YuMT (YuMTK) 1/72 Su-17M-3

In-bag review

I have an interest in obscure early Russian and/or Ukrainian scale model brands. YuMTK / YuMT is one of those brands, but there was hardly any information to be found. In 2025, I obtained two of their injection molded kits, the Su-17M-3 and the Yak-28L, from the Flash Aviation shop. They look awful at first sight, but think away the flash, a pretty nice model emerges. I decided to write reviews of these models, and make an overview of the YuMTK catalog.

The kit

Original bag, with Flash Aviation sticker. It's pretty amazing to see that this is how such a model was presented to the buying public.. Considering the almost unreadable 'YuMT' logo (ЮМТ), it's no wonder that Flash Aviation misread it, and made 'HJMT' out of it. It's a small wonder that I nevertheless found the kit in their catalog.

The parts

The mid/front fuselage halves, with lots of flash around the parts. Also on this runner: an inlet ring and inlet 'bullet'. I think the fuselage parts would look fine after removal of the flash and applying a gray primer.

The rear fuselage halves, plus (left to right) cockpit coaming, cockpit tub, five engine cooling inlets and probably two antenna, three cockpit tub supports, and lastly the instrument panel.

Drowning in flash, the inboard wing sections in two parts, plus four wing fences. It was this part that most visible in the plastic bag, and it made the shop (Flash Aviation) think it was a vacform kit, storing it in a box with all of its (real) vacform kits.

The outboard wing sections in four parts, plus horizontal tailplanes in four parts, and lastly the large landing gear doors (that are to be cut in three). On the back side of the runner, the part attachment points all run deep into the parts, requiring lots of clean-up.

Lastly a runner with lots of smaller parts. Upper left quadrant: KKR recce pod, UB-16 rocket pods and ejection seat. Upper right quadrant: SPS ECM pod, two fins, eight pylons. Lower left quadrant: two PTB-800 fuel tanks in four parts. Lower right quadrant: main and nose landing gear legs and wheels, R-60 missiles, maybe the centerline pylon. Missing from this inventory compared to the instruction sheet: I don't see the nose landing gear doors, the gun gas deflectors, or the pitot tube / air data mast. Maybe these are to be made from plastic card and wire?

The kit comes with an injection molded canopy. Maybe it can be saved with lots of polishing? The separate part once fitted at the rear of the parts, and serves no purpose.

I think this is a generic decal sheet, considering that it has three instrument panel decals. The red printing is a bit pale and soft.

The instructions are very simple.

Detailing

The model also has some good features. The details are actually quite nice. The engraved panel lines are nicely done, perfect for 1/72 scale I would say. I compared the parts to the old Pantera and Italeri Su-22M-4 kits, but the YuMTK did not copy the details of these models.

The same comments for the details on the wing parts. The panel lines for movable surfaces are slightly larger / deeper than those of hatches, just the way I like it.

Links

• Scalemates entry

• Micro World forum: Su-17M3R from YMTK build report

• Grachmodel, sprue and parts photos

• Airforce.ru forums: 1/72 Su-17M3R from YuMTK, build report (unfinished) and shape analysis

• Britmodeller: What the best Su-22M3 in 1/72?: "There was once a very rare and rather horrible JMTK Su-17M3 kit but although it was geometrically correct putting it together was an quite a task." Plus many other comments.

• Scalemodels.ru: Modelsvit 1/72 Su-17M3 review: "..the LND model of the Su-17M3 from the YuMTK company in Vasylkiv. Although this rarity is often mentioned for its good geometry, in reality, its fuselage is approximately 5 mm shorter than it should be."

• Greenmatsclub: Review Modelsvit 1/72 Su-17M3R: "There was another Su-17M3 model in 1/72 scale that could be converted into a Su-17M3R. It was produced in Vasylkiv under the YuMTK brand . But it's a model for sadomasochistic purposes, so it's a shame to waste time on it. Although, they say, its geometry was quite good."