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South African Gripens


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Three questions for the experts.

1. Does anyone make a SAAF decal set for the JAS-39C?

2. What colors are used by the SAAF on their Gripens?

3. Anything special the SAAF uses as far as weaponry?

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I have become very impressed with the knowledge that is floating around these here forums. :shoot:

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The Italeri 1/48 Gripen B/D comes with markings for a two-seat SAAF bird. Other than the tail number, you should be able to make the markings work for a C. HOWEVER...I recently built this kit and the decals are WAY too light to be correct. The other thing is that the kit is a struggle to make it into an accurate B or D. I basically gave up trying to fix it and just had fun with it. The Gripen is an interesting and beautiful subject, but a bit of a pain to do it justice if you're strict on accuracy.

I go into more detail about the kit and the build HERE.

Look and you'll see that the decals are lighter than the upper color, when they should be darker.

As for the SAAF Gripen colors, the Italeri instructions list them as being:

Bottom: "Medium Grey" FS 35237

Upper: "Dark Ghost Grey" FS 36320

Underside False Canopy: "Gunship Grey" FS36118

I don't know if the colors are accurate, but that's what the instructions say. Good luck, tell me if you need any more information, and make sure to post your findings. I'd like to take a better crack at the Gripen some future day.

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Hope this helps a little:

1) The Italeri 2-seater 1/48 scale Gripen comes with SAAF markings. An alternative is MAV decals: http://www.mav.co.za/, which I believe you can order from him or from the unofficial SAAF website: http://saairforce.co.za/shop/

However, as for the single seater JAS-39C that you asked about: The first one will only be delivered later next year, so what they will look like will only be speculation until the first photographs appear. Most likely, though, they will be similar to the dual seaters. One problem in doing a JAS-39C in SAAF colours before the first one is delivered is that they are slightly differently equipped to Swedish aircraft and you may miss some antennas, etc.

2) I am not very good with colour, but the examples I have seen of built up Italeri Gripens look slightly off to me. If you go to the SAAB website galleries, you should find lots of photographs of dual seat SAAF Gripens - try to match to those colours. Hopefully someone else can give you better info.

3) Currently, armament for SAAF Gripens will be very limited: It is to a large extent because of them that Gripen has been cleared with dumb bombs, so that is one option although I cannot give specifics on which stations etc are typically used. In addition, the SAAF has ordered some IRIS-T missiles. So far they are still making a decision on guided weapons and medium range missiles - so again an unknown. They are developing the A-Darter (in a similar class to IRIS-T), which would indeed be a unique weapon for SAAF Gripens, but none have been flown on the Gripen yet as the missile is still in the development phase.

Sorry, I know that is not particularly useful...

No, you guys have been very helpful. I guess I will just have to build a 2 seat Gripen in SAAF markings then. Darn, I have to build another model :thumbsup:

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No, you guys have been very helpful. I guess I will just have to build a 2 seat Gripen in SAAF markings then. Darn, I have to build another model :deadhorse1:

Not necessarily. Look at the decal sheet MAV-480143 here: http://www.mav.co.za/aftermarket_saaf_planes48_02.htm

and here: http://www.mav.co.za/images/aftermarket/de...saaf/gripen.jpg

Both 01 and 02 are D models, but you if you mix and match the numbers you make 10, 12, 20 and 21. If you can find a list of which numbers will be C's and which will be D's, you might be able to make a C after all. And look, they're the right color!

As for armament, check out this photo: SA0102_07.jpg

You can get more at the Gripen website: http://www.gripen.com/en/MediaRelations/Image_base.htm .

I typed in "south" into the search bar and the first two pages showed lots of images with SAAF Gripens with this loadout.

Edited by latormentabritanica
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Both 01 and 02 are D models, but you if you mix and match the numbers you make 10, 12, 20 and 21. If you can find a list of which numbers will be C's and which will be D's, you might be able to make a C after all. And look, they're the right color!

1 JAS39D

2 JAS39D

3 JAS39D

4 JAS39D

5 JAS39D

6 JAS39D

7 JAS39D

8 JAS39D

9 JAS39D

10 JAS39C

11 JAS39C

12 JAS39C

13 JAS39C

14 JAS39C

15 JAS39C

16 JAS39C

17 JAS39C

18 JAS39C

19 JAS39C

20 JAS39C

21 JAS39C

22 JAS39C

23 JAS39C

24 JAS39C

25 JAS39C

26 JAS39C

HTH,

Koen

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Hi Marcel

The answer is no, and there is also no plan to integrate them. The V3S missiles carried by the Cheetahs all time-expired just before the Cheetah was retired and most of them were fired off during exercises in the last months of the Cheetah service life, so there is no reason to integrate them onto Gripen. As I said, the interim missile is the IRIS-T until the A-Darter is ready.

To quote my daughter...you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for the info.

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There you go! That sheet will give you FOUR Gripen D's if you mix and match the numbers.

Any time! That's why we're here!

You might find some interesting pictures here:

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

The SAAF Gripens also have several mods that other Gripens don't, for example an additional fueling point on the starboard (i think) wing root. Do a google search on AAS2008 you might get lucky. I am unfortunatly not permitted to share the images that I have.

Hope that helps

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You might find some interesting pictures here:

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph...mp;hilit=gripen

The SAAF Gripens also have several mods that other Gripens don't, for example an additional fueling point on the starboard (i think) wing root. Do a google search on AAS2008 you might get lucky. I am unfortunatly not permitted to share the images that I have.

Hope that helps

Thanks alot.

Edit: I saw a thread a few weeks back talking about landing gear color. Check the link below for several good pics of the SAAf Gripen LG

http://www.saairforce.co.za/gallery-and-media/42/gripen-d

Edited by Justicebringer
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  • 3 weeks later...
Thanks alot.

Edit: I saw a thread a few weeks back talking about landing gear color. Check the link below for several good pics of the SAAf Gripen LG

http://www.saairforce.co.za/gallery-and-media/42/gripen-d

I am about to order some Iris-T missiles from Dr Pepper for my SAAF Gripen. Anyone know what color the South African variant would be?

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I don't know if the colors are accurate, but that's what the instructions say.

Take any Italeri color recommendations with at least a grain of salt, as they have their own paint range to flog.

Unless, of course, you want to believe them stating that a WWII Bf 109 is Light Ghost Gray on the bottom. ;-)

Perhaps the IPMS ZA website can be of help?

Cheers,

Andre

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Hi Justicebringer

I assume your colour question refers to the missile and not the aircraft? At this point no missiles have been delivered. The missiles are actually to be leased as an interim solution while the A-Darter completes its development, and therefore not really bought outright. Although this is just a guess, in the light of my previous statement I think painting the missiles the same colour as what you see on, for example, German Eurofighters, will get you pretty close to what will be seen on SAAF missiles. I don't see them changing anything on leased missiles like these.

I do work with the aircraft so I can probably find out, but you will be amazed what information is sometimes regarded as "sensitive"...

I hear ya Oryx. I spent 12 years total between acitve duty and reserves in the USAF so I know what you mean. Im also curious if any kits have the weapons pylons used by the SAAF. I read that Denel Aviation is producing the pylons for the export Gripens. Why I cant just build it clean I do not know :rofl:

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