Military Model Scene

Title: Saab 37 Viggen
Author: Mikael Forslund
Publisher: MMP
ISBN: 978-83-66549-72-2

New in their Yellow Series, a very detailed look at this famous Swedish warplane. A 208-page soft-cover book.
After an introduction which does a fine job of setting the scene for what turned out to be the Swedish Air Force choice to follow on from their Draken with a desire for a new multi-role combat aircraft. Some foreign designs were considered but in the end they went for the new Swedish design for the Saab 37 Viggen. In the same way the Draken was a distinctive design, so too was the Viggen, with the forward canard wings for this novel design. It is followed up with no less than 19 chapters, covering all we might ask for describing the development, testing and service of the different variants of the aircraft. These include the basic fighter as well as bomber, reconnaissance, maritime reconnaissance plus two-seat trainers. The chapters take us through each of the different variants, along with engine choice, trials, crashes & pilots, simulators, colours & markings and more. Spread throughout the book there are 41 pages of colour artwork illustrating a wide assortment of colours and marking, including not just the characteristic splinter camouflage but greys and more colourful examples as well. Added to these there are also many pages with 1/72 line drawings. so lots for modellers to like. Add lots of archive photos, most in colour, diagrams for original manuals, walk rounds of preserved examples and detailed cockpit views/diagrams this is a great reference.
Looking at this now I find it hard to believe the Viggen was retired from service as far back as 2005, with just 2 kept flying by the Swedish historic aircraft flight. I will mention that one of the museum examples included in the table listing preserved airframes, there is the one here in the UK as the Newark Air Museum so you get to to see one close up. As a modeller and an aircraft enthusiast I loved this book, as the Viggen is still such a distinctive shape.
Thanks to Casemate UK, distributors for MMP, for the review copy.

Robin