I have built models for just over a year now, and have been restricting myself to Swedish AF aircraft in 1/72. Since I've decided to widen my horizon, and since I needed a soft transition, I've started this build of a Saab B17A that was sold from Sweden to Ethiopia.



The build is part of the "Siya Africa" campaign here on Armorama. I want the aircraft to be all shiny and polished, since I'm planning a diorama portraying Emperor Haile Selassie's inspection round upon delivery from Sweden in November 1947.



I'm not sure that I'll finish the diorama in time for the campaign, but the plane should be finished within the next couple of days.



Cheers!

Looks good......
Keep up the good work....

PolarBear,
You've been building models for only one year?

I've been back to building models for almost one year myself. After looking at the planes you've built, I think I may have to be put in the "special education" classes. You're either much better at learning techniques than me or I've been skipping class too often.

BTW, I love the finish on that Saab.

Hi Björn!

Great job so far! I like the roundels over the bare metal finish... looks very... exotic! I also would love to see the dio you mentioned! Good luck finding the figures... :-)

Jean-Luc

Nice and claver subject. Looks realy good either. Just one question. Are you positively sure that it must be NMF? Th birds on the photo looks pretty matt and dull for bare metal. Is there any possibility for them to be grey or some sort of light color?

Thanks guys!

Jean-Luc - I agree! Having built nothing but SwAF before, this is highly exotic! The Ethiopians had some other pretty cool aircraft! How about these inspiring pictures!? Who knows, maybe I will build more IEAF aircraft in the future!

JollyRoger - I'm positive that they where NMF! Quite shiny at times!
These pictures are from the book "Swedish Wings over Ethiopia" by Jan Wärnberg (sorry about the poor picture quality):







Cheers!

Acknowlaged HQ. Thanks.

Here is my finished IEAF Saab B 17 (One campaign down, five to go! )



This is one of the first Saab B 17A light bombers (albeit used as an allround aircraft) that were delivered from Sweden to Ethiopia in 1947. This delivery signified the creation of the modern Imperial Ethiopian Air Force. The day these aircraft were inspected in Bishufto by the Emporor Haile Selassie, i.e. the 13th of November 1947, is considered as the birthday of the IEAF.



A total number of 46 aircraft were delivered. The B 17 was performing well in the Ethiopian conditions, and was used for more than 25 years.



In addition to the aircraft, the Swedes helped to build up the organisation, train the pilots etc. There were more than 70 Swedes in different functions. The Commender-in-chief of the IEAF was - of course - the Emperor, but under him Swedish officers were in charge of the airforce. This close cooperation continued in to the 1960's.



The kit is the Marivox Saab 17 in 1/72, OOB and painted with Alclad II. As I've indicated above, I wanted it to be all polished and shiny since I am going to build a diorama portraying an Imperial inspection by Haile Selassie and General Christian Nilsson in November 1947. I'll post some pictures of the finished diorama in the future!

Cheers!

excellent work for a single year of experience! And you can actually finish a model - something i can't really claim consistantly after 15+years of modelling!!!

do you have any pictures of your swedish airforce completely assembled in one place?

Vanize wrote:


I didn't, but I thought it was a good idea to take a group photo! I just realized that I have built a dozen models!! Unfortunately my S 31 Spitfire Mk. Pr.XIX (# 4) had an accident and is no more...


I will try to take some better shots later!


Please note that no less than 9 of the 12 have been built in Armorama campaigns!
# 1, 2 and 3 - Swedish Steel
# 5 - Double take
# 7 - Air over the Sea
# 8 - Two wings and a Prayer
# 10 - Medics (didn't meet the deadline, though)
# 11 - Show your teeth
# 12 - SiyaAfrica

Cheers!

Polarbear, is the Drakken Revell? I've started it a while ago but the fitting was so horrible, I delayed it.

JollyRoger wrote:


No. It is the most excellent Hasegawa kit of Draken. Highly recommended. Being used to Airfix (see the Vampire, Mustang, Mosquito and Bulldog) and similar brands, this was a dream!

Out of the kits available for Draken, Revell is supposed to be the worst.

Cheers!

Ps. Here's another pic of the collection!