#BM-7207 Su-25 Frogfoots. Balkan Model's comes in with another interesting decal set. The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single (and double) seat combat platform developed in the 1970s for the needs of the ex-SSSR Air Force. The rugged plane proved to be very secure and airworthy in many real combat situations, with a great potential to be utilized as an air-to-ground weapon that proved best in attacks on armored mechanized units. The aircraft has served in almost any major conflict of modern times - the Soviet campaign in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran war, the first Gulf War in 1991, Chechnya, as well as during the Albanian insurgence in Macedonia in 1991.

the set

This set covers 8 different aircraft:

• Su-25, No. 120, Macedonian Air Force, 101st Aviation Squadron, Petrovec Airbase, 2001;
  
• Su-25, No. 121, Macedonian Air Force, 101st Aviation Squadron, Petrovec Airbase, 2001;
  
• Su-25, No. 122, Macedonian Air Force, 101st Aviation Squadron, Petrovec Airbase, 2001;
  
• Su-25, No. 123, Macedonian Air Force, 101st Aviation Squadron, Petrovec Airbase, 2001;
  
• Su-25K, No. 254, Bulgarian Air Force, 22nd Attack Squadron, Bezmer Airbase;
  
• Su-25, Blue 33, Ukrainian Air Force, 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, Kulbakino Airbase;
  
• Su-25, Iraqi Air Force, Al Jaelieah Airbase, January 1991;
  
• Su-25, Blue 21, Georgian Airforce, Tbilisi Marneuli Airbase.

Decals include mainly the national roundels, fin flags, tactical numbers and unit emblems. The overall print quality is not superb; I noticed minor registration issues (Macedonian and Ukrainian fin flags, Ukrainian roundels, and the Georgian tactical number). However, the tiny decal sheet is accompanied with highly informative and very colorful booklet. The instructions offer a full painting and decal placement guide with a standard paint cross-reference chart. The caption above the Macedonian “120” is simply misprinted, but the mistake is obvious and won’t cause any problems.

Conclusion

Having in mind that the Balkan subjects are the company’s hallmark, one simply regrets the inclusion of Ukrainian, Georgian, and Iraqi aircraft in this set. The fact that Macedonia and Bulgaria were the only Balkan states operating the type (and yes, in small numbers), makes you pause and think whether it could have been utilized as the focus of this set? Nevertheless, this rather simple decal sheet is worthy of consideration and will surely find its way to your workbench.

The list of Balkan Models distributors can be found here.

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