Overview from the Publisher

Su-24 (Fencer) is a Soviet jet bomber with variable-geometry wings. The aircraft was supposed to be a response to the American F-111, and therefore it's structurally similar. Su-24 can operate in any weather conditions, also at night. It was designed to carry tactical nuclear as well as tactical weapons.

In the 1960s, the military command of the Soviet Union set requirements for a new attack aircraft that would be able to operate despite strong anti-aircraft defense of NATO troops. The aircraft was expected to fly at low altitude at a high speed. Initially, it was based on Su-7 and Su-15 airframes, but due to the decision to use a variable-geometry wing, it was necessary to build a completely new structure. Variable geometry allowed to achieve high speeds while maintaining good takeoff and landing characteristics. This is how Su-24 was born.

The first prototype was flown on July 2, 1967 (marked as T6-1), and the second on January 17, 1970 (T6-2I). Variable-geometry wings were only used in the second prototype. In December 1971, the first serial Su-24 was built, but due to the prolonged acceptance tests (lasting until 1974), the aircraft officially did not become operational until February 1975. Su-24 was named Fencer in the NATO code.

Contents

There are 20 pages of high quality paper plus a large fold-out sheet of 1/48th scale line drawings printed on both sides. The text is a combination of English and Polish. The pages include 1/72nd scale line drawings, color plates and three pages of good quality black-and-white images of SU-24 details. The photos have no captions.

Sheets 1 and 2 show both side views plus a top view of a Su-24M Fencer D. The main pylons are noted and are complimented by smaller scale front views noting typical weapons loads. Details of the nose cone, pylon, and the infrared warning blister are shown, but do not include any notes or clarifications. This format is typical for the remaining pages for the 1/72nd scale line drawings.

Sheets 3 and 4 show the Su-24M Fencer D undersides, front-on and left side views, noting the location of the GSz-6-23m Gatling cannon. The landing gear is also shown with minimal details. The smaller front drawing shows the placement of two Ch-58U weapons. The side view shows the location of a Kajra-24 container.

Sheets 5, 6, and 7 show the Su-24M2 Fencer D with top and underside views and side views of the main and nose gear wheels, radome/pitot configurations plus the mountings of the Kajra-24 container and UPAZ-A Sachalin container.

The following four pages are color plates from Su-24Ms Blue 94, 239th TsPAT, Kubinka AB; yellow 35 (Shark Mouth) Ukrainian Air Force, Starokonstantinov AB, 2015; Su-24MR, White 41, Russian Air Force 2013; Red 09, Krasnodar Higher United Flight-Technical School 1993 (Earth-tones top side camouflage scheme); and lastly White 20 143th BAP Kopet-Nari. I felt the color plates were a bit too dark compared to photographic images of the Su-24 found online.

Sheets 8, 9, and 10 show SU-24MR Fencer E of 23. ARMY, 125 ORAP, Domna airbase 1991. Wing and centerline weapons pylons are shown along with weapons loads.

Sheets 11 and 12 show Su-24MP and MK bomber variants, with various weapons pylons and top-of-wing flare dispensers shown but not identified.

The last three pages contain black-and-white images of a parked aircraft, canopy and cockpit views, a close-up of a pitot probe, landing gear, wing and center-line pylons, fuel dump and exhaust covers. It would been nice if these were color images, but as presented do offer some nice detail.

Last, we have the large fold-out sheet of 1/48th scale line drawings for a Su-24M2 Fencer D. I have the 1/48 scale Trumpeter Su-24 that I plan to build later this year and feel these line drawings will be quite helpful in this project.

Conclusion

This is an expensive publication for a small book, however the details included therein may prove valuable to the modeler wishing to build an accurate 1/72 or 1/48 scale model of the Sukhoi Su-24. Often times model kits lack detail or include inaccurate details that may be overlooked. This publication offers the modeler the opportunity to add or correct details as he or she may wish. Recommended.

I wish to thank Casement Publications and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this publication.