Heller 1/72 Saab J29 Tunnan

HELLER 1:72 SAAB J29 TUNNAN
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Mark B (SMAKR Webmaster) (rec.models.scale)

Kit Details: Heller "Echelle 1/72" #260 - Saab J 29 "Tunnan"

Aircraft History: Initially, the Saab 29 was developed as a straight winged fighter with the De Havilland Goblin turbojet powerplant. But after the second world war, following on from captured and available German researched technology, the type was revised with 25° swept flying surfaces. It then first flew in 1948 and was given the apt name of Tunnan (barrel) when it entered service in 1951.

The Tunnan had a shoulder-set wing, tricycle landing gear, and a pressurised cockpit with ejection seat. The first aircraft reached operational units later in that same year, and production of 661 aircraft, of different variants, continued until 1956. The Tunnan remained as Sweden's main air defence asset until 1958 when it was replaced by the more fighter looking Saab 32 Lansen.

The main variants included the J 29A fighter; J 29B improved model with increased fuel storage; A 29B attack version; J 29D experimental version with a reheat system; J 29F improved version of the J 29E and an A 29F attack version of the J 29F. The main two variants used (and depicted in this kit) were the J 29E improved fighter version with reheated engine from the J 29D and saw toothed outer wing panels and the S 29C photo-reconnaissance model with an automatic six camera installation and the outer wing panels of the J 29E.

Kit Parts: This kit came as a surprise gift from a friend in USA (Thanks Jon!), after he learned that I had been after this kit for sometime. Certainly was a surprise and I couldn't get the lid off quick enough to have a look inside. Boxed in one of the now familiar 70's era type boxes, all the contents are contained in one plastic bag. There are four sprues containing about 40 flash free parts in a metallic grey like colour. The surface detail is typical of Heller, solid and raised while control surfaces are recessed.

There are five transparent parts on a separate sprue which are of medium thickness and slightly on the distorted side, but pretty well what one would expect from a kit 20-30 years old now.

Instructions: A single A4 double sided sheet is the instructions, written in French. One side has the one step assembly process (reminds one a bit of the early limited run style of instructions) which is pretty easy to follow in spite of the mass of parts, arrows etc in the one diagram, and two small inset diagrams for cockpit profile/assembly and main gear. This is flanked by Overview of aircraft, list of parts (which is handy) and a running text commentary on construction. Painting information is also given for the parts, all of which is in generic name, and French of course. On the reverse side are two diagrams showing the side and split upper/lower profile views for decals and markings. A small table provides Heller paint range information.

A second sheet is also supplied which contains the same text information on the main instruction sheet (ie: history overview; text commentary on construction; parts list; Heller paint table, etc) in English and German. While it does not tell you that Noir in French is Black in English, you can check the names off the respective Heller tables and their Heller number in French and English to work that out. Except for "Gris Bleu" which is on the UN version, but not quoted on either table, but obviously means Blue Grey.

Colour Options: Two examples can be built from the kit, a Swedish J 29E from Froson, Ostersund in overall aluminium and a United Nations S.29C, Congo, in upper Blue Grey and Olive camouflage over aluminium undersides.

Decals: The sheet is small and contains only roundels, unit badges and codes. The colour is sharp but the yellow on the Swedish crowns do encroach over the black outline a smidgeon. Shouldn't be too many problems in applying them, but mine have aged somewhat and some yellowing is apparent which will need to be removed before commencing the project (as can be seen in the image below).

Cockpit/Wheel Bay Detail: Wheel well detail is pretty sparse although some vertical structural like lines are in the main bays (which you can probably just make out in the sprue image above) only. The cockpit detail is not a great deal better. A cockpit tub is provided with rudder pedals moulded at the front; into which is affixed a reasonable looking ejection seat and control column. A main instrument panel and rear radio deck web are also provided. The main panel has some small and basic dial representation but the side consoles are flat.

Optional components: The canopy comes in two parts so I can assume is able to allow an open cockpit display. Apart from wheels down/up and underwing fuel tank, there are two main options provided in the kit. You have the choice of either an unarmed UN reconnaissance nose section (for S 29C) or a cannon armed Swedish version (for J 29E), so there are two nose undersections provided in the kit. The other option is nose gear landing lights, I assume you can push this into the panel for a wheels up model.

On the Sprue Impressions: This is a typically solid looking Heller kit, which when test fitting some parts seems to suggest a pretty straight forward build that we often associate with many of their kits, particularly these ones they released during their "stellar" era, in my opinion anyway.

There are not many parts to this kit, so the build should be quick and straight forward, with the cockpit and exhaust sub assemblies trapped between fuselage halves (and possibly intake trunk, although this could be done afterward since the under nose section is separate). Heller have ensured there is no see through effect by providing the nose intake trunk and exhaust nozzle as blanked off pieces. The nose intake ring is separate.

The wing mounted pitot probes and main antenna mast on the fuselage are already moulded onto these parts, so care will be needed in not knocking these off during construction, although they are a bit on the thick side. The mid wing rib is separately added to the saw tooth section, and a check of a reference photo will be needed for exact placement. The wings are split into upper and lower halves and fit into alignment slots in the fuselage. The tailplane is one piece with the tail fin slipping into the supplied slit - small locating pins are provided for correct positioning on the tail fin. Finally fuel tanks are split vertically with one half moulded integrally with the pylon for underwing attachment.

Accuracy: Relying on the information supplied by Heller (both for model and actual aircraft), the dimensions of the finished kit should be absolute spot on, which is hard to fathom even for Heller, who are traditionally pretty well around the mark. They say the kit is 152.7 mm span (scale suggests 152.777 mm) and 142 mm length (compared to scale 141.944 mm). On the sprue it looks like the parts will provide a fairly solid and convincing looking replica.

Conclusion: It's a kit that I have been after for some time and am ecstatic that a good friend across the seas sent it to me. This should be a fairly straight forward build and from what I have heard a convincing replica of the Tunnan - although there aren't many other choices in this scale. Definitely recommended and I do look forward to building it.

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