SAAB J32B/E Lansen - 1:72 Tarangus

[Julien]

SAAB J32B/E Lansen
1:72 Tarangus

Following WWII Sweden was looking for a new Strike aircraft to replace their ageing prop driven aircraft. An ambitious requirement was issued, and Saab came up with the Lansen, a large streamlined dual-seat, single engine aircraft with swept wings and tail, powered by a licence built Rolls Royce Avon. Much is made over its visual similarity to the Lockheed Shooting Star, and even to an abandoned Messerschmitt project, the P1110. Although this is just a result of the prevailing aerodynamic research of the time, it doesn't stop the speculation!

The Lansen project resulted in a well-liked and reliable aircraft that served on the front line from 1955 to the late 70s, and in second line service into the 90s. It was capable of carrying the new (at the time) anti-shipping missiles, as well as the A model having an armament of four Bofors 20mm cannon, mounted behind retractable doors in the nose. It could also carry unguided rocket pods and license produced Sidewinders for A2A combat. The B version would upgrade to a hefty 4 x 30mm ADEN cannon. Later on in it's service life four B airframes were modified to ECM training aircraft with the J23E designation. Two airframes were kept airworthy by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority until 2010, sampling radiation in the upper atmosphere.

The Kit
The kit is The first ever kit of the fighter version of the Saab Lansen, aka Lansen Sport, in 1/72 scale. The kit is typical of a short run kit, the plastic has fine engraved panel lines (a bit too fine at times), there are larger then normal sprue gates and injector pin marks. The review copy has a slightly short shot burner can. The clear sprue is a little thick but not overly so and is clear.

Construction start with the cockpit. The tub is not one part but the front and rear are built separately and joined. The front wheel well is fist built up under the front cockpit as the cockpit floor forms the roof of the gear bay. The two sides are added along with the front and rear bulkheads. This can then be flipped over and the control column and instrument panel are added. The rear cockpit has the instrument panel and rear bulkhead added. The two are then joined together. The ejection seats can then be made up and added. Each seat has the main seat part, rails, and head shields to add.

Next for each fuselage side the engine intakes are added, then the main gear wells can be added, along with the 4 part exhaust. Once these are all in main fuselage can be closed up. The coaming is then added in front of the cockpits and the glass partition between the cockpits is also added. A prominent blade antenna is added on the nose. Moving toward the rear another blade antenna and four cooling scoops are added. Next to go on are the tail planes and vertical fin. It is good the fin is one part and separate from the fuselage halves as they have been able to control the thickness better.

Next up are the main wings. These are of a conventional two part upper and single part lower wings. A prominent blade antenna is added to each wing along with a wing fence. The fence is quite thick in plastic and would benefit from a PE replacement, as would the antenna. The pitot probe is added to the right wing. The wing can then be joined to the fuselage and the ventral fuel tank added. The undercarriage is then added. A single nose wheel assembly complete with wheel is added along with the two front gear doors. The twin landing lights are added to the front of the gear well. The main gear is two part wheels which attach to their own leg. The outer main gear doors then attach to the leg. The inners to the fuselage. There is a retraction strut to add to the main gear leg. The last things to add are the pylons and weapons if you want to use them. Two generic sidewinders are included but are not too detailded. Last item on is the single part canopy.

Decals
Decals are provided for 4 aircraft. There is no mention of the decal maker on the sheet.

• 32532, J 32B, F12 From Kalmar wing 1968. Marked with orange squares. Possible use of smaller insignia on the wings.
• 32536, J 32B, F1 From Hasslo/Vasteras Wing.
• 32615, J 32B, F15 From Froson/Osterung Wing 1970s. Use of orange square markings which were later removed left unbleached squares on the paint.
• 32507, J32E, F16-01, From Uppsala Wing, jamming aircraft 1996.

Conclusion
While it is good to see this type of limited use aircraft available to the 1.72 modeller this is not a mainstream kit and care will be needed in its construction. Tarangus are to be thanked for releasing this in 1/72. Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Sten Ekedahl]

Just a small comment. The A 32A never carried Sidewinders nor rocket pods. These were only used on the J 32B. The rocket pods, being an A2A weapon, were later also used on the J 35D Draken.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Sten Ekedahl

[rholland]

Thank you Sten for a thorough and helpful review.

Richard in NZ

[Julien]

Err I reviewed the kit not Sten?

[stringbag]

The A 32A never carried Sidewinders nor rocket pods. These were only used on the J 32B.

So just to be clear, both the kit and review are correct then?

Thank you Sten for a thorough and helpful review.

Richard in NZ

Thank you Julien for a thorough and helpful review.

Chris.

[Julien]

So just to be clear, both the kit and review are correct then?

Yep. There are Sidewinders in the kit which the J 32B used. There are no rocket pods in the kit.

Julien

[stringbag]

Yep. There are Sidewinders in the kit which the J 32B used. There are no rocket pods in the kit.

Julien

Thanks Julien.

Chris.