Tarangus Saab 32 Lansen

Scale: 1/48
Panel lines: Recessed
Type: Injection moulded short run
Plastic parts: 76
Resin parts: 2
Decal options: 2
Wingspan: 270mm
Length: 311mm



SAAB A32 Lansen (Lance) was a Swedish two-seater all weather attack aircraft from the mid fifties. Together with the J29 Tunnan (Barrel), the A32 Lansen formed the backbone of the Swedish Air Force in the fifties and sixties. It is a sleek, swept winged aircraft with a high thrust to weight ratio I've actually seen the airplane at an air show lifting from the runway, accelerate and then rise vertically like a Me 163 Komet to over 3000m (9000 ft). It was also the first Swedish-produced aircraft that could break the sound barrier, albeit in a slight dive. It is also one of my favorite planes so I'm very happy to see it in the 1:48 scale providing greater justice to this large aircraft than the old Heller kit in 1:72 scale. The kit is a modern low-pressure injection molded short run, which makes the parts a bit softer than high-pressure injection kits, but still the parts are very good and nicely defined. It's probably no shake n' bake but previous reviews show no major problems with the fit. Detail in the cockpit is a bit sparse, but two nice resin ejection seats is included. Most people will probably buy an etch set to upgrade the cockpit anyway. The decals are incredible with perfect registration and color but I would have liked an option with the colorful initial delivery scheme (bare metal with blue fin and orange nose cone) There are no armament included in the kit but there are a lot of armament and other bits and pieces in resin on the way from Maestro Models. The kit is expensive but truly unique and you will probably never see this aircraft kited from any of the main stream manufacturers.