FreMs Model 1/48 Aermacchi MB339A PAN

By Tom Cleaver

The Airplane

The Aermacchi MB339A was designed as the replacement for the MB326 trainer first introduced in the 1960s and at the time the most successful Italian post-war jet design. The MB339A was one of the triumvirates of European jet trainers with secondary strike capability designed during this period, the others being the British Hawk and the Franco-German Alpha Jet. The Italians bring a certain aesthetic flair to the design of fast cars and fast airplanes, and the MB339 is no exception, likely being the best looking of this trainer threesome. The MB339A entered service with the Italian Air Force in 1980, and also serves with the Spanish Air Force.

In 1982, the Italian national aerobatic air display team, the "Frecce Tricolori," adopted a version of the airplane known as the MB339A-P.A.N., which differs from the standard version in that the wing tip tanks have been removed, and two underwing tanks substituted for the smoke system. The ten airplanes of the team provide a stirring display, fully the equal of the Patrouille de France or the Red Arrows.

The Kit (Click on thumbnails for full-size image)

I must admit this one surprised me. FREMS is a new Italian model-maker, which plans to make other models of contemporary Italian aircraft, including the SIAI S.211, the F-104S and the Tornado, all in 1/48 scale. If the quality of this first release is exemplary of what the company is committed, the F-104S and Tornado could turn out to be the best models of their types released in this scale.

The kit comes on two sprues of dark gray plastic, and is very clean and sharp in its moldings. The wings and fuselage parts have that slightly "pebbly" texture associated with the Occidental Spitfire IX and the Mirage PZL P.37B "Los," which is some sort of new plastic molding. In the case of this kit, it does not appear so heavy as to require more than a light sanding-down. Nose weights are not provided, and will be needed if the model is to sit on all three landing gear.

Panel lines are deeply engraved and tend toward "heavy," but this should look fine under a couple coats of paint. The flaps are molded separate and can be displayed in the down position. The blown canopy is very clear and should look excellent under a coat of Future. The cockpit is fully detailed and will look very acceptable under this big clear bubble.

The decals look to be by Tauro, and appear thick enough to be opaque when placed over the blue upper surfaces of the Frecce Tricolori airplanes. The decal sheet provides all the color markings, all team numbers, serial numbers, pilots names, etc., that can enable the enterprising modeler to do any one of the team, if not the entire team if so desired. At an MSRP of US$39.95, that might be a somewhat daunting project.

Conclusions

This is an excellent new model from a company that clearly has put in its research. Modelers can likely expect the regular MB339A to be released, which provides a plethora of interesting markings. Those modelers interested in doing other versions of this airplane should be sure to pick up the Scale Aviation Modeling International issue with Richard Caruna's four pages of color profiles on this type. I am not normally a modern jet modeler, but I am sure this one will appear on my shelves.

So far as modeling skill, assembling the kit looks no more difficult than any Tamiya "shake 'n' bake," though getting the large color panels down right may require previous advanced decaling experience.

The FREMS Aermacchi MB339A P.A.N. is distributed by Precision Parts and should be available in hobby shops soon.