Jump to content

Saab SH-37 Viggen - Completed


trickyrich

Recommended Posts

...you must be a wee fella, I'd get stuck! What colour would you say the metal is in there and does it get discoloured?

 

Yeah I've seen photos of that handle, surely someones broken it (or their head) clambering in and out of the cockpit? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, trickyrich said:

...you must be a wee fella, I'd get stuck! What colour would you say the metal is in there and does it get discoloured?

It was 22 years ago, and almost 15kg... Actually, the intake is surprisingly big an roomy, much more than the Gripen intake that I also inspected. Some say that they inspected the Draken intakes the same way, and THAT one must've been very very tight!

In there, it's just normal oxidized aluminium, and a lot more rivets than one could think.

20 hours ago, trickyrich said:

Yeah I've seen photos of that handle, surely someones broken it (or their head) clambering in and out of the cockpit? 

That handle is very sturdy! The stick monkey is protected by his helmet, and the mechanics wear protective Peltor earmuffs....

Also, the ladder is always placed on the left side so the handle is not in the way.

 

Mind you, I once did the morning safety-check of the bang seat in armed condition, tugging in all sorts of different wires and cables that could cause an ejection.

I had my torso hanging over the cockpit rail and if something should've gone wrong, the first thing that happens is that the canopy is blown away with some nice steel rods that would've shot right through my chest.

 

That's still a scary thought, all these years later....

Edited by Christer A
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think we all were a wee bit lighter way back then! :whistle:

 

I use to work on F-111s and the cockpit in those was a fun place to work , 6 handles (5 pins) in various places for ejecting the module. On different jobs you were often sitting/lying on, or just bashing on them, often with your head under the IP doing pin checks. I know a couple of guys that had the pins come out on them. scared the :poop:out of them. You generally scare yourself when you get caught up in the lines to them, they were all joined together so stick monkeys (I love that! :D wouldn't forget to pin one!!! These modules have explosive lines completely surrounding the module and a whopping great rocket motor under it! 

 

The worse job in those was changing the Nav computer, old electro-mechanical beasts around 60lbs and quite deep in length. You had to try and stand in the cockpit to pull it out and attach the carry handles, then while your buddy was on the ladder outside move it out of the cockpit and down the ladder together. Then do the same process all over again to fit the new ones. I was very surprised one was never dropped. You were forever loosing bits of skin or cracking your back on stuff (the upper ejection handles) with that job.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks, I'm have server withdrawals at the moment as I'm away with work (well be for another 12 days). Least I get to have 2 weeks off when I get back!

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

the thrust reverser are now waiting for me at home, that's the last bits of the puzzle. 

 

So it should be fill steam ahead form now on the rear section.

 

Am excited, can't wait to get back to her!

 

Am a side, I'm now the proud owner of another 1/32nd Fisher Mod & Pat Sea Fury!!! :yahoo: Not quite as cheap as the first one, but not full price, gosh these are getting very hard to find now! (missed out on a F9F Cougar) I'll be going full mod with her, proper brass wing fold mechanism this time.

 

Plus am chasing a 1/32nd resin TBM-3 Avenger as well!

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

ran into an issue with the Avenger!!! The seller is a newbie on evilBay so can't sell overseas! It's a real pity, it's super rare and meant to be a very good model as well, even the prise was super good.....oh well.

 

Off to go by the wife a Bag Tag made from the skin of an SR-71!!!! I've got one from the skin of a B-1B bomber, aircraft #1 actually.

 

https://planetags.com

 

If you like unique items and dig aviation........ :thumbsup:

 

Have my fingers crossed, I may get to leave this platform tomorrow so could be home by Saturday!!! :yahoo:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WooHoo, am back and normal (sort of) service will resume every shortly!

 

Got lots to do with this one but at least all the bits are here....finally. These lovely's were waiting for me...

 

IMG_2788-L.jpg

 

They are so much better than the kit parts..

 

IMG_2795-L.jpg

 

I haven't tested out the seat yet but fingers crossed it'll fit (it even comes with the safety bar), plus I will drill out all the wee holes the airbrakes as well.

 

oh and this was something else that was waiting for me....

 

IMG_2794-S.jpg

 

...the hardcore "resin porn" photos are in the Vietnam GB thread.....

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Col. said:

Nice! Hmm, a set of those thrust reversers could find their way into my ESCI Viggen box...

Most of the detail does get lost I've found.

 

there's probably a lot of extra stuff that needs to go in the Esci box.........maybe simpler to just throw away the box! To be honest the Tarangus/Special Hobby beast is probably more accurate but is harder to build, and the Esci model (from memory) goes together way easier!! 

 

I have an update to post shortly, taking some will power to not send her to the naughty corner!

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve done quite a bit on her, threatened to send her to the naughty corner a couple of time, and manage to break off on of the U/c legs on the 3rdattempt!

 

First off some shots of the new bits…..

 

…….., the new exhaust flaps are nicely detailed but you do loose a lot of this detail when fitted (unless you have them all closed)…….

 

IMG_2796-L.jpg

 

…….., the new ejection seat looks a bit better than the kit one and is noticeably thinner than the Maestro one, so it fits!! It did come with that handle for the top, but after cutting it off I’ve managed to loose it! :doh:  ....

 

IMG_2797-L.jpg

 

….., and finally the air brakes, these are so much nicer (though actuators are very fragile, broke and lost on already), I’ve drilled out the holes on the lower ones.

 

IMG_2798-L.jpg

 

So time to glue her altogether! The Air brake insides and Thrust Reverses all went in without issues and they were the only things that did! Joining the rear fuselage sections together was a nightmare, fit was very so so and I had to do it in small sections and clamp it. I should have used CA glue to tack it in place. They recommended that you fit/glue the upper wings last after the rear fuselage section is done….I can see this leading to bigger gaps than are already present.

 

All the joins have been filled with stretched sprue so are a bit hard to see. (the photos aren’t in order as a lot were taken much later, I forgot and was too frustrated at the time!)

 

IMG_2810-L.jpg

 

After a day or so of drying the two fuselage sections were joined, again not a simple task. The thickness of the front fuselage is too great and will give you a nasty “step” to tidy up, so it needs sanding back (lots of test fitting), plus the upper spine end needs to be checked, the cutoff mark is not in the right position. Even after some careful test fitting and adjusting I was still left with some rather large gaps……I must have stuffed up something earlier. Lots of stretched sprue used, so now all the photos and what was required…

 

....even cut to the right length the spine still had a bad join

 

IMG_2811-L.jpg

 

...the underside was nasty, I must have messed something up earlier, plus you can't see it her but the profile to each side of the fuselage near the wings didn't match up....

 

IMG_2813-L.jpg

 

....just plain horrible, air brake insides are nice......

 

IMG_2815-L.jpg

 

......getting the tail area right was the hardest part, it just didn't want to fit (very early on dry test fits showed this was going to be a problem area)...

 

IMG_2814-L.jpg

 

.....and the nose, just the models locating method, so poorly done, you can't help but get fit issues, actually the intakes are/were just as bad...

 

IMG_2809-L.jpg

 

...all together prior to sanding....and before breaking off main gear! :wall:

 

IMG_2808-L.jpg

 

The canards were fitted and surprisingly they fitted quite nicely, not much required to finish here.

 

IMG_2826-L.jpg

 

I’ll fit the control surfaces toward the end, there’s a tool supplied to help set the correct angle.

 

The centre pylon and fuselage pylon, not so nice to fit! Needs some tidy up work!

 

IMG_2824-L.jpg

 

The nose gear has been fitted to take some of the strain off the main gear

 

IMG_2825-L.jpg

 

The intakes have been painted a dark metallic colour, now they sort of look like the insides of the ones in the photos, may mist some more shades in there, fan is almost impossible to see.

 

IMG_2816-L.jpg

 

The new seat is almost finished, looks ok in the cockpit, still not sure if I’ll leave the cockpit open of not.

 

IMG_2822-L.jpg

 

Least now she looks like a Viggen, gee way more work that I though would be required to get her to this stage. Still a bit to go before I can think about painting her.

 

IMG_2821-L.jpg

 

IMG_2823-L.jpg

 

…and for the regular bit of resin porn!!! This just arrived on Tuesday, another resin Sea Fury. No wing fold conversion with it this time, just extra decals for another 6 schemes! 

 

IMG_2827.jpg

  • Like 12
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice work Rich. Every time I think about splashing out on a pricey kit the 1/48 Viggen is close to the top of the list - always loved seeing these at airshows, such a distinctive aircraft - but never quite got to it. One of these days...

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree it's a great looking aircraft, the model...... as I've said earlier it's a typical Special Hobby model with all the things that go with it unfortunately. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just gotta try not to break them off.....again. Maybe it wasn't quite the best idea, that's what I get for following instructions!

 

There maybe a delay in updates on her as I'm currently trying to get the Skyknight to the priming stage, I think one beast at a time is the way to go for the moment. Both are being "problem child's" at the moment!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

she is hard work, I'll have an update here later today.......but now found that the intake shape is all wrong and that the inside section/splitter us way too thick as well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

…and back to this beast and a bit later than planned!!! I’ll try very hard to not have a rant about this “model”, but I can’t promise, it’s disappointing in so many ways. They came close and I think they had the best of intentions to build an awesome model but in the end just couldn’t be really bothered and it shows.

 

To that end unless you really want/need a 1/48th Viggen then I’d look for something else to build!

 

Ok first up, using the clever little aligning tool I fitted both control surfaces to the canards. They’re set at the correct angle when on the ground.

 

IMG_2826-L.jpg

 

Now the intakes have a small support at the top, but they also have one at the bottom that is missing plus an even tinier one in the outside of the splitter plate.

 

IMG_2853-L.jpg

 

Speaking of which there’s another issue I found while working this area. The splitter plate should be slightly concave towards the fuselage and not dead straight as with the model. Plus I’ve thinned this splitter already but as can be seen (sorry not the best of photos) I could have gone my further and with the whole intake opening as well, way too late now Again another thing to be very disappointed with on this model, especially seeing it’s a very visual part of the real aircraft.

 

IMG_2855A-L.jpg

 

Unfortunately I can’t un-see it, but the details on the intakes I’m quite happy with. (this is a better photo)

 

IMG_2855-L.jpg

 

Ok time for a wee play….I like!

 

IMG_2851-L.jpg

 

IMG_2852-L.jpg

 

Right lots and lots of time was spent filling and sanding back problem areas, once done time for the initial coat of primer to see what sins are present!

 

IMG_2859-L.jpg

 

IMG_2860-L.jpg

 

There wasn’t as many as I suspected but still quite a bit of work was required, I used Mr. Paint Grey Primer for this, as I’m using lacquers for the main colours I need to use a lacquer primer.

 

All the other bits were done as well.

 

IMG_2862-L.jpg

 

After lots more work I’m up to here, this paint and colour show up ANY faults with the surface of the model. I’ve nearly gone through ½ a 60ml bottle of the stuff!! (actually bought another bottle just incase!).

 

IMG_2868-L.jpg

 

IMG_2869-L.jpg

 

Am pleased to say it’s slowly getting there….no rest for the wicked though!

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, trickyrich said:

…and back to this beast and a bit later than planned!!! I’ll try very hard to not have a rant about this “model”, but I can’t promise, it’s disappointing in so many ways. They came close and I think they had the best of intentions to build an awesome model but in the end just couldn’t be really bothered and it shows.

 

IMG_2851-L.jpg

 

IMG_2852-L.jpg

 

 

Awesome work Rich, with all the stores attached it truly looks a monster. Here is a nice pic for motivation during all the sanding:

 

XtNh09g8XA59G7A1_JWtBrElcuvTnQsFI62km61b

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 7
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It might not be the best of kits rich but your doing an absolutely splendid job of the build up, looking  awesome with the bang bits on, this will turn out superbly I'm sure, keep on 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@mirageiv thanks for that, just the fact it's a VIGGEN is enough to keep me going. It's alway been an awesome aircraft for me and photo's like that show why.

 

It deserved a truly awesome model, Tamiya, AMK??? But what we got was a bit of a letdown, I think especially at the price. I see someone in France has an JA-37 with even more extra AM stuff than I have for $215 USD!!!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...