A_M_W_2015_05_

Airfix Model World

{70}www.airfixmodelworld.com {71}

Airfix Model World

http://www.airfixmodelworld.com

BASIC BUILD

SAAB JAS-39C GRIPEN

BASIC BUILD

SAAB JAS-39C GRIPEN

BASIC BUILD

SAAB JAS-39C GRIPEN

blend with the fuselage-based

leading edge notch, but this was

no problem. After the inboard

locating rod on the control

surfaces was trimmed, these

were added to the wings, while

both airbrakes needed attention

to ensure a close fit. Once again,

the mating was excellent when

it came to securing the intakes

and splitter plates. After opting to

have the refuelling probe stowed,

it was discovered that a plastic

card support was needed under

the hatch, which also required

sanding to make it flush with the

surrounding area.

Good housekeeping

It was decided to remove the tiny

antennas on the fuselage spine

and undersurface, along with the

nose pitot and pressure sensor

tube on the tail. The antennas

(which didn’t get lost!) were

attached later, while metal rod

was used to replace the tubes at

the end of the build. On the upper

surfaces, half of the fuselage join

followed a panel line, while the top

section followed a rivet line. The

lower section was left well alone,

but seeing as no other rivets were

present on the kit, filler was used

on the top part and tape was

employed to protect the areas

that didn’t need to be covered.

With the nose cone full of lead

shot, this was also glued in place.

Overall, the joins did a fairly good

job of following panel lines, and

filler was used on the areas that

didn’t. The engineering of the

kit was really very impressive; to

achieve such good fit on a modular

design is to be highly commended.

However, a word must be said

about the moulding, as some

runner gates were very heavy and

much care had to be exercised

to avoid breakages. Additionally,

certain parts displayed raised

imperfections and some panel

lines seemed softer and more

indistinct than others...which

caused trouble when it came to

oil washes. The transparencies

were also a letdown, with some

internal texture to the parts, which

was a surprise. Multiple dunks

in Johnson’s Klear went some

way towards helping this. The

canopy displayed (correctly) a

seam along the top and although

this was pointed out by a well-

informed source, the information

came too late as the author had

already removed it in error. In

addition to the seam that should

be there, another seam of sorts

that shouldn’t ran from one lower

frame, up the canopy, across

the top and down the other side.

This seemed to be inside the

plastic and couldn’t be removed,

which was frustrating. With main

construction completed and the

cockpit painted, the instrument

After masking to stop

overspray, the upper grey

was sprayed freehand.

With a contrasting black

spine and tail, the airframe

began to look rather smart.

 Thankfully, the kit-supplied Czech Air Force decals responded well to Micro Set and

Sol fluids.

 The tail art was trimmed considerably before it was committed to water, but looked

stunning once applied.

68-72_Gripen.CC.indd 70 17/03/2015 14:43