1/72
1/72 scale J29 Tunnan: Heller
The SAAB 29 was a jet fighter designed by SAAB after the Second World War and it was in the era that the jet emerged. Look for more info on my 1/32 scale page here.....
In 1/72 scale there are the models of Heller and Matchbox of the nineteen seventies and eighties. The Matchbox model was a bit basic but I liked it nevertheless at the time, but it has long gone to model "eternity". Tarangus released in 2013 a brand new kit as well in 1/72 (and later 1/48).
The Heller model is a bit finer than
the Matchbox offering and was first released in 1978. Several re-issues
appeared with new boxes and decals. (It even was released by Airfix when
HUMBROL owned both Heller and Airfix).
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.
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The Heller
kit (this release #260 ) has about 35 lighter grey parts and 5 clear parts.
It depicts a J29F with the outboard wing leading edge extension and wing
fences. Also there is a nose choice to make a reconnaissance S29C with
a seperate lower nose section.
The kit length and wing span look
OK and the wing type is the later final wing. The panellines are not recessed
but finely raised. The cockpit is a tub with a reasonable typical J29 ejection
seat. Two underwing tanks and pylons are provided and the gear bays can
be set open.
Decals in the Heller kit are for
2 versions:
(1) Swedish Air Force J-29E at unit
F-4 at Ostersund ;
(2) Swedish Air Force S29C
as used deployed by Swedis AF for a United Nations mission 1961 at Katanga/
Congo.
The kit decals are simple but not
too bad as very limited stencilling looks applicable for the J29.
Several after market parts also were
released like a PAVLA detail set and various decal sheets like the nice
one from Print Scale. I also had several of these.
.
PRINT-SCALE
SET:
This is a nice kit from Heller and it was quickly assembled. I added a little sprue inside the wheel bays to suggest hydraulics. I did my best not to sand off the raised panellines and fortunately only limited filler was needed at the nose.
The cockpit interior was a sort of
light green.
The lower nose section does require
a bit outlining and filling.
But assembly is straight forward
but do not forget to add substantial nose ballast to prevent tail sitting.
Also, fit a small piece of card at the landing light recess in the lower
nose. The exhaust pipe lower reflector plate is not often fitted so check
photos.
Two Heller kits were made, one of
these over 15 years ago.
One kit was made recently as for the Austrian Air Force.
For this Heller kit, decals were used of the Print Scale 72-038 1/72 scale decalsheet. (NOTE that the old Matchbox kit also had Austria scheme decals).
This Oesterreichische Tunnan is of the 2nd Jagdbomber Staffel with serial 29649 and tail code B. Used in the nineteen sixties, it has a metal finish with a few different sheenes on some panels (so not gloss aluminium paint nor high speed silver paint). Also, it has yellow details at the wing tips.
The model got base coat of grey to
check for any errors. As noted before, only a bit of filler was needed.
Next yellow was airbrushed first, using Revell Aqua 12 "gelb"
acrylic. After these dried, these were masked off.
Next, the ALCLAD II system
was used for the metal finish. First base gloss black undercoat was airbrushed.
Ensure it is gloss. (Note: if you use the special black ALCLAD lacquer
black coat, ensure more than 1 week drying time! It dries slowly). I had
and used gloss black acrylic paint.
The special trick was used to get some different looking panels. Some were now masked off with tape and a first ALCLAD airframe aluminium ALC-105 airbrushed. The smaller parts were also airbrushed like the doors.
After a few coats, the masking tape
was removed.....
Than a couple of more ALCLAD coats
were applied. The panels that were masked off have a slightly different
look which looks great as seen below...
The decals went on fine.
Now the remaining parts like the undercarriage and doors were added. Two metal pitot tubes were added made from metal needles. A final gloss coat was put on using Johnson Future/ Pledge, this protects the decals and given an even gloss sheen. Apply the Johnson coat in several thin layers and not too thick. That completed this nice model.
In the early 1960s, some 30 second hand Saab J-29F Tunnan jets could be purchased from the Swedish Air Force.
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For info about the Austrian Air Force, look at the Typhoon page here....
J29F, 2nd
Jagdbomber Staffel , Oesterreich
Another kit was made a long time
ago.....
SWEDEN
.... 
...
The second older Tunnan model was already in the collection for over 15 years. This Heller kit was made as a Swedish Air Force J29F of the "flygvapen" unit F21 and also used for the air demonstration. (I do not know the name of this demo team, it is not the "flying barrels" as they had a different scheme). The green tail was simply masked off at the time. The nose marking was hand painted. The rest of decals came from the kit.
A nice couple of SAAB J29 Tunnan "Flying barrels" is now in the model collection.
CHECK out a "half scratch" made 1/32 SAAB J-29 here....
References
Magazines:
(1) J29, Aircraft in Detail, article by Stig Jarlevik, Scale Aircraft Modelling (year unknown, in the eighties?) (founded by the late Alan W. Hall).
(2) J29, Scale Aviation Modeller International, September 2004 that includes scale drawings
(3) J29, International Air Power Review, Vol. 13 , 2004
(4) Various articles about Saab J29 in magazines like Air International, Aircraft Illustrated etc etc.
Internet:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_29_Tunnan
YouTube films:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc9Mxjt2Ab8
and part 2-5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD22i7Y8wHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igp11HngYpg
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Created this page
October 26, 2015