Shenyang J-31 Gyrfalcon by Trumpeter
1/72 scale
Kit No. 01666
Retail: $33.00
Decals: Two versions
Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, four air-to-air missiles, two precision guided bombs, two-part canopy
History
The Shenyang J-31 (F-60) is a fifth-generation, multi-role, twin-engine stealth fighter being manufactured for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, an affiliate of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It is the second stealth fighter that China has indigenously developed after the Chengdu J-20. Its similarity in appearance to the American F-22 Raptor as well as the F-35, combined with its lengthy development period (it took ts maiden flight on October 31, 2012, but did not enter service until 2020) has fueled rumors of military-industrial espionage geared toward stealing the secrets of the Lockheed-built stealth fighters.
The J-31 fighter jet is intended to provide advanced defense capabilities in close-air support, aerial bombing and air interdiction operations. It can also perform suppression of enemy air defenses and can be used as an aircraft carrier-based fighter. A model of the aircraft was exhibited at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) held in Zhuhai in November 2012. The J-31 prototype made a test flight during the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2014.
The J-31 features diverter-less supersonic inlet (DSI) design with bulged fairings and forward-swept inlet cowls. The airframe incorporates a pair of low-aspect ratio trapezoidal wings with titanium spars. Each wing has a sweep of 35° and the stealthy design offers a reduced radar cross-section (RCS). The chined fuselage of the J-31 incorporates a pair of tailplanes. The rear edge of the fuselage is hinged with two vertical stabilizers. A rudder is installed on each stabilizer to control the aircraft’s movement.
Two such sprues are provided.
The J-31 can be fitted with one internal cannon, two internal weapons bays in the fuselage and three payload hard-points on each of the two wings. Each internal weapons bay can accommodate up to two missiles. It is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, including multi-functional displays, helmet-mounted sight, an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), an attitude director indicator (ADI), and advanced sensors and communication systems.
The aircraft is powered by two RD-93 afterburning turbofan engines developed by Russian company JSC Klimov. Each engine generates an afterburning thrust of 84kN. The propulsion system also features fixed stealthy nozzles. The aircraft can fly at a speed of approximately 2,200km/h (Mach 1.7) and will offer a maximum range of over 2,000km (1,242 miles) when fitted with external fuel tanks. The service ceiling of the aircraft is approximately 20,000m (65,616 ft).
The Kit
Two such sprues are provided.The Kit
Trumpeter’s J-31 Gyrfalcon is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 119 parts, including 5 clear parts for the canopy, gunsight, and navigation lights. There is also a small photo etch fret providing seat straps for the pilot’s seat. The cockpit is richly detailed with a tub featuring raised relief, a multi-part pilot’s seat, and separately mounted side-console-mounted control yokes. The main instrument panel is well-detailed, and looks very similar in appearance to the all-glass panel found in the Northrop YF-23.
Two such sprues are provided.
Although the fuselage is split horizontally into upper and lower halves, the top half is a single piece but the bottom half is composed of two, with a separate nose section for the forward under surface of the aircraft. A blanking plate is to be cemented to the rear of this part to provide a back end for the intakes once the fuselage is cemented together. The kit provides four air-to-air missiles (PL-12’s, radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles developed by the People’s Republic of China) and two precision guided bombs (KAB-500L’s, a laser-guided bomb developed by the Soviet Air Force. The missile cabin in the belly of the aircraft appears capable of accommodating all six weapons.
There are detailed landing gear and landing gear bays, and separately mounted ailerons and leading edge slats for the wings. The twin vertical tails and elevators are all separately mounted. While attractive color plates are provided for the two versions for which there are decals, they do not include a head-on view to help with getting the proper angle on the vertical tails. Although the kit has a two-part canopy, the instructions do not provide for it to be assembled in anything but the closed position. The jet exhaust assemblies are quite detailed, consisting of five parts each for the two burner cans.
Markings
The kit provides two different decal options. The color plates displaying them provide no information specific to either aircraft, but do provide information on the kit’s weapons as well as a paint guide calling out Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol paint colors. Upon first glance at the color plates, the first version appears to be overall natural metal, but actually appears in a paint scheme of Barley Gray over Gray, with Engine Gray on the nose, anti-glare panel, and leading edges on the wings and vertical tails. It carries Chinese national markings on all wing surfaces as well as the two vertical tails, with the serial number 34556 appearing at the bottom of the vertical tail in yellow. The upper lips of the intakes are painted Dark Red. The second version appears in a scheme of Tire Black with a Medium Grey nose. It carries Chinese national markings on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings, number 31001 on the nose, and the image of an eagle on the vertical tails.
Conclusion
This is an intriguing kit of a stealth fighter that may well have been reverse-engineered, the product of military-industrial espionage, or both, given its long development phase and the fact that parts of its design bears uncanny physical similarities to both the F-22 and F-35. Highly recommended.
References
- https://military-blog.com
- https://www.airforce-technology.com