1:72 JAS-39

The real subject

The JAS 39 Gripen is a Swedish multipurpose combat aircraft with a delta wing and canard surfaces ahead of it. The design reckoned with the machine operating dispersed from short takeoff areas and stretches of road, so it has robust landing gear and can manage a landing on a short runway. On a machine like this the wheels are stressed more than on an aircraft from a concrete base, and on a model they are clearly visible, because they stand right at the level of the viewer's eye.

What the set offers

The wheels replace the parts from the kit and bring two things: a sharper rendering of the tread and a cleaner transition from the tire into the hub. The tires are made with a flat at the point of contact, so a standing model takes on the look of a machine resting on the surface under its own weight. According to the name, the form corresponds to the early state. The number of pieces in the package and the kit the wheels are cut for are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• the flat has to point at the ground, otherwise the model looks as if its wheels were fitted crooked
• the parts are not made of polystyrene; they are glued with super glue, not with cement for plastic models
• cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down
• paint the wheels separately and fit them at the very end; you will not get into the fork with a brush afterwards
• wash and degrease the parts before painting, as paint does not hold on a greasy surface

Terms of supply

The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.