June 2026

SAAB AJ-37 Viggen

SAAB SK-37 Viggen Trainer

Link to Website Index:

SAAB AJ-37 Viggen

SAAB Sk-37 Viggen

Flygflottilj 7, Skaraborg Wing, Såtenäs Air Base, 1980

Heller 1/72

SAAB’s iconic canard-winged Viggen entered service in 1971 as a multi-role replacement for both the Draken and Lansen. Similarly advanced in nature, it was specifically optimised for operations away from main operating bases, with its canard configuration, large thrust reverser and multi wheeled undercarriage allowing it to operate from small remote bases established alongside suitable major roadways that could be used as wartime runways. Maintenance and turn-around procedures were kept as simple as practicable to enable conscript and reservist Swedish Airmen/Women to maintain the aircraft in the field - a full refuel and re-arm could be completed in 10 minutes.

Four main variants were produced, the AJ-37 Attack Aircraft, Sk-37 2-seat trainer, SF (and SH)-37 reconnaissance variant, and the JA-37 interceptor. Viggens entered service in 1971 and remained until 2005 when finally replaced by the Gripen. Armament included Skyflash, and AMRAAM BVR missiles, Sidewinder, rocket pods or bombs, RB04 and RBS-15 anti-ship missiles, plus Rb05 short range stand-off misisles

Viggens saw no export success, with the only real prospect (India) being blocked by the US (thus encouraging the Indians to buy British and Russian aircraft instead).

Building the Heller J-37 Kit

One of my objectives in buying a 3d printer was to be able to access some of the ever increasing range of 3d enhancements for conventional kits.

This is my first attempt, using several 3d parts available for the Special Hobby Viggens, but trying to squeeze them into a Heller kit (of which I have many!). I started with the cockpit, printing out a specific set for an early AJ-37, along with side-walls, instrument panel and the distinctive SAAB ejection seats. The STL files for these were not expensive and since I should be able to use them on several builds, they are even better value.

Fitting the cockpit wasn't a major issue, although I had to change the Heller build sequence slightly, attaching the fuselage spine (there are 2, for the single and double seater variants) to one side in order to allow accurate placement of the cockpit floor and rear wall. I also raised it slightly. The side walls proved somewhat fragile and both broke, but luckily I had printed off several spares. Sadly the instrument panel (which looks very small) also broke and in any event looked as though it would be lost inside, so I reverted to Heller's plastic one.

Heller's Viggen kit, first issued in AJ-37 form in 1977 is really quite good. So far as I know, all issues include alternative parts for the JA-37, SF-37 and SK-37 twin-seater, with some later issues including different weapons options for the JA interceptor variant. Whilst I am sure the more recent SH/Tarangus kits have better features (and may be more accurate, I can't tell), this one still has a lot of mileage left on it.

This first one is a 1996 issue, the last time the kit was released as an AJ variant. It features mostly good parts fit, with lightly raised panel lines and far eclipsed the earlier FROG/Hasegawa and Airfix Viggen kits, which are both based on the two early prototypes. Sensible mould engineering makes it an easy enough build with no immediately obvious major pooh-traps.

<<Link to previous month

Link to Next Month >>

Since all of my Viggen pictures show the canards drooping when the aircraft is parked up, I scored their top surfaces and bent them downwards slightly before attaching. 3d printed flaps are available to show these lowered too, but my reference pictures all show them up, so I left these out.

The nose cone is a less accurate fit, but relatively easy to correct. Given the aft position of the main wheels, I am confident this will not be a tail sitter, so no weights were added.

Confirming my thoughts about a good fit, the delta main wings fitted well to the fuselage without any significant gap although they did need a little pressure and liquid glue to set them fully in place.

Having decided to do the AJ-37 variant in its iconic green splinter camouflage scheme, and remembering how much of a faf it was the last time I tried this scheme (on a Vertol 107), it seemed sensible to do one of my other Heller kits as a twin seat SK variant at the same time (since these only ever existed in the splinter colours). Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.

My second kit is a much more recent issue, from 2013. It is moulded in a lighter, softer and more fragile plastic and I have to say that the detail looks a lot softer and the fit doesn't seem as good, suggesting some mould wear. A second cockpit, shortened fuselage spine, bigger ventral fin and the taller main fin go to make up the SK changes (along with some minor additional detail.

I didn't use the 3d printed cockpit on this one (you can hardly see it), but did use the 3d printed Saab ejector seats.

Painting was, as expected, not the easiest job. As normal, I hand painted with enamels, using Humbrol H80 (Mid Green), H163 (RAF Green) and H29 (Dark earth) plus Revell 6 for the black. The underside was done in Humbrol 127 (Ghost Grey). A light oil wash of panel lines and a final coat of Acrylic (W&N) Matt varnish completed the paint job. My next 2 Viggens will be grey!!!!!).

Weapons came from a mixture of the kit's own (Sidewinders) and an RBS-15 anti ship missile from an Italeri Gipen kit (with a small modification to the pylons).

Sadly, the decals lived up to all of my dark preconceptions about Heller decals. The colours were misaligned, details were fuzzy, they were very stiff and didn't conform to the kit's surface, and they seemed to be seriously lacking in adhesive to keep them attached after application. If this had been a more recently purchased kit, I would have returned them for replacement, but in my experience, almost without fail, Heller from that period (and Heller-era Airfix) either didn't care, or had little idea of quality control when it came to decals.

Doubly sad, given that their kits are generally good and the design of the decals was good enough. And just to rub salt in the wound, because I only had splinter cammo decals for one kit, I actually dug out some really ancient FROG Vampire decals (pre-1973) to use where I was missing Heller ones. They worked perfectly well!

All in all, despite being quite a tricky build to paint and suffering ultimately the major disappointment of the bad decals, these were 2 satisfying builds.

However, it did show me once again that I am not good at building more than one kit at a time, so I will not be trying that again in a hurry !