History
The
Chinese version of the Tu-16 bomber has its origins in 1956 when the Soviet
Union signed an agreement with the Chinese government to form a force of nuclear
bombers of mid range. Two Tu-16 made in the U.R.S.S. served as lead aircrafts
for the rest as the production under license in the Harbin factory. In first
assembled H-6 using parts sent from the U.R.S.S., it flew in 1959. In addition
when the cooperation between both countries finished abruptly, the Chinese
engineers were themselves to continue making the H-6 without aid of the USSR.
In
1966 during tests bombing a modified H-6 was used to drop an atomic bomb over
Chinese territory. After many logistic disadvantages the serial production was
changed to the X’ian factory, reason why the H-6 entered the active service as
conventional bomber in the PLAAF in 1970, this one used a copy of reactor RD-3M
designated Wopen WP-8.
Version
H-6D was developed from 1975, and incorporated the addition of a radar in a
fairing of great size under the nose and capacity to take two missiles antiship
YJ-6 under the wings (copy of the Soviet missile antiship R-15).
The
serial production in 1980 began approximately and they were managed to export 4
units to Iraq under designation B-6D. The H-6D was used by the PLAN (naval
aviation) and it was finished production at the beginning of the '90.
50
years have passed since it flew the first Tu-88 prototype, and the H-6 is the
last member of the extensive family of the heavy subsonic twin-engine bombers of
OKB Tupolev that it belongs to the era of the Cold War that continued flying in
years '90!
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Kit
In
general kit Trumpeter Tu-16K-26/H-6 1/72 is good. The plastic has detailing
under very acceptable fine relief. Their dimensions and proportions in general,
are good. The transparencies are very good, except form of the frontal windows
of the cabin that are a little fallen. When choosing version H-6D is necessary
to construct a window behind the nose to the right side.
Cabin
The
interior of cockpit is simple but it is only necessary to add it supports head
of the seats and it improves much more. It is not necessary to detail to much
the interior because it is a typical closed cabin of a bomber. Nevertheless I
preferred to adhere fillets done of sticky tape placed in the internal face of
the transparencies to simulate the internal frames of the windows.
Fuselage
Two
halves of the fuselage are great pieces, except the frontal section (nose) but
it wears is correct. In the air intakes of the reactors I did not install the
protector covers that kit brings, I preferred make the duct towards the turbines
using lamina of copper. In the nozzles I made the same work because the pieces
that kit brings are not correct.
Wings
In
kit the span is great but when beating the wings to the fuselage I did not find
any problem, the adjustment is good. The external ailerons of the wings and
horizontal stabilizer of tail are separated pieces just as the aileron of the
rudder, this enough aid to that kit is seen more real.
Undercarriage
and wells
These
pieces come very well detailed reason why a too precise work is not necessary.
In order to obtain a more real effect I reduced the base of the 10 wheels and to
simulate an aspect of low pressure in the tires.
Armament
The
missiles YJ-6 that correspond to the H-6D version and come in two halves also
the fins from tail and the pylons or supports. These missiles are considerable
size but smaller than missiles KRS-5 of the Soviet version. The armament bay we
must assemble without bombs, when the H-6D was armed with both missiles the
armament bay was used to carrier fuel extra. In addition I preferred to leave
the covers of the bay open.
Painting
and decals
I
do not have the codes of the colors used in my kit, because the painting that
use is of type acrylic lacquers (for cars), for that reason I mix paintings
until approaching me the color real airplane basing to me on pictures.
Nevertheless for the interiors of kit I used Humbrol paintings. All the
interiors are mat black (according to the instructive) except wells of the
undercarriage and the armament bay (Olove Drab). In order to obtain the effect
of different tonalities in the color aluminum I used Másking Tape and cardboard
pieces with placed straight edges by freehand on the surface of the model. This
method is faster to complete the effect of the panels with different tones. The
decals are of very good quality, they do not present displacement takes off in
the colors and are of an acceptable thickness. In addition they adhere without
problems to the surface of the painting.
The
final painting layer was a transparent and opaque lacquer mixture.
The
antennas in both sides of the nose come scale up the proportions, is necessary
to cut them or to make them with plasticard to correct size.
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images below to see larger images
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Conclusion
Trumpeter
has published two versions more: Tu-16K-10 and the HY-6 (version air tanker made
in China). Neomega has published in resin missiles KS-1, the first missiles
carriers for the Tu-16KS. Kit very recommendable for any person and one that
does not have to lack in the collection of the fans to the Soviet airplanes.
Ricardo
www.ipmschile.cl
Santiago
- Chile
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