
THE KIT:
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic.
They manufacture short-run multi-media type kits.
This kit came in an un-wrapped generic white box. The cover art is a separate sheet glued to the lid.
The box art shows a Su-5 flying along above the clouds. It is overall dark-green with a light-blue under carriage. It only carries Soviet red stars for markings.
MPM is a model company based in Prague, Czech Republic.
They manufacture short-run multi-media type kits.
This kit came in an un-wrapped generic white box. The cover art is a separate sheet glued to the lid.
The box art shows a Su-5 flying along above the clouds. It is overall dark-green with a light-blue under carriage. It only carries Soviet red stars for markings.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains one chalk-white vacuformed sheet, a clear vacuformed canopy and 3 dark-green injection molded plastic trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the decal sheet and instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white side view line drawing of the Su-5, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view black and white line drawing of the Su-5.
Page 3 has an exploded drawing for assembly purpose, over specifications of the Su-5.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide, with a 3-view of the Su-5 in the box art scheme (already described above)
The lone chalk-white vacuformed sheet holds: wing, elevator and fuselage halves and the cockpit floor (9 parts)
The kit contains one chalk-white vacuformed sheet, a clear vacuformed canopy and 3 dark-green injection molded plastic trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the decal sheet and instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white side view line drawing of the Su-5, over its history in Czech, English and German.
Page 2 has a 3-view black and white line drawing of the Su-5.
Page 3 has an exploded drawing for assembly purpose, over specifications of the Su-5.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide, with a 3-view of the Su-5 in the box art scheme (already described above)
The lone chalk-white vacuformed sheet holds: wing, elevator and fuselage halves and the cockpit floor (9 parts)
The first green injection molded plastic tree holds: the propeller, spinner, seat, dashboard etc. (10 parts)
The second green tree holds: wheel halves, gear pants (6 parts)
The third green tree holds: gear struts, tail wheel, joy-stick (4 parts)
The clear vacuformed canopy is next. It is tucked into a recess behind the chalk-white vacuformed sheet.
The second green tree holds: wheel halves, gear pants (6 parts)
The third green tree holds: gear struts, tail wheel, joy-stick (4 parts)
The clear vacuformed canopy is next. It is tucked into a recess behind the chalk-white vacuformed sheet.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
There is no pilot figure. Detail is engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.