1:48 Saab 37 Viggen Airbrakes Set For Special Hobby and Tarangus

What the set solves

Airbrakes are surfaces that swing out into the airflow and slow the aircraft down. On a finished model they only tell when they are shown extended, and that is exactly where the plastic of a kit tends to be weakest: the shape is simplified and the thickness of the part does not match a real sheet metal surface. This set in 1:48 scale replaces the original parts and is listed for the Saab 37 Viggen kits from Special Hobby and Tarangus.

The real subject

The Saab 37 Viggen is a Swedish combat aircraft recognizable by the arrangement of its lifting surfaces: the large delta wing is joined by smaller surfaces at the front of the fuselage. It flew in variants for attack, reconnaissance, interception and training and was built for operation from short stretches of road, so slowing down after touchdown was no marginal quality on it.

How to work with the parts

The parts are not polystyrene, cement for plastic models has no effect on them, and they are therefore glued with cyanoacrylate glue. Cut the excess material away a little distance from the part with a sharp blade and sand the remainder off carefully, so as not to touch the surface itself. Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold. Try the fit dry first and take up any slack by sanding the seating, not the part. Exactly where the individual parts belong and in what positions they can be shown are given in the instructions of the manufacturer.

Who the set is for

For builders who want a Viggen model captured in a ground scene or just after touchdown. The kit, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.