1/72 RPM Beriev Be-4 (KOR-2)

by Gabriel Stern

--------------------

 

During the dark years of the cold war, the KGB envisioned a plan to spread chaos among western society: they decided to create a model impossible to build. Resourcing to cutting edge technology, they used marzipan to create the master molds, and bananas to engrave the panel lines. The parts of the model that had two halves were carefully mismatched, and the remaining pieces didn't fit in their locations, being to small or too big. The transparencies were of course foggy, and included malicious air bubbles (this technique is now widely imitated by other manufacturers). No panel line will agree with its supposed companion, and elevator separation lines will be in different positions. To tell what is flash and what a part...well, pray and cut.
It was supposed that the modelers, in an impossible attempt to build the model, would develop mental deceases that would affect normal functioning of western society.
Well, the plan was never executed, but the molds remained in a forgotten bureau were they were found by RPM of Poland, and the model finally made it to the market, this time under the more peaceful intent of providing some extra bucks for the budget.

Click on images below to see larger images

Where to begin...the instructions, written in Polish, make good use of a representation system (perspective) that have its roots in experiments with psychedelic drugs in the sixties. The struts are just square-section chunks of plastic, the propeller is of the well known type of zero-incidence variable-length, that is, the blades are dead flat and while rotating some will touch the fuselage and some not. The air intake for the carburetor and the seats are made of equally shaped parts, in a brave stretch of imagination. Some parts wont be completely molded, this time allowing the builder imagination to take part. Oh dear, I could go on and on...but, isn't it great to have these beauties around to play with?.
I replaced all struts with strut material from Aeroclub and Strutz. Vacuformed canopies were made using the kit injected ones as patterns, correcting the shape of the rear one that was...well, very creative. I had to open the side windows, not even marked in the fuselage. The machine gun will make you laugh.
Interior was scratch built, new pitot tube, new exhausts, rebuilt engine, stand scratch built, etc etc.
Household type paint cans were used, primer and silver-aluminum. A little bit of Tamiya smoke here and there, a tad of a different metal shade from another can, and so on. Decals were OK. I found the subject I wanted to model on the Internet, as a side view (that happened to share some of the marking with one of the kit subjects), so I'm not sure about the scheme I used.
As a conclusion: if you have the guts, enough budget for the filler and sandpaper and you are so inclined...go for it.
As for the mental diseases...well, I already have'em anyway.

Gabriel

Photos and text © by Gabriel Stern