This is the third model kit offering from Tarangus
and with each release I get more excited when I open the box.
History
In the
aftermath of the second world war, it was decided that the Swedish Air
Force would be an all jet fleet. Engineers from Saab had gotten
their hands on some German research material regarding swept wings and it
was soon decided that the new jet fighter for the Swedish Air Force would
be a swept wing jet.
The bulky
Ghost engine gave the aircraft its round shape, which earned it the
nickname "FlygrandeTunnan" ("The Flying barrel" in
English). It first flew in 1948, piloted by Bob Moore, a former RAF
pilot, who after the first flight said "On the ground an ugly
ducking, but in the air a swift!" The Saab J29 Tunnan was the
first European fighter which could match the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15 in
performance. The Tunnan stayed in service until the early
1970's. The last years it served as a target tug. It was also
exported to Austria. A total of 661 Tunnans were produced between
1950 and 1956.
The J 29A and
J 29B only differed in the Internal fuel volume, had a non-afterburning
engine and a wing that lacked the saw tooth of the later versions.
The J 29B also seved with the Swedish Air Force unit that was sent to the
Congo in the 1960's.
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This is a limited run kit from a
small manufacturer, but Tarangus does step up the game with resin parts
for the ejection seat, main wheel wells and exhaust cone and gun sight to
improve the level of detail for the finished model.
The first thing that caught
my eye was the very fine recessed panel lines...they are fine and not deep
or wide, so they look right and once painted, they should look perfect.
The next area that always
catches my eye is the cockpit.....and here I was pleasantly
surprised. The instrument panel is a surprisingly well detailed unit
that should paint up very nicely with it's recessed and raised
detail. No instrument decals are provided, so the modeller will have
to decide if they want to do anything in that area with aftermarket
options. The ejection seat doesn't have seatbelts, so you have the
option of ignoring that issue or adding scratchbuilt masking tape seat
belts or some aftermarket photo etch seatbelts. The canopy is a 2
part injection molded affair that can be posed open permitting you to see
your added cockpit detail. You do get 1 cockpit sidewall that is
well detailed.
The kit comes with a pylon under each wing with drop tanks.
Markings
As this is a Swedish
aircraft, you do get a plain Swedish jet as well as a a Swedish jet with
black stripes and the third choice is a UN jet. This 3 different aircraft
include :
- SAAB J29A/B Tunnan F13
red M- s/n 29303 - F13 wing in Norrkoping with large black stripes.
- SAAB J29A/B Tunnan F22
white G - s/n 29440 - F22 wing, Swedish UN forces in Kongo
- SAAB J29A/B Tunnan F8
yellow J - s/n 29368 - F8 wing at Barkarby in Stockholm
The 8 pages of instructions
are easy to follow and full of well drawn ling drawings.
The detail on
this kit would be very respectable for 1/48, but considering this is
1/72.....I think overall they did a wonderful job. Tarangus
continues to offer some great model kits of Swedish jets and I eagerly
await their next release.
A list of retailers that carry
this model kit can be found on the Tarangus
website.
I would like to
thank Tarangus
for
providing me with this product sample.
Steve
Bamford
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