Heller 1/72 Saab JA 37 Jaktviggen

HELLER 1:72 SAAB JA-37 VIGGEN

Reviewer: Paul Wherran (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 27 September 2001

Aircraft:
The SAAB Viggen was an unusual design concept with a close-coupled canard and delta wing configuration intended to be used as a multi-role platform and suited to be able to perform a multitude of roles and tasks. The rough equivalent translation for Viggen is Thunderbolt. The initial model designated AJ 37 was essentially a single seat attack aircraft. The aircraft was then extensively re-engineered as a second generation interceptor and emerged as the JA 37 variant, with new engine, weaponry and avionic systems. The first series JA 37 first flew in 1977 and 149 examples were ordered with deliveries commencing in 1979 and concluding mid 1990. The JA 37 Viggen was powered by a Volvo turbofan and capable of a maximum speed of 2195 km/h.

The Kit:
This Heller kit was released only a few years ago but its origins is from its earlier molds featuring the AJ and SK variants, and the engineering itself dates back to the late 70's. An updated sprue contains the belly cannon pack and Saab-Bofors RB24 (Sidewinder AIM-9L) air-to-air missiles for the JA version. Plastic contains raised panel lines which are a bit heavy and is molded in light grey. Cockpit detail is very sparse with seat and floor about the only items of note.

Instructions:
Standard Heller offering with short blurb on aircraft history, assembly steps which are clear to follow (and look a little like Airfix), colour and marking three-views for the kit supplied versions and paint call outs from the Humbrol range.

Construction:
This is a stock standard straight forward Heller kit to slap together - the type novices must love because everything goes together well and fits where it should, although there is some small flash evident on the older sprues and needs cleaning up. The plastic could do with a wash first as well before assembly. As already mentioned the detail is a bit heavy and shows it's age with raised lines but some heavy trench-like etched control surfaces as well.

The new parts all fit well, including the cannon pack and the Skyflash missiles although these are quite crude in reproduction and I have heard others comment they look like Sidewinders, which I would have to agree with. The nose cone presented a small problem in lining up correctly, but is also looks a touch shorter than on the real JA-37. The drop tank has three fins whereas my reference suggest that the JA-37 employed drop tanks with four fins - I can't confirm this fully but this is how they appear in every photo of the JA I have.

The rest of the kit is not really worth commentating on since construction was straight forward. The usual extras were called upon such as filler around the wing roots and the sanding of join lines, but that is also pretty stock standard when modelling nowadays!

Versions & Decals:
There is a small decal sheet with national insignia and roundels for a couple of aircraft featuring the overall air superiority grey or you could also do natural metal. Colour register is quite acceptable although I think it could be better. The decals are thin, carry a bit of excess film but go quite well on the model using Mr Mark Softer decal setting solution. There were instances of white edge bleed-through around the yellow on the Sweden roundels.

Accuracy:
The Jaktviggen is actually slightly larger than other Viggen variants but the kit measures up as a standard Viggen (since it is using its original mold) so this is the main bone of contention. You can also be confident that any other small unassuming changes between the versions have not been done on this kit - I heard someone else mention about an extra hinge on the wing undersurfaces being ommitted. The nose cone should be slightly larger than previous Viggens and as already mentioned I also believe the kit has the wrong drop tanks.

Overall:
This kit is stock standard Heller and goes together well and is suitable for all modelers. As a Viggen it is a very good kit and most others suggest that Heller's Viggen is still probably one of the best on the market in terms of shape and accuracy. But this version is the JA-37 with some subtle changes that Heller have not fully covered. Essentially Heller have released just a Viggen with new armament and thus it is not recommended if you want a true JA-37 conversion.

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