Fokker S-12 model in 1/72 scale
Besides the Fokker S-11 described on page 1...., also a tricycle version was developed of the S-11 designated the S-12. The S-12 was particularly license built in Brasil as T-22. Initially the S-11 was license built from 1954 in Brasil by a local Fokker company as T-21 at Rio de Janeiro and after some difficulties taken up by the Brasil Air Force with some 100 manufactured.
They also license built the S-12 as T-22 from 1958 until 1962 with 49 planes completed. The S-12 had a similar fuselage as the S-11 but had a tricycle gear. The cockpit hood had an upward opening rear panel for the third crew member.
Technical T-22 data:
span: 11,0 m
length: 8,18 m
max. weight about 1100 kg
max. speed about 209 km/hr
T-22 drawing
The "new KP" (Kovozavody Prostejov) came with an injection moulded 1/72 kit of the S-11 based on the Czech master kit.
(Czech master / CMR also had a 1/72 combined S-11 and T-22 kit in resin).
Four "new KP" S-11 kits were released with different decals but same plastic parts as seen on this page... .
In the KP sprues parts are found also for the tricycle landing gear so it is highly probable that KP will also release the kit as S-12 / T-22. I decided not to wait but to already make a T-22 model using the (extra) kit parts. The scheme will be for a Brasil T-22.
real Brasil T-22 photo, coded 0842
The tricycle gear parts are 2 x #18 and nose gear #20.
All KP kits have the same plastic content, so any of the "new KP" kits will be do; but as Brasil decals are needed kit #KPM0373 "foreign users" is preferable.
It is a bit limited short run kit so the parts need some cleaning up. There are about 25 parts and some parts you need to make your self which is not an issue. You get 2 different propellers, with or without spinner.
The nice bubble S-12 cockpit hood in the kit looks to be similar to as in the S-11 kit and is one part.
If you want to slide the hood open, you will need a razor saw at this stage.
The real Brazilian T-22 cockpit hood had also an upwards opening glass panel on the left side for the third crew member with a small lock seen in the frame (see photo). This can be suggested with frame painting (discussed later). I was unsure if the coaming aft of the cockpit opening was therefor different as for the S-11 to get extra space. I kept it the same as per kit.
The build instructions in the KP kit show each part number in the sprue layout drawing. On the sprues there are no part numbers.
As with the S-11 kits, the kit needs quite some sanding to get a flat lower belly. The outward wing parts has a bit dihedral.
NOTE: the dorsal fin in front of the vertical tail is a bit too small. It is better to replace it now and install a flat piece of card and sand flush.
It is recommended to putty and sand before installing the landing gear. You need to open up the recesses for the pair of leading edge lights which are in the kit and will enhance the model; use a file.
NOTE: the photo shows the kit dorsal fin; I later found out it is slightly undersized, this will be corrected later with card.
The holes in the front engine fairing #14 were opened up.
Putty was needed... Also fill the small opening for the tail wheel as the S-12 / T-22 has a nose gear. But there is tail bumper which is missing in the kit.
The large gap in the cockpit was closed with card and white glue for a closing bulkhead. The T-22 also had a third crew seat that can be installed.
The support struts for the stabilizer were made from streamlined strut.
The S-12 / T-22 model made was for a Brasil Air Force plane. After puttying and sanding the model got a base grey coat with airbrushing Revell Aqua 75 steingrau.
Any flaws were repaired.
The desired Brasil T-22 paint scheme has aluminium dope for which thinned Revell Aqua 99 Aluminium acrylic paint was airbrushed and for the orange Revell Aqua 30.
I also airbrushed a spare piece of decal in case any repairs are needed. The anti-glare panel was not forgotten.
The Brasil "stars" are in the S-11 kit #KPM0373 but a photo suggests that the white circle in the "star" should be bit thicker with a slightly smaller blue dot. But I found out too late and did not have better stars so used those in the kit.
Also note the black walk way panel and the small NAO PISE "no step" stencil.
The smaller stencils and codes were home designed like the T-22 and code "0833" and custom printed.
The decals were applied with some from the kit and some home designed. The rudder was painted in the Brasil flag colours of yellow and green.
The cockpit interior was finished as per kit. Though not sure, I painted it mat green with black instrument panel. Seat straps were made from masking tape. Aft of the two seat a third person could be carried. I was unsure if the coaming aft of the cockpit opening was therefor different as for the S-11 to get extra space. I kept it the same as per kit and painted it dark grey here.
The dorsal spine in the kit was also for the S-12 / T-22 model enlarged with card strip. It is better to do this at an earlier stage.
All cockpit hood frames were hand painted aluminium with a fine brush and required a steady hand; any spills can be scraped off when dried with a cocktail stick.
As noted earlier, at the left side the third crew member rear hood panel shows a lock and thicker frames for the separate panel that can be swivelled open upwards; so the frames of this panel were painted "double wide".
The large cockpit hood was set closed so the single part was fixed in place with white glue. It is a half (1/2) millimeter too wide but that is not that obvious. There was however still a gap at the lower hood edges; these was closed up with white glue. This will conceal / hide the gap. (do not paint it).
The landing gear of the S-12 / T-22 need the main gear legs #18. These are not situated at the wing leading edge but more at the mid wing chord. The S-12 / T-22 nose gear part #20 looks a bit strange but is correct. It is pointed forwards, see photo. There is also a sorth of large damper which is correctly moulded on the part and painted black.
At the lower rear fuselage, not a small tail wheel is seen on the T-22 but a small tail bumper; the bumper was made from thick card, installed and painted aluminium.
All S-12 tricycle gear legs were now set with super glue and aligned. The main rear gear legs needs a bit trimming at their top to get a quite tilted angle. (no tail gear wheel is thus needed but a tail bumper).
The gears are quite vulnerable, adding nose weight to avoid tail sitting is not recommended. A hole was drilled aft of the main gear and a transparant stretched sprue rod installed in stead; it will keep the model on its nose gear.
Final details were now added:
On the cockpit hood 2 tiny black handles were made from black stretched sprue, fixed with white glue. Same at the wing tip recesses with handles for ground handling.
As for the S-11, also on the S-12 / T-22 amidst the lower ailerons, 2 balance rods were made from scrap from thin sprue. The balance weight is a tiny drop of white glue and painted orange when dried.
Two engine pipes were set made from thin black sprue and set below the engine nose fairing. I fitted the spinner and prop and it got a black coat with yellow prop tips.
The wing pitot tube is in the kit but needs a bit refinement; it has 2 tiny tubes at the front tip. A radio antenna wire was set on the T-22 lower fuselage below the cockpit made from black stretched sprue.
Finally a gloss varnish coat was airbrushed, shield off the clear hood and ant-glare panel while airbrushing the gloss coat. That will protect the decals for years to come.
That was it! A nice T-22 model is in the collection of a special air force.
BRASIL
[area: 8,515,767 km2 | population: 212 million | capital: Brasilia | GDP USD 7,000 nominal per capita ]
The S-12 was license built as T-22 in Brasil from 1958 until 1962 at a Rio de Janeiro factory supervised by the Air Force. The Air Force got 49 T-22 delivered which were coded 0800 - 0848. The type was used along with the S-11 / T-21 for training from 1960 to 1973.
For more information about the "Forca Aerea Brasileira" look at my F-5E page here..
... at Sao Paulo
... flying above Base Aerea Fortaleza...
... also check out the Fokker S-14, their only military jet ...
Books:
Aviacao Militar Brasileira 1916-1984, Francisco Pereira Netto, 1984
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Created this page August 23, 2023