SAAB 91 Safir B/C/D

Tarangus, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Valom's 1/48 scale An-2 Colt is available online from Squadron.com

The Saab 91 Safir (Swedish: "sapphire") training aircraft is a three (91A, B, B-2) or four (91C, D) seater, single engine aircraft.  The Safir was built by Saab AB in Linköping, Sweden, building 203 aircraft and by De Schelde in Dordrecht, Netherlands where 120 aircraft were built.  The SAAB Safir's first flew on 20th November 1945.  The aircraft was an all-metal construction designed by Anders J. Andersson, who had previously worked for Bücker, where he had previously designed the Bücker Bü 181 "Bestmann" which was an all wood design.  Thus the Safir shared many conceptual design features with the Bestmann.

The first version the Saab 91A had a 125 hp four cylinder de Havilland Gipsy Major 2c piston engine, or a 145 hp Gipsy Major 10 piston engine.  Later versions depicted by this kit the 91B, B-2 and C have a six-cylinder Lycoming O-435A engine with 190 hp and the 91D has a four-cylinder Lycoming O-360-A1A engine with 180 hp.

The Safir was used by the Swedish, Norwegian, Finish, Austrian, Tunisian and Ethiopian Air Forces.  The "Safir" was later used as a platform to test at low speeds the new swept wing for the Saab 29 and Saab 32 jet fighters.

Until now there has been no 1/48 scale kit of the SAAB Safir and in fact the only other kit in any scale was the very old and now very rare 1/72 scale Heller kit, one of which I have one in my collection.  The Heller kit was a very nice kit but now with this 1/48 scale release by Tarangus, my Heller kit will be going to Ebay.

The kit comprises approximately 60 grey styrene moulded parts and 1 clear plastic part. 

The moulding is quite crisp and has a reasonable level of detail. 

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Thumbnail panels:

The kit includes a reasonable amount of detail for the engine that will be visible through the open area at the front of the engine cowl.  12 parts make up the standard four seat cockpit with the rear seat being cut in half to make the three seat version.  Two extra parts are added to the three seat version which forms most likely the fuel tank, which was moved to the wings in the later four seat version.  The cockpit instrument panel and console contains a good level of detail for the amount that will be visible through the canopy. 

The nose and main wheel bays are bereft of detail which is probably typical of the real aircraft. 

Construction is very straightforward with the only options being the different propeller and spinner, different exhausts and a different antenna for the cabin roof for the Finnish version. 

The undercarriage is very simplistic and easy to assemble.

Colours & Markings

There are three options supplied in the kit:

• SAAB 91B Safir in Swedish markings.  The markings that are supplied are for a privately owned 91B that is finished in Swedish Air Force colours of overall yellow.

• SAAB 91C of the Ethiopian Air Force finished in overall polished natural metal, with Ethiopian roundels on the fuselage and wings.

• SAAB 91D The Finnish example is overall grey with high visibility orange on the nose, wings, and tail.

The decals are nicely printed and look very thin.  This should pose no problem when applied to the kit.

Overall an excellent kit, very little to be negative about and the first of its type in 1/48 scale.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Tarangus for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Images Copyright © 2014 by Brett Green
Page Created 15 October, 2014
Last updated 16 October, 2014

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