Lipetsk Top Guns

 

1/48 Scale

Linden Hill Decals

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

This, the second of two major recent releases from Linden Hill (the other being for L-39s in Central Asia), is somewhat timely given the visit by the Commander of USAFE to the 4^th Centre for Combat Application and Training of Aircrew on August 15 this year. Indeed it is highly likely that Gen Hobbins flew in some of the aircraft depicted on this sheet, having received rides in both an Su-27UB and MiG-29UB whilst there. This visit aside, the new decal sheet is nothing less than an opus from Linden Hill with fifteen very colourful current Russian, Kazak and Uzbek combat types covered in 1/48 and no less than nineteen in 1/72.

Linden Hill put this set together following a visit to the base, located 310 miles South of Moscow, in 2003. Whilst the guys were there a mini air-show was held and many photographs which have been included in the instruction sheet are from that visit. In the ziplock bag is a comprehensive ten page instruction booklet, with colour profiles of the subjects and plenty of supporting text, along with the aforementioned photographs. The decals themselves are spread over three and a half A5 sheets plus one smaller supplementary sheet. No airframe stenciling is included, but most of these are available in other sets from Linden Hill or base kits. Fifteen individual subjects are included, including the Su-27UB Flanker that was used by President Putin during a visit Chechnya in 2000.

Subjects included in 1/48 are:

• MiG-31 Foxhound Red 37;

• Su-25 Frogfoot Red 73;

• Su-25T (upgraded Su-25UBG) Frogfoot Red 85;

• Su-27SM (upgraded Su-27S) Flanker Red 02 and 08;

• Su-27UB Flanker Red 17 “Air Force One” with special markings from March 2000;

• Su-27UB Flanker Red 16;

• Su-27UB Flanker Red 61;

• Su-27S Flanker Red 08 (a revised version of the scheme in the Academy 1/48 kit with the large blue shark now down both sides of the aircraft);

• Su-27S Flanker Red 01;

• MiG-29 9-13 Fulcrum C Red 29, 30 and 32; and

• MiG-29UB Fulcrum B Red 37

Additionally included on the 1/72 sheet are two Russian Fencers:

Fencers Su-24MR Red 52 and Su-24M2 Red 44

Finally there are the bonus schemes, which are almost standard on a Linden Hill release. For this set they are in 1/48:

• MiG-31 Foxhound Red 01 of the Kazakhstan Air Force 2005;

• Su-27S Flanker Yellow 05 of the Kazakhstan Air Force 2006; and

• MiG-29 Fulcrum A (9-12) Red 03 and MiG-29UB Fulcrum B of the Kazakhstan Airforce in 2003;

Whilst in 1/72 there are also bonus Fencers:

• Su-24MR Fencer White 32 of the Kazakhstan Air Force; and

• Su-24MR Fencer White 33 of the Uzbek Air Force

Linden Hill provides detailed colour notes for each type, including FS approximations for all schemes, along with some recommendations from major paint manufacturers for some of the more unusual colours. In addition where an aircraft type is not readily available in model form, advice on converting an existing kit is also provided. Colour photographs of the many subjects are also included to help the modeler. However if one is looking for further references for these subjects you can’t go wrong look at the Russian Air Force Forum thread with many photos from a recent visit to Lipetsk. This can be found at: http://forum.airforce.ru/viewtopic.php?t=602

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Linden Hill’s sheets are very well printed, being very thin and with minimal carrier film. The complex designs themselves are in perfect register. The decals are easy to use and respond well to the usual solutions without damage. Being thin they conform well to details over which they are laid. Linden Hill has come up with an excellent product, bringing these unusual subjects such as Uzbek Flankers to the wider modeling market.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Linden Hill Imports for the review sample.

Linden Hill Decals are available from Linden Hill Imports' website

Review Copyright © 2006 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 28 August, 2006
Last updated 27 August, 2006

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page