SAAB Viggen

by Darren Roberts

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This is ESCI's 1/48 scale  SAAB Viggen. The camo scheme was just too cool not to try. It is a shame that this kit has been out of production for some time.

Of course, Advanced Modelers' Syndrome struck and I couldn't just build it straight from the box.

I decided that recessed panel lines would be nice, so I rescribed the kit using a TriMaster scribing tool. With that completed, I set to work on the cockpit. I scratchbuilt the seat and used photoetched odds and ends to detail the side consoles and front instrument panel.

The next decision was to convert the model into the fighter version. My references were scarce on the Viggen, so I had to work off of pictures that I had in books. I increased the width of the tail section by adding a styrene piece to the leading edge and then shaping it. That also created the dog-tooth edge I needed. I repositioned the pitot tube from on top of the tail to midway down. From there, I added the antenna that goes behind the rudder and scratchbuilt the gun pack on the belly of the plane. I also wasn't quite satisfied with the engine area or the wheels. I cut open what I assumed to be the thrust reverser and positioned the three section open. Then I robbed the flame holder section from a derelict ESCI F-104 and fit it into the fuselage section.

For the wheels, I looked through all of the True Details sets at my local hobby store. Amazingly, the F-4B/N wheel set looks remarkably similar to the Viggen wheels, so on they went.

With the basic construction finished, now came the really fun part. I blew up the camouflage pattern from the instruction sheet on a photo copier so that it was in 1/48 scale.

I sprayed the tan areas first, the cut masks using the plans as a guide. I used 3M blue painters tape, since it has a low tack and doesn't tend to pull off paint. I continued this for the rest of the painting. I used a combination of acrylic paints so that I could get colors that were a good match. These included Tamiya, Polly-S, and ModelMaster Acryl.

When the paint was dry, the usual decaling process took place.

Before I dull coated it, I ran a .005 Micron Pen through the panel lines, then took off the excess with a wet Q-Tip. I dull coated using Model Master Acryl flat coat, then finished off with some burnt umber pastel work through the panel lines.

In the end, this was a very satisfying project of a subject you don't see very often.

Model, Text and Images Copyright © 2002 by Darren Roberts
Page Created 05 March, 2002
Last Updated 05 March, 2002

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