Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear H

Trumpeter

Trumpeter's 1/72 Tu-95MS Bear H may be ordered online from Squadron.com

QuickLook Preview by Brett Green

On more than one occasion I have been disappointed by a small model rattling around inside a large box. The recent arrival of Trumpeter's 1/72 scale Tupolev Tu-95 Bear H was definitely not one of those times!

Indeed, the large sturdy box is significantly shorter than both the fuselage length and the wingspan. This TARDIS-like packing trick is achieved by splitting the fuselage in the rear mid-section and overlapping the resulting halves on the sprues.

First impressions are very favorable. The surface detail is excellent, with some raised features where appropriate, but also with fine, crisply recessed and consistent panel lines throughout. Control surfaces are moulded separately.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

One obvious attribute of the kit is prominently raised cross-hatched structural detail on the entire inner surface of the wing parts. It is not so obvious why this detail is present (unless it is reinforcement to prevent the long wings drooping), as it will be invisible when the model is completed. It looks like this detail has left a faint, almost invisible grid of sink-lines on the outer surfaces of the wings. This might actually end up being a pretty good representation of stressed skin under coat of metallic paint and this could have been Trumpeter's intention.

Another surprising aspect of the kit, especially considering Trumpeter's recent releases, is the total absence of multi-media parts. This is an all-styrene affair.

Clear parts are nice and clear (click thumbnail at right to view larger image).

Cockpit detail is very sparse, although the after market industry is certain to shower this big beautiful Bear with lots of resin, brass and acetate.

Looking at the kit in the box and the location of the main landing gear in relation to the huge tail and the swept wings, it would seem likely that this Bear will need an awful lot of nose weight to avoid tail-sitting.

Most of the Bear H's service has been post-Perestroika, so the kit markings are Russian and Ukrainian rather than strictly Soviet. There are still plenty of Red stars to go around though. The quality of the decals looks very good. They are bright, in register and decal film is thin.

At 681mm long and with a 692mm wing span this model will take up some serious shelf space,. However, the model's size combined with its big, contra-rotating props, long nacelles and graceful lines will make Trumpeter's Bear H a real head-turner.

I will look forward to hearing reports of construction.

Bondo Phil, where are you?