Clearwater Models: March 2019

Monday 18 March 2019

Tu-160 WHITE SWAN STRATEGIC BOMBER (Eastern Express)

This is the 1:288 scale kit from Eastern Express of the gigantic strategic bomber called the Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Белый лебедь).

The USSR designed and built some 36 of these bombers, which are now operated exclusively by the Russian air force (after they bought a number from Ukraine in exchange for writing off gas bills).

The aircraft first flew in 1981 and entered service in 1987. The type has been used in combat, striking targets in Syria in the past few years. All remaining in-service aircraft are based at Engels Air Force Base in Engels, Saratov Oblast, Russia.

The aircraft shown here is the short-lived Ukrainian Air Force version then sold to Russia in about 1998.

I bought the kit in Leningrad in 2003 and started it ten years ago. It took me as long to build as the factory took to produce the last three airframes.

UPDATE: Winner of the 2019 ANTONOV AWARD for best Ukrainian subject at Heritagcon-13, Sunday 24 March 2019 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton Canada

Winner of the 2019 ANTONOV AWARD for best Ukrainian subject at Heritagcon-13, Sunday 24 March 2019 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton Canada

Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Ukraine Air Force)

A real Ukrainian Air Force Tu-160 White Swan bomber...

Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Ukraine Air Force)

PROJECT 949A ANTEY CRUISE MISSILE SUBMARINE (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 1:700 scale submarine kit of the USSR's gigantic cruise missile-carrier called Project 949A Antey (Проект 949А Антей).

The ship is the K-410 Smolensk, built in the late 1980s and currently in service with Russia's Northern Fleet. The main armament was the P-700 3M45 Granite (Гранит) anti-ship cruise missile, but this is being phased out and replaced by the ultra-modern 3M54 Calibre (Калибр) , which being smaller can be carried in greater numbers in each launch cell.

The paints are all Vallejo acrylics and washes. The plastic masts were replaced with steel wire. This was a fun weekend project.

Project 949A Antey (Проект 949А Антей)

The real one...

Project 949A Antey (Проект 949А Антей)

TUPOLEV Tu-22M2 (Dragon)

This is the incredibly tiny Dragon 1:700 scale model of the USSR's Tupolev Tu-22M2 operational and naval bomber/cruise missile carrier.

The four part aircraft model is from a submarine kit, thus the tiny scale. There are ten decals for the four parts.

Nearly 500 of the bombers were built (1967-1997), with some 100 remaining in the service of the Russian air force. This is the original version with the side air intakes prior to the upgrades seen on current versions.

Tu-22M2 naval cruise missile carrier

The real Tu22M2

Tu-22M2 naval cruise missile carrier

Thursday 14 March 2019

THAR BE DRAGONS !

"Thar be dragons!"

What else is there to say?

This is a resin plastic mold from an un-named company in China. It is between 1:70 and 1:75 scale judging from the size of the person.