ENGINE AL-31FP 1/32

AL-31FP engine model 1:32 from Temp Models

The set contains a 3D printed resin model of the complete AL-31FP engine in 1:32 scale. It is not a model of an aircraft, nor a replacement nozzle, but a separate powerplant for a workshop or airfield scene. The pivoting mounting of the vectoring nozzle, which on the aircraft is hidden in the fuselage, comes out on it particularly well.

The real subject

The AL-31FP is the version of the AL-31F turbofan complemented by a vectoring nozzle, whose mouth swivels and changes the direction of the thrust. It powers the aircraft of the Su-30 family and gives them an agility that machines with a fixed nozzle do not have. The swiveling mechanism is a complex assembly of joints and hydraulic rams, which is visible only on an engine that has been taken out. During an overhaul the engine is removed whole and transported on a special cart.

Building and painting tips

First wash the 3D printed parts in warm water with a little dish soap, so that they are rid of the residue of printing resin. Cut the supports off with a sharp blade or a fine saw as close to the part as possible and sand the marks down with your airways protected. Resin does not bond with cement for polystyrene, so use cyanoacrylate glue. Lay a thin coat of primer on before painting, otherwise the paint holds poorly on a smooth print. Number the small parts before you cut them off the supports, because once separated they are easily mixed up.

Who the set is for

• A model of the complete AL-31FP jet engine in 1:32 scale
• A vectoring nozzle with a visible pivoting mechanism
• A resin 3D print with fine resolution
• A separate engine for a workshop or airfield scene
• Calls for cyanoacrylate glue and a primer under the paint

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.