The Shenyang J-15 is a reverse engineered Su-33 based on a nearly complete plane purchased from Ukraine after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is equipped with mostly Chinese-developed systems and engines. It is a carrier borne fighter and unlike US carriers, the J-15 requires a ski ramp nose to get airborne.

China's sole carrier is the Liaoning, which was the Soviet Varyag, a ship laid down in 1985, but never completed after the fall of the Soviet Union. The ship was bought by a Hong Kong company from Ukraine (who inherited the incomplete ship) to use as a floating hotel/casino, but that was just a cover story and the ship was then delivered to the Chinese Navy to be completed as a carrier. China officially states that they use the Liaoning as a training carrier, but many think it is so they can cow Vietnam and the Philippines with whom they have disputes over islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Regardless, this sheet is to allow the modeler to replicate several of the J-15s that have been built.

The initial option is for a development and test aircraft. This was left in yellow chromate and carried calibration markings. These are probably stickers as they changed with some frequency. A number are provided.

Another is red 554, which is another development plane. This one is more up to production standards. Apparently all J-15s have the shark motif on the fin of the aircraft. This one had calibration markings on the right side only.

The rest of the options (four) are for various operational aircraft that differ only by serial number and aircraft number. The sheet provides a number of options in this area. Note also that the red and yellow stripes seen on various parts of the airframe are not present on every aircraft, so use photos to help determine which might carry what.

The decals themselves are superbly printed by Cartograf. The instructions are well done and give some additional info about the planes. The recommended kit is by Kinetic and their Su-33 boxing.

July 2016