Essentially the same kit as the Su-27UB 'Flanker-C' is Academy's single-seat Su-27 'Flanker-B'. A new fuselage is supplied, as well as the shorter tail fins compared to the twin-seater. To this Flanker I added the Cutting Edge resin cockpit set to replace the very inadequate kit interior. My set arrived from Hannants minus the instructions and part of the seat. Hannants sent a replacement seat, but I had to get someone to scan the instructions and email them to me. The set generally fits well, except for the instument coaming. This didn't fit well at all and I had to sand away the interior of the windscreen. Whilst doing this I stressed the plastic too much, and numerous small stress fractures appeared. Fortunately they are only visible under certain lighting conditions. Because the coaming fits so poorly the photo-etch HUD didn't fit either, so I left it off. No canopy retraction strut is included. I finished this kit using the Xtracolour enamels specifically mixed for the Su-27. Apparently they are not quite accurate for an operational machine, but there is such a wide variability in the colour schemes of Russia's Flankers that I didn't worry about it. The paints were good, but had poor adhesion — Tamiya masking tape (which I use exclusively for masking) lifted the light blue on the undersides. It looks like paint chipping, a common feature of Russian aircraft, so I left it. The paint was sealed using Klear and an oil wash was applied. The exhausts are un-varnished Humbrol Polished Steel Metalcote with various staining applied. The markings are from Cutting Edge and went down very nicely. The stars are a brighter red than other manufacturers print them, but I don't really know what the most accurate shade is. Humbrol Matt Cote finished everything off. I also made some small modifications to the nosegear and added a full load-out of kit-supplied air-to-air missiles. I finished this kit in the Summer of 2000.
