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Pit-Road 1/144 Sukhoi T-50 "PAK-FA"

By Matt Bittner

Introduction

The PAK-FA (Perspectivy Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, or Future Airborne Complex-Frontline Avation) was a program that started in the early 2000s.  The goal of the PAK-FA is to replace the frontline MiG-29 and Su-27. Although there were two designs going into the PAK-FA, only Sukhoi's was chosen, which they labeled the T-50.  As far as I know, a military designation has not been decided on yet for the T-50.

The Kit

When I first learned about the T-50, I knew I wanted a kit of it.  So far there have been two releases of it in 1/72 (one from Zvezda in injected plastic and the other resin) and recently there has been a resin model of it released in 1/48. However, I knew with the other kits I had it would make a great choice in 1/144.  And here it is. The Pit-Road kit consists of 51 pieces of injected gray plastic, three pieces for an injected plastic stand (to display the model "in flight") and two pieces of clear plastic that makes up the canopy. Unfortunately the design of the clear parts means the cockpit will be closed, but since there is only a seat back - and a pilot (actually two, but one's a spare) - there's not much that can be seen out-of-the-box. Is there room for improvement? Naturally, but since there are no photos of the cockpit (that I know of), it's all guess-work anyway.

Construction couldn't be simpler. The fuselage consists of two pieces, with the wings being part of the upper piece. It looks like there will be very little gaps to fill when the two fuselage pieces are assembled, thankfully. After you attach the exhaust blades to the inside of the lower piece then the two pieces can be assembled. It would appear this could be a snap-together kit, but I'll definitely glue everything anyway for added strength.

Before continuing with construction you'll need to make a choice.  Do I display the weapon bays open, or closed? If closed, then I would skip step two which are to add the bay "ceilings" and the R-77 missiles. The next stop you attach the leading edges of the wing over the intakes, the horizontal tail pieces, HUD-area, seat (and pilot, if using) and then canopy. Since you can only close the canopy I would mask the clear pieces and then attach.

In step four you add the vertical tail surfaces and various pieces around the cockpit. This step would also have you add the exhaust cones as well, and considering you'  have to mask to spray the large surface of metal for the exhausts, you might as well. I might have to check the fit of the vertical tail surfaces. If they are tight enough, then you might get away with adding those close to the end. Or, at the very least, glue the exhausts first, paint the "metal" areas as a preliminary painting step, mask, and then continue with construction. Come to think of it, that might be the way to go.

The next step you add all the intake pieces. If you're closing the weapon bays then glue on the closed doors and you're ready for painting.

Once painting is finished - and you'll have plenty of masking to do for the unique Sukhoi T-50 scheme - then you can add the landing gear, tires and gear doors. Once that's all finished, then you have a completed Sukhoi PAK-FA.

Conclusion

This is an awesome kit. The level of detail is fantastic and looks every part like a Sukhoi T-50. I am definitely looking forward to finishing this, and placing it with my Fox One J-20 (although I like the looks of the T-50 a whole lot more).

Many, many thanks to Pit-Road for sending the kit to review.