Moose Republic 48031 1/48 J.35 Draken

Still appearing as lethal and modern as it did when it first flew in 1955, the double-delta Draken guarded Swedish skies for decades. This highly unique aircraft was the cutting edge of military aviation at the time, possessing speed exceeding Mach 2 and remarkable maneuverability.

Hasegawa has blessed modelers with sufficiently modern Draken kits that have been well-received and generally available over the years. What seems to be hard to find, in 2024 at least, is a good aftermarket decal set for the Draken, particularly in Swedish service. Moose Republic released this sheet a few years ago, but it was nowhere to be found for some time. That is until the Aviation Megastore started selling them again, so get it while you can if you love Swedish deltas.

There’s no Draken decal sheet that comes close to being as comprehensive for jets in Swedish service. The sheet contains fifteen total options, five and ten for the F1 and F2 versions respectively. For those who are interested in building something other than the (admittedly great) Hasegawa box options, this is the sheet to get. Many will be drawn to the red “ghost” badge tail scheme, but there are many with other decorative badges and unique markings. These are all immaculately printed. Moose Republic’s instruction sheet also provides a great level of detail for correct painting and markings for each aircraft—clearly they have put much research into this offering.

This sheet is a must-have for jet modelers, particularly those interested in Cold War Europe.

Hans Gertje

September 2024

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