1:48 Drop tanks Type 2

The tanks that extended the Tunnan's range

On a jet fighter of the 1950s a drop tank is far more than an ornament under the wing. The SAAB J 29 had decent performance by the standards of the day, but the fuel consumption of the first jet engines was high and without external tanks the endurance of a patrol flight was short. The shape and the size of the tank therefore changed during service, and a modeler who wants to build a specific machine at a specific year has to reach for the right version.

This set represents the second type, in the version with end fins. The shape was worked out from three-dimensional data, so the outline and the diameter match the real thing better than a part sanded down from a kit. The casting is in cast resin, which on a long slender body brings one advantage and one risk: the surface is smooth and has no parting seam, but the straightness has to be checked, because a thin casting can bow slightly as the mold cools.

Before gluing it is advisable to cut the casting block off on the underside, where the joint will be hidden by the pylon, and to fit the tank dry. If there are two tanks, it is worth comparing their angle against each other before the glue sets — an asymmetric hang shows on a finished model from every angle.

Painting the tanks follows the finish of the machine. A polished metal surface calls for a smooth base and for patience, because every scratch left by sanding will be emphasized under a glossy coat. A matte finish, by contrast, forgives more and will even take a light accentuation of the panel lines. Under the pylon it pays to suggest the traces of fuel that always spilled during filling.