HELLER 1/72 Saab A/S 32 'Lansen' - A Building Review

This is a relatively unknown aircraft outside of Sweden, I guess.. I'm fortunate enough to have seen them fly operationally, if 'only' as target tugs, and they are beautiful in the air.

Around 450 was made and the Swedish Air Force was the sole user. 2 Lansens are still flying with the Swedish Air Force Historical Flight, and one of thenm was used for testing the vulcanic ash in the air over Sweden during the Icelandic Volcano eruption in 2010.

Kit No. 80343

Kit Rating: 8 / 10 (Builds very well, have some raised panel lines but nice detailoverall. The biggest inaccuracy is the fact that the air brake should always be out, when the plane is on the ground. The model does not allow for that, unless you open it up and scratchbuild the brakes.

Decal Rating: Kit decals weren't used this time, but the mixed decals I used from my spares box went on well.

Music from Jason Shaw / audionautix & Incompetech

Photos and infor from Wikipedia and the internet. Picture of Saab 32 Lansen and Saab 35 Draken used for review purposes = Fair Use.

All modelrelated photos and videoclips by BasicModelling

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

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• Saab
• Lansen
• J32D
• 1/72
• model
• kit
• airfix
• revell
• academy
• italeri
• 1/48
• 1/144
• 1/32
• 1/35
• modelling
• hobby
• modeller
• basicmodelling

[InstantUsername]

Addendum 2: Hrm, the kit I bought seem to have some "flash" and could have been more detailed I think.

[InstantUsername]

Addendum: The decals have some flaws, as mentioned in a review I found. And true enough, all the circular markings are not aligned properly, the same with the german and Italian (?) flag. Everything else looks good imo.

[InstantUsername]

I found what looks like a nice kit today:

Italeri 1:48 Bell AB 212 / UH-1N helicopter (Kit no: 2692). Twin rotor blades, not four like with the 214 version in real life. Three sets of clean looking sprues, one being transparent parts. Helicopter body is mainly two large pieces (split in half the whole way).

I also found this nice 1:72 Grumman Duck from Revell (older kit apparantly, but mold quality looks acceptable)

[InstantUsername]

@MrP61guy

Hm, perhaps it is possible to sand down the glass abit and then polish it shiny again somehow. One technique with polishing edges of plexiglass, is apparantly to just briefly apply a flame to melt the plexiglass.

[InstantUsername]

Useful info: It is not advisable to carry the 40.7 kg DETOLF package alone. It is really heavy. I did carry it 1km on my way home from the bus stops, and I think anyone will come regret it should they attempt it. :)

[InstantUsername]

@MrP61guy

When gluing on transparent canopy glass, it might be a good idea to try smear some glue onto a thin piece of paper, in order to control the amount of clue, by applying glue indirectly. Thus avoiding dumping a whole droplet of glue onto the model itself, probably smearing it where there glue is not supposed to be applied.

I use a bottle with liquid glue, but even with this type of glue I usually end up with too much glue, if bottle was turned upside down.

[InstantUsername]

@MrP61guy

I am almost 100% that you cannot fix glue smeared on the canopy glass, except perhaps painting the outside black to cover it up.

"Flash" is probably the redundant plastic that you have to cut and sand away from the various parts. Usually thin flakes of plastic.

[InstantUsername]

Ah, there seem to be a small gap both over and below the door as well. I overlooked that part earlier.

[InstantUsername]

This case rattles abit when opening the door or bumbing the case itself. The rattling noise is because of the side glass bumping into one of the horizontal glass plates. A piece of filt or self adhesive rubber should fix this rattling, making it quiet.

[InstantUsername]

I measured the internal width inside the glass, to be 38cm. I did not measure the depth. Presumably, the glass plate has a square shape.