1:48 Camouflage Paint Masks For Su-33 Flanker-D

The patches of the carrier version of the heavy Sukhoi

The Su-33 came about by adapting the land-based fighter for service on an aircraft carrier. A front horizontal surface, strengthened landing gear, folding wingtips and an arrestor hook were added, so the silhouette is noticeably different from the original type. The designation Flanker-D is the code name used in the West for precisely this naval version.

The layout of the finish

The subject is a cold blue-gray trio of tones, arranged into large irregular fields. The darkest tone covers the spine and the upper sides of the wings, the medium one passes onto the sides and the lightest closes off the lower areas. The patches are large, yet nothing is left to chance at their boundaries: they follow the axis of the fuselage and repeat symmetrically on both engine nacelles.

The choice of shades is not accidental either. Over the sea and over the deck of a ship the machine is meant to blend with the water and the sky, so the subject avoids earthy tones and keeps to cool blues. The difference between neighboring fields is smaller than on land-based aircraft.

Working with the shapes

Thanks to its two widely spaced engines and broad center the model is broken up, so try out in advance how the shape will run across the trough between the nacelles. The film has to be formed slowly with the fingers there and pressed down, otherwise it lifts in the bend.

Lay the paint down in several light passes perpendicular to the edge. On large areas there is a temptation to increase the flow, but that is exactly where a ridge forms on the edge, which once the mask is off is noticeable both to the touch and when viewed against the light.

The cut shapes alone are supplied, without the shades and without the model of the aircraft.