1/48 Monogram Su-25 Frogfoot 

by Malcolm Reid

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  South Africa Freedom Day 2006 

 

I’ve always had an interest in the Su-25 Frogfoot and wanted to build a scale replica of this aircraft. Only two 48th scale models have been released (as far as I’m aware) – one by Monogram and one by Kopro.
However, finding either of these in South Africa posed a problem. It was after many moons searching for this kit (both, I believe, having been discontinued) that I finally found a Monogram one in some backstreet “hobby” shop. The kit is generally good with delicate recessed panel lines – however the cockpit has very little detail. The decals provided with the kit are for “blue 15” which was the T-8 (i.e. pre-production)
Frogfoot A sent to the Paris Air Show in 1996 after an operational stint in Afgahnistan. To make a production Su-25 Frogfoot A, a number of changes are required :

  • Delete two lower nose probes provided with kit – apparently these were antennae for compatibility with western navigation systems for the trip to Paris 

  • Add intake to base of vertical stabiliser

  • Laser range finder window in nose has a different configuration to that provided in the kit – best to refer to photo references to correct this 

Apart from that, there are several other errors in the kit :

  • Throw away the rocket pods – totally incorrect (nasty bits of plastic) 

  • The two inboard wing pylons are incorrect. All four wing pylons are the same size and configuration. The outboard two pylons provided in the kit are of the correct configuration 

Click on images below to see larger images

Before starting, I bought the Concord Colour Series Publication #4012 “Su-25 Frogfoot” and Squadron Signal #1129 “Su-25 in Action”. These books provide a lot of nice detail shots of the Frogfoot and so I decided to add extra detail to the model :

  • Split wingtip airbrakes – kit parts were removed and modified to reflect the unique double air brakes in the open position.

  • Dropped flaps – Su-25 has double-slotted flaps. Flaps were cut away from the upper and lower wing halves. Note that the engraved line representing the forward extent of the flaps on the top wing section is incorrect (too far forward). Lots of cutting, sanding, adding of plastic card etc. was required. Flap tracks were also added. Note also that the outboard flap should have two trailing edge tabs which are missing on the kit wings.

  • Dropped leading edge slats – again lots of cutting, filling, sanding required. The slat sections were cut from the kit wing top and bottom halves. The wing halves were joined and the gap filled with recessed plastic card. Actuators were made from plastic rod and the slats added.

  • Lots of plumbing on main undercarriage units and bays 

  • I decided to scratch build the GSh-30-2 30mm cannon and ammo tray and installed these into a suitably modified forward fuselage.

  • I added the chaff and flare dispensers using Cutting Edge Su-22 items trimmed to length and shape. These are installed on top of the exhaust outlets and each side of the vertical stabiliser and were a feature of many operational Frogfoots.

  • Intake at the base of the vertical stabiliser was made from plastic card

  • Glare shields were added to the wingtip pods – these were introduced to prevent the wingtip mounted landing lights from effecting pilot vision

  • “Canards” added to the front of the kit wing tanks

  • Kit inner wing pylons were discarded. I made a mould of one of the outboard pylons and cast 4 units from resin. The inboard pylons (for the fuel tanks) were then detailed with sway braces.

  • As the kit rocket pods are totally unusable and I could not find replacement parts, I decided to include S-24 (240mm) unguided rockets – there are some nice pics in the Concord books of Su-25’s firing these things (very impressive and apparently used with great effect against caves in Afghanistan). A master was made from plastic rod and card, moulded and 4 units cast in resin. The adapter launch rail was also scratch built, moulded and 4 units cast in resin.

  • The AA-8 (R-60) Aphid launch rails in the kit are incorrect. I made a mould of a rail obtained from the Academy MiG-29 and cast two units in resin

  • I blanked off the intakes with suitable protection covers. The kit supplied intake trunking does not look good and, at this stage, I was not in the mood for any more modifications to the kit.

  • The pitot probe and air data probes were scratch built from plastic rod and card and replaced the out-of-scale kit parts.

  • The laser range finder window was modified to the correct configuration

  • I used the NeoMega cockpit set – looks nice and busy. I particularly like the armour plate over the top of the seat – no doubt for protection from Afghan tribesmen sitting up in the mountains.

I used Linden Hill decals as the kit decals are for the T-8 at Paris.  The Linden Hill decals are beautifully printed and settle down well with MicroScale Set and Sol. The model was painted using XtraColor gloss paints for the upper surface colours (X616 dark green, X620 light green with light overspray of 50/50 X408/X616, X619 dark brown and X617 tan – these were all lightened by 10% white for scale effect. The undersurface blue is a bit gaudy but, according to colour references, is accurate – I
used Humbrol H98 with 30% white. Weathering was done using pastel chalk to highlight the panel lines. Minimal chipping was also added using a silver pencil. Some raised areas were highlighted using dry-brushing. 
Model was then matt varnished and Oil/fuel/hydraulic streaks were added using enamel paint thinned with white spirit. 

Click on images below to see larger images

All I need now is for Trumpeter to bring out a 32nd scale Frogfoot and Fitter. If the weapons sprues on their 35th scale Hind are anything to go by, the first 10 hours would be spent deciding on which weapons fit to use !!!
Malcolm

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Photos and text © by Malcolm Reid