1:72 Litaki Soko J-22 Orao - Yugoslav Air Force

[Goldfish Whisper]

Hi folks. My latest completed project - Litaki's Soko J-22 Orao, in the colours of the Yugoslav Air Force. Built completely out of box, brush painted with Vallejo acrylics.

 

The kit was, for the most part, very nice. Some issues typical of short-run kits which made construction a little hairy at times, but when built up it makes a very nice model. The decals in particular were a pleasure to use - great colour opacity, but settled nicely into the panel lines. The only thing that I found very annoying was the canopy masks that came with the kit - these are vinyl rather than paper, and did not adhere to the surface of the canopy, so I had to improvise a bit with masking fluid and normal masking tape.

 

But overall, would recommend this kit to an experienced modeller looking to make this interesting little aircraft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Goldfish Whisper
Typo

[Pantherhawk27263]

I have one of these in my stash. Glad to see it turns out nice! You have set a standard for me to aspire to with mine.

[gengriz]

Very nice !   I've always felt that the Orao owed a lot of its DNA to the SEPECAT Jaguar. 

 

I'm keen to get one of these, but thus far have been discouraged by the price (but give me time) and seeing your's built up has encouraged me to look again.

 

During the Bosnian conflict in 1994, Oraos based out of Montenegro were very active, frequently going "feet wet" out over the Adriatic and I remember watching them very closely on radar when I was out there onboard HMS BRILLIANT.  Never saw one in the flesh, but on one particular occasion they sped out over the Montenegran coast and headed straight for HMS NOTTINGHAM (a few miles south of us) and buzzed her aggressively, as a result of which the entire NATO / WEU blockading fleet went to action stations in anticipation of another attempt to break the blockade. 

 

We had restrictive RoEs that prevented NOTTINGHAM defending herself with anything other than Phalanx and then only after being attacked, but they were very close to being shot down by other, slightly more trigger happy, nation's ships.   Fortunately the Albanians seemed to have just as close an eye on things as we did, they scrambled 2 MiG 21s that quickly intercepted the Serbs and they retreated back home (Podgorica IIRC). 

 

Difficult to believe it was 30 years ago.  Although I don't yet have an Orao, I do have a Super Galeb to build and I think you have just moved it to the top of my pile!

Edited November 11, 2024 by gengriz

[Vultures1]

Good to see one of these built up and you have done a very good job with yours - well done!

[Goldfish Whisper]

2 hours ago, gengriz said:

Very nice !   I've always felt that the Orao owed a lot of its DNA to the SEPECAT Jaguar. 

 

I'm keen to get one of these, but thus far have been discouraged by the price (but give me time) and seeing your's built up has encouraged me to look again.

 

During the Bosnian conflict in 1994, Oraos based out of Montenegro were very active, frequently going "feet wet" out over the Adriatic and I remember watching them very closely on radar when I was out there onboard HMS BRILLIANT.  Never saw one in the flesh, but on one particular occasion they sped out over the Montenegran coast and headed straight for HMS NOTTINGHAM (a few miles south of us) and buzzed her aggressively, as a result of which the entire NATO / WEU blockading fleet went to action stations in anticipation of another attempt to break the blockade. 

 

We had restrictive RoEs that prevented NOTTINGHAM defending herself with anything other than Phalanx and then only after being attacked, but they were very close to being shot down by other, slightly more trigger happy, nation's ships.   Fortunately the Albanians seemed to have just as close an eye on things as we did, they scrambled 2 MiG 21s that quickly intercepted the Serbs and they retreated back home (Podgorica IIRC). 

 

Difficult to believe it was 30 years ago.  Although I don't yet have an Orao, I do have a Super Galeb to build and I think you have just moved it to the top of my pile!

Fascinating story - thank you for sharing!

[TheyJammedKenny!]

Yes, Podgorica was the main YuAF operating base for these things back then, I'm pretty sure.  Very impressive work on this model, especially with getting the colors just right and without brush marks, and with properly aligning the fin flash.  Beautiful!

[Ryan Hothersall]

Nicely built.