SAAB J29 Tunnan - undercarriage details/info needed?

Nov 09, 2003 18 Replies

'Ello folks



I'm in the porcess of building a model of the Saab J-29F Tunnan using the old Matchbox kit as a base and adding in detailing from there.



Unfortunately, I've hit a snag with the undercarriage. - I've been unable to find any good photographs and/or plans showing the undercarriage area in any detail.



Short of contacting Saab themselves I appear to be stuck unless anyone here knows of a good source of photos. or plans?



Cheers,



Dave McDougall



Profile had a 'volume' on that plane and I recall a SAM that covered it also. I can't remember if there are any U/C photos specifically though. I'll try and dig them out of the archives and have a look for you.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Dave,

There's one of these wee beasties over at the Midlands Air Museum, just outside Coventry Airport. I'm not sure if they've got a website, but it might be worth a look?

Chris

"Captain Haddock" wrote

***** worth a look.........

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cheers - Jim.

"Captain Haddock" wrote

******* 'Ere's annuder' un ...... ;-)
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Click on 'Walkarounds' in the top right ......

Choose 'Jet aircraft'............click.........

Scroll down to SAAB J29 Tunnan

Cheers - Jim.

Be aware that the Matchbox Tunnan is grossly incorrect in this area, the bays are almost twice the length they should be!

Sten Flying Colors Aerodecals flyingcolr -at- a ol -dot- c om

Thanks for that tip, Sten. I have both the Heller and the Matchbox but I've never compared them. May we assume that Heller got it right?

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Yep, Heller is very good in most areas. Not up to current standards, but then it was issued in when, the late seventies? Also note that it is a different version from the Matchbox/Revell kit.

I have seen people grafting the rear lower fuselage from a Matchbox kit onto the rest from Heller to produce an 'F' version.

There is also a brand new 1/72 J29F resin kit out from IPMS-Austria. Nice, but expensive.

Sten Sundelin

Hello Sten,

It's funny that you should mention the Heller kit as I have that as well :) I'm planning to combine the two kits using the 'best' bits of each.

Cheers,

Dave

Hello Bill, many thanks for replying so quickly.

Many thanks for your offer to have a trawl of your archives. I appreeciate it. If you happen to recall which issue (or even volume of SAM) had an article on the Tunnan then that would be cool.

I've found plenty of basic stuff on the 'net re. the Tunnan. The problem is that most if it is, well, basic. In particular, there are plrenty of photos but they are invariably poor quality (and don't show the undercarriage in any detail.)

Cheers,

Dave McDougall

Hi Chris, thanks for replying.

I did become aware of the bird at the Midlands Air Museum but their website

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although featuring photos of their Tunnan, doesn't have any detail pics (just general views - which are ten a penny on the 'Net). I may well trundle off down there since it's not too far away from me (well, not too far-ish :) )

Cheers,

Dave

Hello Jim, thanks for this (and you other email). The two sites that you've quoted will be very useful to me; especially the

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one. (Where I see the pics have been supplied by the very Sten (I assume :) ) who has also replied to me post here.

Thanks for the help, this'll aid me greatly.

Cheers,

Dave

Hello Sten,many thanks for your help.

Although I didn't mention it in my previous email, I actaully have bot the Matchbox and the Heller kits. I'm planning to use the 'best' bits of both kits with a little blood, sweat and (hopefully not too many) tears :)

Cheers,

Dave

Yep, that's me (through a friend) I don't have the pictures readily available myself or I would have sent or posted them myself.

Scale Aircraft Modelling Vol 6 No 9 had an article on J29 (as noted in my index), as did Aviation News Vol 1 No 26

Good luck with your modelling!

Sten

These guys must have the photos you need:

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's just a shame that the web site doesn't have very much info on it. Not even a contact address that I could see.

They're very good at letting modellers have access to the exhibits - you may be lucky and they'll have the Vulcan open! The "Whistling Tit", AKA AW Argosy, is also an "open" exhibit, but mind your head as you enter the flight deck!

Enjoy - and take a few pennies for kits/books etc! While you're there, you're pretty close to ED Models in Shirley as well!

Chris

Dave, I see Sten has answered that further down the thread. I hope the article helps you out. :) It's about time I get some of the RSAF built that I have lounging around, still in their boxes.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

I read on Scale Models (september 1979)on "New to you" p.610 that the major fault of the matchbox tunnan has oversize undercarriage wells. Do you need to remove the front 5/16th inch and the rear 1/16th inch from the wheel well door.

bye

mitchell

I also belive that IPMSstockholm has a detail section on it.

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