Airfix Model World
{68}www.airfixmodelworld.com {69}Airfix Model World
http://www.airfixmodelworld.comBASIC BUILD
SAAB JAS-39C GRIPENBASIC BUILD
SAAB JAS-39C GRIPENBASIC BUILD
SAAB JAS-39C GRIPENChris Jones builds Revell’s newly
tooled Gripen in its fetching
NATO Tiger Meet scheme
S
aab’s Gripen is a modern,
multi-role, agile and
(comparatively!) low-cost
fighter providing useful
service in various countries.
Designed to replace the Draken
and Viggen in Swedish service,
it has ensured export success
with a number of international
air forces, including those of the
Czech Republic, Hungary, Thailand
and South Africa, while Brazil has
airframes on order.
Revell’s newly tooled kit displayed
recessed panel lines, a decent
armoury and a rather modular
airframe breakdown, which
suggests that a two-seater is on
the way. Aside from the main
runner with the rear fuselage and
wing sections, a second smaller
frame held the forward fuselage
halves and cockpit hub, which
allowed a single-seat ‘C’ variant
to be built. The healthy array of
under-wing stores included a pair
each of AMRAAMs, Sidewinders,Iris Ts, RB 15F anti-ship missiles,
fuel tanks and an MRPS Recce pod.Cockpit first
A fairly sparse but not
unreasonable cockpit featured
raised detail, for the switches and
multi-function display screens,
along with a decal to represent
these should one choose to use
it. The ejection seat was ok but
would need belts adding, although
in this case a Pavla after-market
seat was utilised. Amusingly,
though, it required a comical
amount of trimming to get it to
fit. The cockpit itself was fairly
roomy, even in 1/72 scale, which
made it possible to assemble
the airframe and paint the office
later. This was a little awkward
but it meant that rapid assembly
progress could be made. The
fuselage came in five parts, with
two rear and two front halves,
and a one-piece lower wing/
fuselage section. After the front The cockpit was reasonable straight from the box, and it could even be painted once
the fuselage halves were together.Revell’s parts
breakdown can
be seen here to
good effect...the
modular design
worked well and
the fit was superb. Fuselage parts were secured in place with small drops of cyanoacrylate.68-72_Gripen.CC.indd 68 17/03/2015 14:43