1/72 Trumpeter Xían H-6D

by Ricardo Cornejo Z.

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History

The Chinese version of the Tu-16 bomber has its origins in 1956 when the Soviet Union signed an agreement with the Chinese government to form a force of nuclear bombers of mid range. Two Tu-16 made in the U.R.S.S. served as lead aircrafts for the rest as the production under license in the Harbin factory. In first assembled H-6 using parts sent from the U.R.S.S., it flew in 1959. In addition when the cooperation between both countries finished abruptly, the Chinese engineers were themselves to continue making the H-6 without aid of the USSR.

In 1966 during tests bombing a modified H-6 was used to drop an atomic bomb over Chinese territory. After many logistic disadvantages the serial production was changed to the X’ian factory, reason why the H-6 entered the active service as conventional bomber in the PLAAF in 1970, this one used a copy of reactor RD-3M designated Wopen WP-8.

Version H-6D was developed from 1975, and incorporated the addition of a radar in a fairing of great size under the nose and capacity to take two missiles antiship YJ-6 under the wings (copy of the Soviet missile antiship R-15).

The serial production in 1980 began approximately and they were managed to export 4 units to Iraq under designation B-6D. The H-6D was used by the PLAN (naval aviation) and it was finished production at the beginning of the '90.

50 years have passed since it flew the first Tu-88 prototype, and the H-6 is the last member of the extensive family of the heavy subsonic twin-engine bombers of OKB Tupolev that it belongs to the era of the Cold War that continued flying in years '90!

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Kit

In general kit Trumpeter Tu-16K-26/H-6 1/72 is good. The plastic has detailing under very acceptable fine relief. Their dimensions and proportions in general, are good. The transparencies are very good, except form of the frontal windows of the cabin that are a little fallen. When choosing version H-6D is necessary to construct a window behind the nose to the right side. 

Cabin

The interior of cockpit is simple but it is only necessary to add it supports head of the seats and it improves much more. It is not necessary to detail to much the interior because it is a typical closed cabin of a bomber. Nevertheless I preferred to adhere fillets done of sticky tape placed in the internal face of the transparencies to simulate the internal frames of the windows. 

Fuselage

Two halves of the fuselage are great pieces, except the frontal section (nose) but it wears is correct. In the air intakes of the reactors I did not install the protector covers that kit brings, I preferred make the duct towards the turbines using lamina of copper. In the nozzles I made the same work because the pieces that kit brings are not correct.

Wings

In kit the span is great but when beating the wings to the fuselage I did not find any problem, the adjustment is good. The external ailerons of the wings and horizontal stabilizer of tail are separated pieces just as the aileron of the rudder, this enough aid to that kit is seen more real. 

Undercarriage and wells

These pieces come very well detailed reason why a too precise work is not necessary. In order to obtain a more real effect I reduced the base of the 10 wheels and to simulate an aspect of low pressure in the tires. 

Armament

The missiles YJ-6 that correspond to the H-6D version and come in two halves also the fins from tail and the pylons or supports. These missiles are considerable size but smaller than missiles KRS-5 of the Soviet version. The armament bay we must assemble without bombs, when the H-6D was armed with both missiles the armament bay was used to carrier fuel extra. In addition I preferred to leave the covers of the bay open.

  Painting and decals

I do not have the codes of the colors used in my kit, because the painting that use is of type acrylic lacquers (for cars), for that reason I mix paintings until approaching me the color real airplane basing to me on pictures. Nevertheless for the interiors of kit I used Humbrol paintings. All the interiors are mat black (according to the instructive) except wells of the undercarriage and the armament bay (Olove Drab). In order to obtain the effect of different tonalities in the color aluminum I used Másking Tape and cardboard pieces with placed straight edges by freehand on the surface of the model. This method is faster to complete the effect of the panels with different tones. The decals are of very good quality, they do not present displacement takes off in the colors and are of an acceptable thickness. In addition they adhere without problems to the surface of the painting.

The final painting layer was a transparent and opaque lacquer mixture. 

The antennas in both sides of the nose come scale up the proportions, is necessary to cut them or to make them with plasticard to correct size.

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Conclusion

Trumpeter has published two versions more: Tu-16K-10 and the HY-6 (version air tanker made in China). Neomega has published in resin missiles KS-1, the first missiles carriers for the Tu-16KS. Kit very recommendable for any person and one that does not have to lack in the collection of the fans to the Soviet airplanes. 

Ricardo

www.ipmschile.cl

Santiago - Chile

Photos and text © by Ricardo Cornejo Z.