The PoAF's 1st Swept-Wing Jet Fighter - Saab J 29F Tunnan

DogfighterZen · January 27, 2016, 07:34:10 AM

Well, this will be a very simple build of a Matchbox 1/72 Saab J-29F Tunnan with 1950's Portuguese markings. I already have the backstory as it's a part of my alternative PoAF history since WWII, but i'll leave that for when the model is done.
So, what if the PoAF wanted a swept-wing jet before the Sabres in 1958? They had De Havilland Vampire trainers since 1952 and T-33As since 53, why not get a swept wing fighter to patrol Portuguese skies back then?

I haven't started work so i'll be posting pics when there's enough done.

zenrat · January 28, 2016, 01:56:28 AM

Built a Matchbox Tunnan as a kid. Can't remember what happened to it. Something unfortunate probably.
This'll be good.

PR19_Kit · January 28, 2016, 03:43:20 AM

Is the M'box kit the one with the afterburning engine?

Dizzyfugu · January 28, 2016, 04:34:56 AM

Yes, it's the last operational version (with the dogtooth wing, too). The kit is pretty basic, AFAIR, and need lot of nose weight. And a cover/bulkhead for the air intake is needed, because you can look directly into the cockpit...

PR19_Kit · January 28, 2016, 08:09:46 AM

Perhaps a cross-kit with the Heller one would work well? I think I have both of them in The Loft somewhere....

Dizzyfugu · January 28, 2016, 08:16:54 AM

And there's the Airfix kit (with camera option), but IIRC that's just the Heller kit reboxed?
Tarangus did an early Tunnan (with the normal wing), but this one is rather costly.

PR19_Kit · January 28, 2016, 10:02:08 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on January 28, 2016, 08:16:54 AM
And there's the Airfix kit (with camera option), but IIRC that's just the Heller kit reboxed?
Tarangus did an early Tunnan (with the normal wing), but this one is rather costly.

I think you're right, yes.

I've just come down from The Loft and can't find either of them, but that's hardly surprising seeing the state of the place........

DogfighterZen · January 28, 2016, 07:23:36 PM

Hey, guys. I see a lot of you have built this kit, it was one of the few kits i built in my first modeling incarnation when i was 7 or 8.
This kit is probably one of Matchbox's best, right? Shape and fit are good, only thing not up to today's standards is what you all know, the panel tren... lines.

I'm enjoying this simple build, in the cockpit all i did was the ejection ring on top of the seat from a bit of scrap styrene and paint it up. I didn't make a bulkhead for the intake but made a tube of styrene sheet and glued it on the inside of the intake lip, you can't see much in there and it really doesn't bother me too much that one can see the front of the cockpit floor.

Nose weight was in form of two balls of blue tack below the cockpit, just aft of the front landing gear bay, should be enough as the model always nosedived when held by the main landing gear's center of gravity.

So now, the intake lip needs to be puttied and sanded down to be flush with the rest of the fuselage so i'm leaving the wings off to make work easier.

kitbasher · January 28, 2016, 07:42:57 PM

Had pondered a Czech Tunnan (Czechoslovakia stayed neutral post-WW2, no communist coup in 1948). One in the stash but doubt if I could get it done for the GB.

Dizzyfugu · January 28, 2016, 11:41:36 PM

It's moulded in green and white?

Never seen that, I only know grey/Sky S styrene on this kit?!

BTW, yes, totally agree that the cockpit is one of the better ones from Matchbox. The F9F Panther has also a nice interior.

DogfighterZen · January 29, 2016, 05:35:39 PM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on January 28, 2016, 11:41:36 PM
It's moulded in green and white?

Never seen that, I only know grey/Sky S styrene on this kit?!

BTW, yes, totally agree that the cockpit is one of the better ones from Matchbox. The F9F Panther has also a nice interior.

Yeah, it's molded in dark green and a very light grey. I'm really surprised with the kit, haven't used putty and the main construction is done, even the intake lip was easy to sand down to right shape and thickness, and didn't need any putty at all. Wings and tail were glued on after sanding the intake lip, again, no need for putty.

The canopy will need proper fitting and maybe a little bit of styrene to close a small gap where it joins the front fuselage.
Didn't expect this one to be so quick, it's nearly ready for primer but i can't upload pics cause Photobucket is out for maintenance...

DogfighterZen · January 30, 2016, 05:41:03 AM

So this is how it looks at the moment...

The intake lip was easy to sand down, it now looks more like the real intake. I think that all it's lacking is a small sanding session on the wing roots and it's ready for paint.

Captain Canada · February 05, 2016, 08:06:44 AM

Looking good. Nice job on the nose.

DogfighterZen · February 05, 2016, 01:14:42 PM

Thanks, Captain!

The Tunnan sits as it was in the pic, work was hard this past week so i've been getting home really beat, but i think i'll have some time during the weekend to get some modeling done.

DogfighterZen · February 11, 2016, 05:08:28 AM

Finally got to do a little bit on this one, just a few holes...

Now just some light sanding to do on the gun ports and it's ready for primer.