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I have been building Viggen prototypes The first one is the full scale wooden mock up that SAAB built before the actual prototypes. 37-0 Airfix 1/72 conversion. Next is the first prototype 37-1 Also an Airfix kit. Built with the canards pointing upward like they were initially. Second prototype 37-2 Also an Airfix kit. Canards in the normal position. The first two Viggens had green cockpits and since the Airfix kit was bare I made some paper cockpits for them. Frontal view of 37-1 and 37-2 Next is the fifth prototype, 37-5 A converted Hasegawa kit. It got the modified wings with a "sawtooth" and moved radar warning so I had to convert the wings. The first prototype after modifications. As it looked with modified wings and the raised spine in front of the fin. During spin tests it got a bit more colourful. Built from a Matchbox kit. 37800 the two seat prototype. Matchbox kit with the low fin from a Heller kit. The twin seater got an higher fin but Matchbox didn't do this correct so I decided to build the prototype in it's initial form with the lower fin.

Yesterday it was 50 years since the first flight of the Viggen so I built myself another viggen to commemorate this. Heller 1/72 SAAB AJ 37 in early configuration. It means using the small twin intakes in front of the external fuel tank and the larger fin under the tail. Same as the two seater. Armament are two Rb 05 missiles and two 30mm gun pods.

Hello, The one and only kit I've managed to finish this year. 1/72 Saab J35J Draken: kit by Revell, photoetched by Eduard, Maestro Models pitot tube, Vallejo paints. Decals are from the kit with the exception of the large numbers on wings that were painted with home made masks. Thanks for your comments.

Scratch built 1/32 Saab 210 'Lilldraken' Derek

Hi guys, i'd like to show you my new Lansen from Tarangus. Not exactly an user-friendly kit and finally after 8 months i call it done. Phew ( WIP thread in czech language here: http://modelari.org/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=994 ) Thanks for looking. Br from Prague. Andrew

Ending 2016 with another Draken Since it was an US boxing from MPC I decided to build it American. I rescribed the panel lines drilled out some air intakes and tried to make the kit look a little more modern without adding any extra money into it. I have been tinkering with paper cockpits for my Viggens and decided to draw one for the Draken as well.

JAS-39D upgrade sets for Revell kit 1:72 Eduard Whilst not quite as prolific as they once were, Revell are still capable of producing fine kits. Their recent JAS-39C/D Gripen is one such example. Now, just as Revell followed the release of their JAS-39C with the two-seater D model, Eduard have released a set of photo etched parts for the trainer variant. In usual Eduard style, the first set is divided into two frets. The first is a self-adhesive, pre-painted jobbie that focuses mainly on the cockpit, while the second is a plain brass fret. Amongst the items on the first fret are lots of extra details for the kit's ejector seats, including seat cushions, harnesses, pull handles and details for the head box. Also included on this fret are one-piece instrument panels as well as details for the side consoles and rudder pedals. On the unpainted fret are parts for the rest of the airframe, including a range of details for the main and nose landing gear bays, doors, and parts for the landing gear itself such as brake lines and scissor links. The flame holder for the engine afterburner is included too, as is a new lining for the inside of the jet exhaust. Also included are bits and bobs for the airbrakes, missile rails and IFR probe. Nice bonus features include FOD guards for the engine intakes and a hinge for the cockpit canopy. Conclusion These are neat sets from Eduard which will make a noticeable difference to the basic kit. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Three new ex-Hasegawa re-boxings with Saab J-35, Macchi MC.202 Folgore and Harrier GR.7. by Eduard in 2016. Source: http://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/distributors/leaflet/leaflet2016-02.pdf V.P.

Here is a first look at this exciting release, which also is a bit scaring after the Hobbyboss Tunnan. Let us start with the boxart: Nice boxart, for once it is correct with the often shown mountains on Swedish subjects, since F4 wing is located in northern Sweden (although this looks more like the Alps than the Swedish mountains, but you can't win them all... ) First sprue with body halves: First the most important question: Is it really 1/48 scale - the Tunnan wasn't. The answer is yes. At least almost. I have not measured it myself, but it is just a few millimeters longer than Tarangus' Lansen. The nose is thicker than Tarangus', and I think it is a bit too thick, but I have to check references first. The belly tank has correct shape - which Tarangus don't have. The part behind the cockpit has wrong shape while Tarangus have captured it better. This will be pretty tricky to adjust. On the other hand, the gun openings are better than Tarangus'. Surface detailing looks pretty good, although there seems to be a bit too much rivets since they are almost along every panel line. But panel lines look correct and are fine and crisp. The small air outlet needs to be opened, otherwise it will look weird, it is too big to just be painted black. The rear part differs a lot from Tarangus J 32, but the truth is somewhere between the both. Hobbyboss has a better shape of the "cut" at the exhaust, but the part above it is far too long. Cockpit looks like a Lansen cockpit, but almost nothing is spot on. But for most builders it is good enough. However it is larger than Tarangus - and i think that Tarangus is right. Lansen is a wide aircraft since it was designed for a Swedish-designed engine that never was used. The license-built RM 6A was not as wide as the one that was intended, which resulted in a very wide aircraft. Hobbyboss seems to have made a cockpit that fills the whole space - which the original one didn't. Next sprue: Not much to say here. The engine part is very basic. but not much will be seen anyway. Ejection seats are like the cockpit - at a first glance they look correct, but they aren't. They are far too large and shape is incorrect. But for most builders they are enough. Hobbyboss have included air brakes - Tarangus didn't - and this is really great since they always were extended on a parked aircraft. It is a pity that they are far too small, they are almost in 1/72... Wings look great, size and shape is correct and it is a good idea to integrate the mail wheel well. However it is a bit more difficult for super-detailers, since the real thing had no "walls". But for most builders this is an excellent solution. Wingtip lights and elevons are separate parts (not on Tarangus). Underwing stores are included for a J 32E, something that Tarangus have not. Clear parts are fine and crisp and looks correct. The windscreen wiper is a separate part - well done! A small photo-etch sheet is included with parts for the far-too-small air brakes. Finally the joke of this box: The decals. Wrong typeface, wrong colours, "hand-written" stencils and more. These are completely useless and will destroy even a perfect built and painted model. The only place for these is the dustbin. So what is the conclusion of this first impression? Well, it looks as if this model can be built into a decent model of a Lansen. It is probably much simpler to build than Tarangus release. However, the errors in shape and simplified construction makes it difficult to build into a perfect replica. If you just want a Lansen, this could be a good choice. But if you want to build a perfect Lansen, Tarangus is still the only one. Price is lower than Tarangus, 43.99 GBP vs 64.99 GBP for Tarangus at Hannants. However, bear in mind that you have to find aftermarket decals (Tarangus release has absolutely brilliant decals), and - I also would recommend - aftermarket air brakes. Air brakes are necessary for Tarangus as well, but the difference in decal quality makes the price difference smaller. And now: Let's start the build!

Here is my build of Hobbyboss new Saab J 32E Lansen. A kit with its errors, but that was far better than I expected. I have tried to capture the blue/green Swedish AF camouflage (also featured on Draken), where the blue turned almost turquoise. This Lansen was one of the last flying in regular service. It was modified for electronic warfare and flew until 1998. Here is ther WIP thread. But in brief: This is not a bad kit at all. Of course (remember that this is Hobbyboss), there are a number of pretty obvious errors. Most of them can however be fixed rather easily. But overall shape is good - it really looks like a Lansen, panel lines are great, and (almost) correct everywhere. Here is a short list of things that have to be corrected: -Nose shape is a bit wrong, but can be improved through sanding and by moving the nose cone panel line about 3 millimeters forward. -The part above the exhaust is far too long and too thick. This can be fixed easily in a way that makes 95% of all viewers to think that it is OK, but demands extreme surgery to fix perfectly., -Lansen had only one pitot tube, the kit supplies two. -The shape of the air intakes is a little wrong, but this can be adjusted to 95% perfection with a knife and some sanding There is something strange with the canopy. It just doesn't look right when it is closed, I think it is a bit too rounded and that the front part is a bit too long. Therefore, I decided to display it with open canopy, which demanded some extra cockpit detailing. The rear instrument panel is wrong for the E version (and actually, for other versions too...) and had to be replaced by a scratch-built one. In fact, cockpit is far too large(!) But if you can live with that, it still is very similar to a Lansen cockpit. Air brakes are included - great! It is a pity that they are too small and with a slightly wrong shape... I used Maestro Models air brakes instead. The electronic warfare pods are almost correct. When overall shape have its errors, details are often great. I added some details in the wheel wells: The kit also has some errors that are more difficult to fix: -The area on both sides of the front part of the fin (above and in front of the stabilizers) has wrong shape. -Wingtips (also on stabilizers) have a slightly wrong-shaped angle -The rear part of chaff dispensers should be a bit thicker than the rest of the pod. -The part behind the cockpit has wrong shape, the rear part of it should be wider (and not drip-shaped) -Decals are crap, and also wrong for a J 32E (The actual aircraft was a J 32B, but is preserved in flying condition after being modified as a E - or maybe a D target tow . Still, it never flew in these markings as a J 32E.). I used Maestro Models decals instead. If you want to have a Lansen in your collection, this can be a kit for you. If you want to build a perfect Lansen, avoid this one and turn to Tarangus instead. However, this one is much easier to build, fit is great, and most of the time it was a really enjoyable build. Thanks for watching!

Heller Lansen kit with the fighter conversion from Maestro Hobby. The target towing equipment is scratch built. The target tugs started out with the day glo checker pattern but it changed later. So I have to build an second one. Building of it: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007648-saab-j-32b-lansen-target-tug/

Heller 1/72 with Maestro's fighter conversion and etch. Sadly there is no towing equipment available for the B-version. There is one for the D.version but that is a completely different winch. I started to build the Del Mar winch using Phoenix missiles cut in two different lengths. That will give me a stronger bond so that I don't brake it while sanding. The start of my Del Mar winch is at the bottom right. The rest are a MBV-2S winch with two counterweight bombs that I will use on a J 32D version sometime. With a winch one need something to tow also. The larger one is a Del Mar DF4 and the smaller a Del Mar DF14 made from various things from the spare part box and some plastic.

So the Heller-Matchbox 1/72 combo is ready. A target towing plane from the Swedish A.F. The two targets are scratch built. and the plane was converted. More about the build here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007520-saab-j-29f-tunnan-target-tower/

After the Sea Fury and Meteor Target tugs it is time for a SAAB. It will be an Heller/Matchbox combo. The F-model had an after burner and that made the rear "fatter". I decided to use the Heller J 29E and add the engine fairing from the Matchbox F-model. To cut both kits exactly the same is hard so there were large gaps needed to be filled between the parts. I used plastic strips for this. I decided to use the Matchbox cockpit as well as it is more accurate. I didn't like the seat so I removed it and added the Heller seat instead. I made a new rear wall of plastic card using the Heller tub as pattern. I then added the Maestro Models etch parts to the cockpit. As they are for the Heller kit so I had to adapt them to fit. I wanted clear navigation lights at the wing tips. So clear plastic wedges was glued in place. When the glue has set the lights was sanded to the right shape. The towing equipment is in place. I used modified Airfix Draken pylons. The MBV-2S towing winch comes from Maestro Models. The counterweight is a Matchbox Tunnan drop tank that I added fins to. I have to build a red beacon light for the fuselage top.

Hi Guys, I will be building a 1/48 Hasegawa Saab Draken. The box is the special version of the Austrian version. I will build it in the colours of a Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-35 Draken. This is the Ground attack version.I have some extra parts to go with it. Here are the goodies that will be used: Aires set 4374 J35F/J cockpit set Aires set 4390 Draken reconnacance conversion Eduard set FE417 J35 zoom set Finemolds set AC-90 Pitot tubes & AOA probes in metal Maestro set K4804 Jettisonable tanks x 2 Maestro set K4806 Jettisonable tanks x 2 Maestro set K4827 Danish Pylons x 6 (not arrived jet) Maestro set MMK4834 Saab WDNS Draken nose Maestro set MMD4803 decals for some Danish Drakens Quickboost QB48188 Air scoops Let the pictures talk. The box. And the spues. And now the extra goodies. And the decals used. As it is not recommended to do a party model, I will use some of the decals of this sheet to make a ground attack version. And the last two pictures are for the Hasegawa armament set's that I am going to use for the bombs and Bullpulp rockets. I have also ordered a set of danish pylons. That I will pick up next week at a friend. Cheers, p.s. just found out that the after market tanks are the wrong ones. I have ordered a new set.

Probably the best kit I've ever built. Bravo Pilot Replicas Thanks for watching Andrew

Revell Saab JAS-39C is released now. But the test builders already have a double seat trainer variant JAS-39D: http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=90083&p=1680379&hilit=gripen#p1680396 JAS-39D cockpit: http://modelforum.cz/download/file.php?id=1036328 When will be released?

Platz is to release a 1/144th Saab J35F Draken kit - ref. FC-4 Source: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/160513 V.P.

Kittyhawks amazing scale 48 Gripen It has been written a lot about Kittyhawks Gripen kit. Unfortunately, also of a lot of negative by which a wrong picture originates from this, actually, nice kit. One finds a really good one and one of the best Reviews I could explore, here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234941002-jas-39ac-gripen-148-kitty-hawk/?hl=%2Bsaab+%2Bgripen+%2Bkittyhawk It is a kit of the new generation, with the quite normal positive and negative points like all other new kits also. In the construction report I will mention the really relevant small mistakes I discovered. I have used the following books as references: Saab Gripen, Author: Gerard Keijsper JAS-39 Gripen Swedish Multirole Fighter, Author: Slavomir Goldemund Saab JAS 39 Gripen colours & markings, Author: Michal Ovčáčík, Karel Susa How with most kits for different versions are intended, should one not work strictly after constructriction manual. As by the construction of Ju 88 of Dragon, or by the construction of the Mosquito wings with separate wingtips of Tamiya, one must deviate from the construction manual to avoid unnecessary repairs. Also with the Gripen one should stick together the fuselage halves separately. As one can see, I have already cut out behind the cockpit the cover of the pressuration/air-conditioning unit. I can recommend the cockpit of Aires very much. The details are not only fine but also perfectly faithful. The seat belts are added as photoetched parts. On heating up the photoetched parts, the seatbelts can be brought very well in form. The avionic bays of Aires which should be accommodated later behind the fuselage nose. I like the bright colours with those the modern airplanes nowadays are painted. Please, do not surprise. . . .but I never work really strictly after construction manuals. Mostly I build complete sub-groups sometime occasionally. According to mood. . . as well as with the weapons. The Maverick missiles are from Eduard. Actually, already a model in the model. Two elegant and slender Iris-T missiles from the kit, got a 1mm light lens (AK-Interactive) in the nose built-in. And here is the first however small mistake which I found in the kit. There is only one anti-ship missile RB15S in the kit (but rather one, than none). Before fuselage halves are clued together, must be still built the inflight refueling pipe,the undercarriage and airbrake bays. In the meantime, fuselage halves have been glued, and the pressuration/air-conditioning unit have been built up from plastic sheet. One finds high-class photos in the second book of my abovementioned book list.

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

After the 1/48th model ( http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234911361-saab-a32a-lansen/ ) Tarangus is to release a 1/72nd Saab J32B/E Lansen kit - ref.TA7202 Source: http://www.tarangus.se/2015/11/05/tarangus-to-release-saab-j32be-lansen-in-172-and-scottish-aviation-bulldog-sk-61-in-148/ Box art V.P.

After the recently Pilot Replicas announced kit http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234972373-148-saab-j-29-by-pilot-replicas/?hl=tunnan#entry1820293 Hobby Boss is also to release a new tool 1/48th Saab J-29 family in 2015/2016 - ref. 81745 - Saab J-29F Tunnan - ref. 81746 - Saab J-29B Tunnan Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234972796-hobbyboss-148-for-2015/?p=1828290 V.P.

Hi All Thought I would share some photos of a recently finished model which had the unusual difference for me of being a What-If inspired aircraft. I should really do more of these RFI posts as they are nice to show off work, and in this case could possibly offer some ideas about different schemes to try than the usual, but for the most part I simply forget to do so! Here goes with a back story - amazing how you can get carried away writing these! SAAB JAS 41A "Falk" No. 255, Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force), 1994 During the 1980's, the Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) required a replacement for the JAS 37 Viggen, and SAAB began work on the next in line of Swedish home-developed aircraft in the form of the JAS 39 Gripen. Development of the new multi-role fighter however was problematic, with major issues arising around the aircraft's stability and flight control systems. The severity of these issues was confirmed when after having already created much concern amongst officials and taken much longer than projected to be ready for test flights, the prototype crashed in 1989. The loss of the prototype brought the Gripen project to a standstill, and whilst SAAB assured that the project could be brought back on track with the construction of a new prototype, the Swedish authorities demanded that work on the new fighter was to be shelved on the grounds of spiralling development costs and the urgent need of replacements for the Flygvapnet's ageing fighter fleet. The still very real threat posed by the Soviet Union also contributed to the decision, especially as the formidable Sukhoi SU 27 Flanker was then entering widespread service in the East. Acknowledging that a new home-developed fighter would not be ready for service with the Flygvapnet until the mid to late 1990's at the very earliest, the Swedish authorities saw no other option but to look towards buying a foreign existing fighter "off the shelf" as a stop-gap in order to re-equip squadrons as soon as possible. Submitting a request to procure 120 fighter aircraft, Sweden shortlisted the General Dynamics F 16 Falcon, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and Dassault Mirage 2000 for consideration. With the Scandinavian neighbours of Norway and Denmark already using the F 16 Falcon successfully, in Autumn 1990, the Swedish authorities selected the Falcon as best suited to their requirements. The fighters would be assembled locally by SAAB as the JAS 41A "Falk"; and with production put at high priority, the first Swedish built aircraft was flown in 1992. In common with the RNoAF F 16's they were equipped with tailcone braking parachutes for landing in icy conditions, however minor modifications were made by installing Swedish electronics and systems in order for the aircraft to be compatible with Swedish armament already available. Deliveries for operational conversion within the Flygvapnet's squadrons began in late 1992, and the aircraft was declared fully operational by summer 1994. The last of the JAS 41A fighters rolled off the production line in 1999. With the crisis of urgently acquiring a new fighter over, and the JAS 41A "Falk" comfortably settling into Flygvapnet service, in 2006 the Swedish authorities decided to resume development of the Gripen programme, and SAAB restarted the project, improving on all areas where the original prototype had failed whilst making use of the latest technological advancements. Designated JAS 43, the Gripen II first flew in 2012 and is expected to enter service by autumn 2016, serving alongside the JAS 41A until the "Falk" fleet is withdrawn starting from 2020. Model is the AMT 1/72nd General Dynamics F 16A Falcon taken from the Thunderbirds display set, brush painted in a scheme using Humbrol colours resembling that of the Gripens we know in service today. Hope you like the model, and all comments welcome! Daniel

Hello Gents, I’d like to hear Your thoughts and maybe even some help on building Swedish SAAB JAS-39 Gripen. First things first. Sorry for my English. It’s not my native language, but I’ll try my best. The aircraft I’d like to build is more known as a Gripen Demonstrator (picture bellow). If I understood correctly it's NG version. So, the here comes the questions: What are the major differences from version B/D? Is it requires a lot of rework and modifications? I can’t find good pictures of twin seater cockpit. Where can I get Meteor missiles? Cause at the moment it seems like only Revell Typhoon got them. Maybe someone has some more detailed pictures of the right side of the airframe closer to the speed brakes, cause I need to identify logos and the names of the companies for custom made deacals? Please, let me know, what You think and what recommendations You've got. Looking forward to hear from You, guys! Kind regards, Edgaras

The Draken lost out to the Mirage III for a Swiss interceptor but here is how it might have looked in Swiss colours. I built it using pictures of the prototype for a Swiss Draken as inspiration. Since it was an early Airfix issue it had the initial canopy so that made the conversion very simple. Redo the fin into an early variant and remove the IR-sensor under the nose. I used old decals from Esci's Mirage set and Revells F-5E but they were to old to work good so I had to brush paint parts of them. Painted with the new Vallejo metal paint that worked real good but the flat clear I used made it a little more grey than I wanted.