SAAB 37 Viggen - Swedish Airforce, Heller 1/72 Vintage kit

[patrickroos]

Decided to add another entry, and do one of my previous modelling life favourites.
The classic Heller 1/72 Viggen kit. Been wanting to do one of many vintage kits from when I was Younger for a while now.
It came out in 1977 and was a sensation back then for all modellers here in Sweden!
By the standars of the time, it was a cracking kit, and if You ask me in many ways it still is.
I cant remember exactly, but I must have built 5-7 Heller Viggens, the first in -77 or -78.
I have vivid memories of the big toy/hobby store in my home town, they had a whole shelf full of this kit with big advertisements standing next to it. (Back then Heller, Airfix and Matchbox were the big guns)

The original kit from 1977


Now You can buy it in a bagged version as I did for 10-12€


This will be an OOB with no aftermarket, although of course I will use modern building techniques and put a lot of effort in the paint stage.
This means I will keep the raised surface detail as is. Will try to enhance it with other means than panel line wash.
In other words if I had the tools and techniques I have now back then, what would it look like?

About the SAAB 37 Viggen
I will build this kit as a "Jaktviggen" the JA37 variant (which essentially was a new aircraft versus the first versions)
There has been a lot of Viggen in the forum lately so will not repeat.
Will just leave You with the best Airshow video (I think) of the most powerful one engine cold war fighter ever...If you go 1080p, phones on, volume up, You get a really nice Viggen experience! (The only aircraft I know that sounds like a Saturn V moon rocket!)

[youtube]PVstkTfJzn0[/youtube]

The kit

5 sprues in very nice quality plastic


Even though its raised the surface detail is nice.




Hellers very smart solution to the exhaust, which simplifies the build


Nice detail on the canards









Ok ok...I will get an aftermarket set of decals...they are very old and simple, and totally out of register.






Mighty Viggen, Tiny Gripen

[TommyKillander]

Whoa!!

You are really going ham on the SwAF in 1/72. Awesome!!

Got that JA37 (and Lansen as well) polybag packaged kits in my stash. I have been pondering a lot about these kits and how to deal with the raised panel lines..
... I will be watching the master and learn

Good luck!

[OliveDrab]

Todays new kits can be simply amazing, but I have a real soft spot in my heart for the oldies too
Good luck with both builds