The Sukhoi Su-25 Grach (Russian: Грач (rook); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi. It was designed to provide close air support for Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 in Tbilisi in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Early variants included the Su-25UB two-seat trainer, the Su-25BM for target-towing, and the Su-25K for export customers. Some aircraft were upgraded to the Su-25SM standard in 2012. The Su-25T and the Su-25TM (also known as the Su-39) were further developments, not produced in significant numbers. The Su-25, and the Su-34, were the only armoured, fixed-wing aircraft in production in 2007. Su-25s are in service with Russia, other CIS members, and export customers. Production of the Su-25 ended in 2017 in Russia and 2010 in Georgia. Attempts continue to be made to restart production in Georgia using partially completed airframes, but as of June 2022 no new deliveries have been reported.
Since entering service more than 41 years ago, the Su-25 has seen combat in several conflicts. The type was heavily involved in the Soviet–Afghan War, flying counter-insurgency missions against the Afghan Mujahideen. The Iraqi Air Force employed it against Iran during the 1980–88 Iran–Iraq War. Most Iraqi examples were later destroyed or flown to Iran in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Georgian Air Force used Su-25s during the Abkhazian war from 1992 to 1993. The Macedonian Air Force used Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the 2001 Macedonian conflict and, in 2008, Georgia and Russia both used Su-25s in the Russo-Georgian War. African states, including the Ivory Coast, Chad, and Sudan have used the Su-25 in local insurgencies and civil wars. Recently, the Su-25 has seen service in the Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War, the clashes of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25
What I have created is a relatively clean model ( there’s still a few hiccups I’m working out but it prints nicely and once I get the next batch off the printer I’ll snag some pics ) of the SU-25 Frogfoot employed by the Soviets and other Warsaw Pact countries in the Team Yankee game by Battlefront. This model is done at 1:100 scale and has a growing arsenal of ordinance that can be mount on the 10 hardpoints allowing a wide range of customization to suit your needs.
So how does one get something going on their computer ??? Well instead of boring you with all of the tedious details, here’s a video that gives you the rough idea of how some of the 3D models get made, and how I learned to start making them ( and continue to learn how ):
Now as mentioned right there, most of these videos are done using a completely free 3D modeling software called Blender which you can get here: https://www.blender.org/ and I’m going to start right off with… it’s not easy, don’t get frustrated, watch more videos.
The gentleman who made the second video above also has a lot of videos on how to find reference materials, how to get started with Blender and many many other things, and as you can see from his work, it’s incredible. I’m not entirely sure what he uses his models for, but from Blender you can export them as an OBJ or STL file for 3D printing. Normally this would be the ideal way to go if you want to avoid people saying you’re using “game rips”, copying someone else’s work, selling so and so’s work, etc.. NORMALLY. That being said, I don’t care how hard you try, an SU-25 Frogfoot is going to look like an SU-25 Frogfoot no matter who models it. The devil will be in the details ( something I am still learning to add to models I make ).
I’m skilled enough now to be able to make “OK” looking models, but nowhere near as skilled as the folks in the videos above. In the case of the Frogfoot, it all starts with some simple line art… well not really simple in most cases but you get the idea.
So now I’ve given you the secret to making the models of vehicles and aircraft, I encourage you to go forth and build up your own library of things to print, sell, share, etc.. Careful though, it can be very addictive and I can’t count the number of times I’ve told the wife “Almost finished” and next thing I know it’s 8 hours later and time to feed the horses… you have been warned !!!
If you came here looking to purchase the model to print for yourself then follow this link to Wargaming3D where I have chosen to sell my models: https://www.wargaming3d.com/product/team-yankee-1-100-su-25-frogfoot/