Saab JAS39 Gripen; 1:48
1/48 Saab JAS39 Gripen
ORIGINS /History
In the late 1970s, Sweden sought to replace its ageing Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen. An affordable Mach 2 aircraft with good short-field performance for a defensive dispersed basing plan in the event of invasion was required; the plan included 800 m long by 17 m wide rudimentary runways. One goal was for the aircraft to be smaller than the Viggen while equalling or improving on its payload-range characteristics.
In 1979, the government began a study calling for a versatile platform capable of "JAS", standing for Jakt (air-to-air), Attack (air-to-surface), and Spaning (reconnaissance), indicating a multirole, or swingrole, fighter aircraft that can fulfill multiple roles during the same mission.
The JAS 39 received the name Gripen (griffin) via a public competition, which is the heraldry on Saab's logo.
KIT IMPRESSIONS AND BUILD
Kitty Hawk have tooled this completely new kit using modern technology. The result is a nice detailed kit, quite interesting but without some flaws. Some engineering options (as the kit being broken down with vertical seams on the fuselage, and a separate nose section to allow for a two-seat variant) can present some ‘traps’ for the less experienced modeler.
The instruction booklet, although enjoyable to the eye, is not very detailed so you might want to have some reference photos around.
Apart some warped parts and a broken canopy that costumer service replaced, building went on quite peacefully.
I must say that I keep some mixed-feelings about this building as there were some dream moments and ‘the others’ 😉 But, by the end, it’s a nice one, with almost any putty (sometimes it’s better to cut off the pin aligners and join/glue the parts by yourself).
The cockpit is quite simple but ended up ok, the engine (yes, there’s one) kept close inside so no one knows it’s there :-D, and the wheels bays are just great.
Reference photos helped a lot, especially clarifying that the canopy ‘seam line’ is, in fact, really there and it’s not to be discarded the same for the weapons fixation points, a really fault in the instructions manual.
Reference photos also helped to clarify some details, like the glass heads on the IRISF, which I reproduce by cutting plastic and made a new part from Kristal Klear.
A final word for the kits clear parts, especially position, navigation and head lights, which turned out quite well.
PAINTING AND DECALING
As usual, I used Mr Hobby paints. Painting was quite straightforward, starting with some marbling and pre-shading followed by the main colours. After two days, a gloss coat was applied as a base for the decals and another one to seal them.
Meanwhile, canopy was slightly tinted with a very diluted Tamiya XF-19 (smoke).
As this is a prototype aircraft, there was no much space for weathering but I went along and applied some panel liner and some oils underneath as depicted in some reference photos. Before calling it done, a coat of Tamiya semi-gloss varnish was applied.
Hope you like it.
Cheers,
Manuel
Spiros Pendedekas said on August 11, 2020
This is a nice Gripen, Manuel!
Very imposing model, rarely seen built.
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Hello Spiros!
Thank you!
Yes, it's not very a popular kit but it's a beautiful aircraft and the model turned out better than the photos.
Michael Turner said on August 11, 2020
Great job, Manuel.
I built the Italeri kit (you can see it on this site), which I bought way back in 2005. If I hadn't already had that kit I'd have bought the Kitty Hawk one, as I think it would have been a much more detailed and better kit.
I love your build.
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Hello Michael, thanks for your kind words!
I've just seen your build, quite impressive, congratulations!
Nice work on your camo, took it for decals 😀
Scott Snow said on August 11, 2020
Beautiful job Manuel. As I was reading your comments about Kitty Hawk models, I realize you have many of the same opinions about their kits as I, especially the mixed feelings. I couldn't agree more.
Cheers,
Scott
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Thks Scott!
This was my first KH, I must confess, so my opinion is based just on this one.
But maybe I'll try another one later this year.
Cheers,
M
Dirk Derks said on August 11, 2020
Hello Manuel,
Great job on this very successful aircraft. Also a big "thumbs Up" for the information regarding the AC and the modeling phase.
Regards, Dirk
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Hi Dirk,
Thanks for your kind words. I had so much more to say, but I never know what's the perfect article size and didn't want to be boring 😀
Cheers,
M
Greg Kittinger said on August 11, 2020
That's a great-looking Gripen! I love all things Saab, and this is a real beauty. I'm going to have to pull mine out soon and build it...
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Glad you liked it Greg!
If you have one in your stash, go ahead, you won't regret 🙂
Robert Royes said on August 11, 2020
Nice! I agree Saab makes some awesome aircraft.
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Yeah! And this one rocks!
Ramon R. Lomeli said on August 11, 2020
Beautiful work, I love the finish!
Manuel Magrinho said on August 11, 2020
Thank you for your kind words 🙂
Tom Cleaver said on August 12, 2020
That's the other 5th generation jet after the Rafale that I like. You did a great job on this and it makes me like the airplane even more.
Manuel Magrinho said on August 12, 2020
Thanks Tom! She's a real beauty indeed and I tried my best to build a nice model out of the KH kit.
John vd Biggelaar said on August 13, 2020
An absolute beauty, Manuel.
So much detailing on the interiour as well as the exteriour.
Weathering is also perfectly performed.
Manuel Magrinho said on August 13, 2020
Thanks for your kind words, John! I tried my best.
Regards
M