JAS 39 Gripen Twin Seater

Italeri, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Italeri's 1/48 scale P-40M/N will be available online from Squadron.com
 

When Model Alliance's 1/48 scale decal sheet, UKAir Arm Update 2005-2006 - Part III, arrived for review last year, one aircraft struck me as the highlight. It was a two-seater JAS 39B two-seater Gripen on loan to the RAF's QinetiQ / ETPS at Boscombe Down during 2006. The aircraft still wore its full Swedish markings, but also sported a striking blue fuselage spine and fin with gold ETPS lettering.

My first thought was to find out how I could build a JAS 39B in 1/48 scale. Much to my disappointment, there was no option available.

Until now.

Italeri has just released the two-seater version of the JAS 39 Gripen. This is the combat capable trainer version which has a rear seat added and the fuselage mounted cannon deleted.

Italeri's JAS 39B Gripen comprises around 114 parts in medium grey styrene and nine parts in clear. Panel lines are crisply recessed, complimented by raised panels and vents as appropriate here and there.

 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Supplied stores include eight missiles and a streamlined centreline drop tank.

The canopy and the rear-fuselage speed brakes may be posed open if desired.

Detail is generally good on the aircraft exterior. The wheel wells are very nicely done. However, some details are understated. This is especially the case in the cockpit, where instrument panels and side consoles comprise solely of decals (although the decals do look quite good, the two-dimensional aspect will be fairly obvious in this scale). The exhaust nozzle is also quite basic.

Please note that Aires has already released resin replacement nozzles - both open and closed - and Eduard offers several colour photo-etched sets to address the sparse cockpit of the single seat version. I assume that we will see a counterpart for the two-seater soon.

The overall shape and contours are accurate, but there are a few improvements that the dedicated aficionado can make if they wish. These include a small step in front of the windscreen which should be filled, and missing flaps and exhaust for the APU (a simple scribing job). For modellers planning to make these modifications, see Robert Westerberg's article on the single-seater Gripen on HyperScale by following this link.

The clear parts include a separate main canopy section. This hinges to the side when open..

Kit engineering is quite conventional. Control surfaces are all moulded in the neutral position, so construction should be quite straightforward.

The Gripen is currently operated by Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa. Italeri supplies marking options for all four of these operators (but I will be using my Model Alliance decals!).

The kit decals are produced by Cartograf. They are in crisply printed in perfect register with a satin finish.

Italeri's new 1/48 scale JAS 39B two-seater Gripen is a simple, cleanly moulded replica of this new European fighter which should be welcomed by modern aircraft modellers.

Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2007 by Brett Green
Page Created 12 April, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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