JAS-39C Gripen, Belgian Air Force

[Spey_Phantom]

been wanting to do this project for some time, finally got it started  

the model im using is the Italeri 1/72 JAS-39 Gripen (comes with Czech tigermeet, Hungarian, South-African and 2 Swedish decal options).
as for weapons, im gonna be using a Lantirn Pod from the Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons VII, might use the JSOW aswell (JDAMS reserved for an F-16), but im also concidering a QRA bird with 2 AIM-9's and 4 AIM-120's.

as for decals, i will be using the kits stencilling, in combination with a DACO F-16 sheet (out of production, but they still have leftovers available on the cheap).

wings are already been put together, aswell as the cockpit tub, its a pretty simple aircraft by the looks of it,  nothing fancy as you would come to expect from Italeri, but it does seem rather nice  

[Captain Canada]

Cool. Is it going to be in their beautiful multi-coloured camo or the new snoozer colours ?

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

And not beyond the realms of possibility. Although if I was building a QRA bird, I'd use Iris-T's and Meteor's which you can get from the RoG Eurofighter.

Will be keeping a watch on this Nils.

Ian

[Dizzyfugu]

Puleeezze not another grey one 

[bearmatt]

That will be very interesting! 

[Spey_Phantom]

update:

one thing i noticed on the italeri kit, and the same thing occured when i build the revell prototype gripen 10 years ago, is that the nosewheel gear is way to long.

shortening the gear is easier said then done, as it is a job i dont like to do 
i managed to get it done, but i always fear it could snap off when its time to put the tires on, so that calls for additional strengthening.

the kit goes together quite well, there is some filler and PSR needed allong the wingroots and the canopy is a little wide.
otherwide i have not encountered any further problems.

anyway, main assembly is done, and tomorrow its time to paint the wheelbays.

pics tomorrow 

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, picture time (and i hate the new Photobucket btw, missing a lot of features of the old, not to mention it takes longer to get the links copied and pasted  )

i dont have an idea yet for a color scheme, but im getting more and more the urge to use the standard gripen grey scheme.
i have been playing with the idea for a fractal digital camo, but its way to difficult to paint it.
i promise the next model im gonna make will be a bit more colorfull 

[loupgarou]

ok, picture time (and i hate the new Photobucket btw, missing a lot of features of the old, not to mention it takes longer to get the links copied and pasted  )

There is a button to get back to the old one.

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, picture time (and i hate the new Photobucket btw, missing a lot of features of the old, not to mention it takes longer to get the links copied and pasted  )

There is a button to get back to the old one.

thats the problem, i cant, the buttons not there anymore because the old layout will dissapear this month, thats why i had to switch to the new layout (switched back to the old before, but nowim pretty much forced to work with the new)

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, last update 

paints on, engine nozzle has been fitted, the wheels and the centreline fueltank are still on the drying rack.
i found a pair of AMRAAM's in a revell F-16 kit (tigermeet version, doesnt need them anyway), these will be suplemented by a pair of AIM-9's from the gripen kit. i think i might leave the 2 intert stores empty, might ad some fueltanks or something else later.

now im gonna see if i can get that laser targeting pod made 

if all goes well, decals will be put on tomorrow 

[Captain Canada]

Looking good Brother ! Doesn't look bad in those colours, but it would definitely be cooler in the old F-104 scheme !

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, small update.

the decals have been applied and sealed, wheels have been put on aswell.
the aircraft is as good as done, im still waiting for the armament to dry (AN/AAQ-14 Lantirn pod, 2 AIM-9's and 2 AIM-120's)

when thats dry, they will be fitted to the aircraft and then im gonna show pictures of the completed model.
should be some time tomorrow 

[SebastianP]

I'd hold off on adding the LANTIRN pod to your aircraft, unless you're sure you're not getting the latest Hasegawa weapons set any time soon - it contains both the LITENING pod, which the Gripen has been tested with, and the SNIPER XR, which is in service with the Belgian Air Force. The LANTIRN is really too old for the Gripen... Note that the plane won't look odd with just the hardpoint for the pod fitted, while the pod is often missing the hardpoint is pretty much permanently attached to the aircraft.

I'm thinking about doing up my own Gripen as a RAF strike aircraft, with ASRAAM and Storm Shadow missiles - IRIS-T and TAURUS are legit options, so why not go with the other set provided in the Typhoon kit...

[Dizzyfugu]

Looking good Brother ! Doesn't look bad in those colours, but it would definitely be cooler in the old F-104 scheme !

Second that - as a wraparound scheme. I have seen a whiffy Belgian Draken in this guise, and it looked sooo well!

[Spey_Phantom]

and DONE