Now for an aircraft
My 6 mm SU27 is one of the first aircraft I painted at that scale, and I deliberately choose the difficult to replicate, but satisfying to paint ‘digital’ style camouflage that Ukrainian SU-27 fighters have applied to their airframes.
The Russian manufactured aircraft was first introduced and fully deployed in 1990, more or less just before the Soviet Union collapsed (though it was already being manufactured from the late 80’s). Conceived as an answer to the America F-16 and F-15, the SU-27 was a radical new design for Sukhoi.
Despite its size (the SU-27 measures 21 metres in length and dwarves its rival, the MIG-29) it boosts excellent speed and manoeuvrability. Ukrainian pilots report that in comparison to the F-15, the SU-27 has a very swift ascent rate for such a large aircraft. It also has an exceptional top speed of up to Mach 2.3 (twice the speed of sound)
However, in 2024 the SU-27 is outclassed from a technological point of view by modern western fighters, and by the latest Russian variants such as the SU-30. These newer variants have more advanced radar and mount more advanced weapon systems, such as the formidable R-77 BVR (Beyond Visual Range) radar guided missile.
It is only via careful tactics have Ukrainian fighter pilots been able to avoid being shot down, such as low level flying.
Even as F-16’s are slowly introduced to the Ukrainian Air Forces inventory, the SU-27’s will continue to serve well into the future.
Sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/fighter-jet-fights-both-sides-180975834/
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Sukhoi-Su-27
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/su27/
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/su-27-flanker-russias-best-fighter-jet-ever-209511