Rudolf_Filip

Very nice! I'm going to follow this build. I've started the same kit with the intention to build "Hot Pants" myself. The aircraft made an emergency landing here in Sweden and ended up as a source for spare parts. The Swedish Air Force recieved Mustangs at the end of the war. I'm going to use the RBD decals on mine. Rudolf_Filip / Andreas

Receieved my kit today. All I can say is WOW! I'm very impressed. Everything about this model kit oozes quality. The details are stunning and the fit of parts are excellent. The question is now how many of these J 21s I'm going to buy. I really think this kit will be one of the big sellers this year. Odd looking aircraft I know but most modellers I know like that. The kit is expensive but I feel that you get a lot of value for your money. Get one, you wont be disappointed! Now I'm really excited and I can't wait for Pilot Replicas next release, the J 29!!! :-) Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Wow. This was an interesting topic. Even though I practically work on and aorund a former S 22 I have known very little about it in this role. However this is what I got so far: In July 1944 an order was issued for 21 J 22 fighters to be converted to S 22s recce aircraft. They where ment to be used at the F 3 wing. During the years 1945-46 ten aircraft was used operationally as recce aircraft. Most probably only three (maybe four) of these were actually equipped with cameras! It is known that at least 22153, 22185 and 22186 carried cameras. The 22185 is the one I have at my museum and is shown on my pictures earlier in this thread. After a very short service period 1945-46 the aircraft was rebuilt as J 22 fighters and were delivered to F 18 wing. I haven't been able to find the exact dates. The first S 22 went though trials with cameras in the spring of 1944 but I don't think that it counts as operational... The armament was retained on all the S 22s. They were based on the J 22-1 which means they had two 7,9 mm and two 13,2 mm guns in the wings. (The J 22-2 had four 13,2mm guns.) What I've found is that it should be an easy task to convert an J 22 into a S 22. They don't seem to have any real external differences to speak of. The camera didn't have an opening. There was a hatch that was manouvered electrically instead. I'm not sure how it worked. I haven't found any pictures of it yet. In my J 22 book (Flyghistorisk Revy FFVS J 22) there a few drawings that might help a little. 91: The manouvering box for the camera. 87: The camera. 88: The slightly enlarged access panel which was modified into an electrically manouvered hatch. The underside of an J 22 fighter. The two rearmost square panels on the fuselage were access panels. One of these were enlarged on the S 22, the right one. It is the lower one in this picture. I hope that I have shed some light on the odd version of an not so known aircraft (outside of Sweden, that is). If you need any assistance when it comes to markings, colours and details le me know! I'm going to take a closer look on our J 22 "Röd Kalle" now... Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I'm going to check my references and get back to you. I have quite a lot of good stuff on the sleek FFVS J 22. I also have full access to the real deal. We have one third of all preserved J 22s at our museum where I work. :-) Our J 22 "Red K" (22185) was actually converted to a S 22 but then converted back into a J 22. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

After an evening of modelling I'm not so impressed with Planet Models anymore. I wonder if the folks at that company actually tried to build this thing before releasing it? I'm bit confused of who owns this brand right now? Is it CMK, MPM or something like that? Last night I testfitted the air intakes and wasn't to pleased with the fit. Here are a few pics to demonstrate what the problem is. I've highlighted the issue with a red marker pen. There is a huge gap. The intakes are by far to small. I wonder what happened here... I will have to think hard about how to fix this without ruining the shape. Here is another issue. However I don't think I will bother much with this one though. The SAAB 210 used many parts from existing SAAB products. The ejection seat was from a J 21 fighter. It should look like this: Here is the kit version. I don't think I'm going to try and change it. Maybe just add some detail like belts and such. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I almost forgot! The Planet kit have the right smell too! I felt very nostalgic when I discovered that it smelled just like the Verlinden sets and kits I built so many years ago. Maybe I'm a bit silly but some of you might know what I'm talking about... :-) Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Here is my small contribution to the group build. It's the new resin kit of the SAAB 210 in 1:72 from Planet Models. SAAB 210 was a test aircraft build by SAAB to test the unique shape of the coming Draken in the air. First flight was in 1952 and the results of the testflights were promising. It was modified a couple of times and flew with at least three different configurations of the air intakes. This kit represent the first version with the short nose and intakes all the way up to the nose. The SAAB 210 was called the Draken (KIte). Later, when the "fullsize" Drakens appeared the SAAB 210 was renamed Lilldraken. It's a small kit of a very small aircraft so it should suit me just fine as a quick and easy build. There are not many parts and they seem to be cleanly moulded. It really is a small version of the Draken. Here is it next to a 1:72 Hasegawa J 35F that I have in progress as well. The Planet kit is not the first kit of the Lilldraken. I also have the Dujin resin kit in my stash. The quality is nowhere near the Planet kit. I'm not surprised that I haven't built this one even though I have had it in my stash for many years. There is definatly something wrong with the resin in my kit... Note that this is of the later and final version of the intakes and nose. Back to the Planet Model kit. I'm going to start removing the parts from the blocks tonight. Hopefully the parts will fit as nice as they seem to do... Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Can I join with a Lilldraken (SAAB 210) in resin? It's the new 1:72 kit from Planet Models. Resin parts, white metal landing gear and vacformed canopy should qualify this model kit in this group build. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Well, the open airbrakes is a detail that looks promising. They are always open on the ground.

I want to join! I have lots of Swedish subjects in my stash... Rudolf_Filip

The A 32 was unpainted bare metal underneath. You can use any aluminium colour you like. Just remember that SAAB aircraft was in a very matt aluminium and not as shiny as for example American aircraft. I think that Humbrol 56 will do just fine. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Don't you dare using the crappy Airfix decals on your Lansen! I have a nice set of RBD roundels for the Lansen that I'm not going to use. PM your adress to me and I'll send them to you for free. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Regarding decals. This might be useful... http://www.rebell.com/svenskt/decals-masks/saab-32-lansen-stencils-and-insignias.html Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Right! I have now moved house and I'm slowly going to be able to do some modelling. I have got myself a new "mancave" and I'm thrilled to see if I can get more done when I have more space and privacy. It's a small closet but it's still a lot bigger than I had before. An IKEA desk and some aircraft parts to get the real "feeling". Eddie is with me on the wall... So clean and fresh! Take a good look... it wont last long... A small selection of the stash. The rest (a few hundred) is in storage somewhere else. On with the MiG!!! I decided to build the R.V Resin MiG-23UB in 1:72. It looks like a very nice kit in the box but I have been warned. The fit of parts is not so nice... The decals look very nice and there are lots of interesting options. It was so hard to choose. This one is what I've decided to build though. This drawing doesn't really show how bright the colours are in real life. Trust me, they are BRIGHT! On top of this the whole thing is extremely glossy and shiny. It will be hard to make it not look like a toy. The entire cockpit is made of a few resin parts. It will suit me fine since I'm going to make it a "quick build" and try to finish it in time. Testfitting some parts. The front end with the cockpit and nose have a nice fit. No problem! The rear end is a completely different story... The two sticks glued and some paint splashed. I decided to not bother with packing up my airbrush so I used a brush. I mixed the hideous blue interior colour myself from a couple of Revell jars I had. I don't use these but with almost all my paint packed away somewhere else this will have to do. It's a start! What do you think about the colour in the cockpit? Close enough? The seats are well detailed and I'm only going to add the "punch out handles" between the pilots legs. I'm sorry, I can't remember the correct term for this. I'm a Swede so... Still a lot of detail painting to be done before they going to be glued in the cockpit. I'm not an expert at MiGs but sometimes it's easier to get something built if one doesn't know all the errors or spend a lot of time trying correct them if you do! Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I've been looking for an excuse to start building my MiG-23UB from R.V Resin. I really like the twoseater versions of the MiGs especially this one. When I saw this kit I knew that I had to have it even though it was expensive. Plus it had a wonderful decal sheet full of odd schemes. The one from Kazakhstan looked different so I decided to go for it with it's bright colours. The kit looks very nice in the box but I know that it's not so great to build. The fit is "difficult". Unfortunatly my internet doesn't work right now so I have to wait a couple of days to upload pictures... Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I was just going to start on my MiG-23UB from R.V in 1:72. I've decided to build it as an aircraft from Kazakhstan AF. I think it might fit in this groupbuild. Can I join? Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I have been very distracted lately. Family comes first! I haven't forgot the Viggen though. Here is the front part of my SAAB 37 as it looks right now. This is more or less straight from the box. I've only added a few pieces of plastic on top of the "glare shield" (unsure of the correct term, the black thing below the windscreen). I'm going to add a HUD and a few details behind the seat and then it's time for installing the seat. Here is what the cockpit is supposed to look like... Not perfect, but my effort will do for this build. I'm thinking about going for a closed canopy. My next one will probably be better. I guess there will be some useful aftermarket by then. I've heard that Two Mikes is busy... I must remind you all that my Viggen is going to be an AJS 37 and so these cockpit pics wont be useful if you're building a JA 37. There have been things happening at the rear end of my Viggen as well. I've cut and positioned the rudders since they always droop to an angle when the aircraft is parked. I've added a few details in the engineexhaust that Tarangus missed. Some small pieces of thin plasticard and some foul language later... much better! And how it's supposed to look... This build is going very slow... I don't know why since I'm loving every minute of building this nice kit of one of my absolute favourite aircraft. Maybe it's because I'm getting lost in all the small details. It's hard not to when you have the real aircraft to play with? Rudolf_Filip / Andreas

I went for my surplus JA 37 fin and spent a few minutes slopping some paint on it. I don't think it looks that bad.(The fin, not the paintwork!) What do you think? The pitot needs replacing, it's a bit on the thick side... Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Hmm... I must say that I've missed that fault. Since I decided to go for the AJ version I didn't bother to look at the JA fin. I think you're right about the placement of the pitot. I see that you have the Björn Karlström "Flygplansritningar". I must warn you that these are known to be less than accurate... I never use them other than look at the often nice pictures in this series. However, looking at the pics in your post I agree. There is maybe something wrong with the fin. Here is a pic of a fin from a JA 37. Helpfully this one is decorated with a nice line already so we don't have to draw some red lines in Paint... I'll check my own references and come back later... Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

By the way! I really like the work you've done so far. I'm looking forward to see your Draken painted. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Sorry I'm late... :-) I don't know if it's to late but here are a few pictures that might be useful. I have much more pics uploaded in this computer now so let me know if you need anything. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

Well... to be honest...I haven't got a clue... I'll think about it and we'll see when I get there. By the way. Here are some nice Viggen videos on Youtube. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

I'm going for the difficult "pile of leaves camouflage". Wish me luck! :-) Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

To lighten up the mood. Here is the Viggen in stealth mode! It's trying to hide behind a lamp post... Pic by me during an airshow at F 17 Kallinge this summer. Andreas / Rudolf_Filip

My life is very, very busy right now. I have two children and one of them is more or less dying. My son is soon two years old and was born with a very serious heart condition (HLHS). He also has several other deceases and the doctors are amazed that he even managed to survive his first week. My family have been struggling for the last two years spending all of our time at hospitals. My son is a real fighter and there is nothing wrong with his mind. He is very clever and is a very happy little boy. The doctors have told us that there is not much hope for him to ever grow up. They have said that he might be 20 years old or maybe he could die tomorrow, they have no clue... We have been able to come home now. We have two assistants that help us 24/7. Both me and my wife also work with him. It is getting really crowded in our small house so we must move to a bigger place. So now I'm trying to sell this house. I'm rather exhausted right now... :-) So... Modelling is my therapy in the middle of this chaos. The arrival of a kit of one of my favourite aircraft do cheer me up a little! Back to the build. I've been spending two evenings on the wheels. As I mentioned earlier I'm using the Maestro resin nose wheels. The main wheels from the kit looked decent so I decided to use them. Unfortunatly I discovered that they are extremely thin and looked like bicycle wheels! So I decided to use some plasticard to make them thicker. It was not difficult, but a little tedious... Much better! Some paint and they're finished! They look OK in real life... I promise... :-) Here is what they should look like. I must remember to add the small red placards. As usual when I'm building my model kits I tend to skip the proper build sequence... I've finished and installed the cockpit but left out the seat. I wasn't happy with how it looked so i decided to add a few details. Here it is so far. I'm going to paint it and add belts and the ejection seat safety handle later. Right now I'm working on the canards and the ram air turbine so the saw is out! Pics of this plastic massacre later... :-) Andreas / Rudolf_Filip