1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) P7 - the Swedish Lysander

[Dizzyfugu]

A spontaneous build - had the real P7 project on the radar for some time, but when I stumbled upon the obscure aircraft while doing paint scheme research, I decided to tackle it and add another weirdo creation to my growing Swedish whifs collection.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
The S 13A was a reconnaissance aircraft that entered the Swedish armed forces in 1940, and it was only built and operated in a very limited number - actually only a pre-production batch of 20 aircraft. Originally, the aircraft was known as the "P7", and it was to be the only design of AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF for short) that entered the hardware stage before the company was integrated into Saab again.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


AFF had been formed in 1937 by ASJA and Saab as a measure to push the Swedish aircraft industry forward, in a complicated historical period with looming war in Europe, a tense, competitive situation in the domestic aircraft/military industry and Sweden's pursuit of neutrality. AFF was more or less a joint venture in defense against the Bofors group, and the design bureau not only consisted of Swedish engineers but also a considerable number of American technicians.

One of AFF's first designs was the P7 in response to a competition in 1938 for a new Army and Naval reconnaissance aircraft. Good visibility for both pilot and observer was an important factor for the military, so that a high-winged layout was chosen. The mission envelope included tactical reconnaissance and artillery reconnaissance capability – photographic reconnaissance and observation of artillery fire in daylight – up to about 15,000 yards (14 km) behind the enemy front. The top speed had to be at least 400 km/h (250 mph), the aircraft was to operate from short, unprepared airfields and the engine had to be a domestic design - or at least a licensed product, in order to ensure Sweden's independence from other countries as suppliers.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The resulting aircraft resembled the British Westland Lysander a lot, with high wings of a high aspect ratio The wings had a reverse taper towards the root, which gave the impression of a bent gull wing from some angles, although the spars were straight. It had a girder type construction faired with a light wood stringers to give the aerodynamic shape. The wing itself was fabric covered, and with its thickness maximized at the lift strut anchorage location,

Unlike the Lysander, the complete fuselage was duralumin tube joined with brackets and plates, which were cut from channel extrusions rather than forming from sheet steel. The front spar and lift struts were extrusions, too. The complete tail was fabric-less, too.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Unlike the Lysander, with its spatted, fixed landing gear, the P7 had a fully retractable landing gear - a kind of desperate measure to improve aerodynamic somewhat and achieve the 400 km/h goal. The tail wheel retracted forward into the rear fuselage, while the main wheels retracted inwards into thick stub wings, which also carried a single stabilizer strut each supporting the high and slender wings.

The crew of two sat under a well-glazed greenhouse canopy, separated by the internal wing support structure. The pilot enjoyed very good view over the short nose cowling for the license-built Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engine, while the observer faced rearwards and had good side view. Armament consisted of a single, fixed 0.303" (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in the outer starboard stub wing. Another machine gun was available for the observer on a manual mount for rear defense. Under the fuselage a single hardpoint could take bombs of up to 500 lb caliber (227 kg), or a 250l drop tank.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The P7 was developed in a hurry, since the political situation worsened day by day, and the first prototype made its maiden flight in May 1939. As already suggested by wind tunnel tests, the stub wing configuration was almost as draggy as the Lysander's fixed, spatted landing gear, and the extra weight for the retraction mechanisms was also not in favor of the P7's performance. Despite the stronger engine and a better aerodynamic quality than the Lysander, the P7 would hardly become faster than 380 km/h (236 mph) in level flight.  The initial flights also revealed serious stability and airflow problems around the stabilizers, induced by the stub wings, and these issues  had to be cured before the P7 could enter military service.

In the meantime, the original service profile for the aircraft had been changed to include a light bomber role - a task that was out of the P7's scope. Anyway, the Swedish army direly needed a modern reconnaissance aircraft. There had been high hopes for the Dornier Do 215 from Germany, but the outbreak of WWII prevented any exports and Sweden was left with no modern recce type in its arsenal.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


As a consequence, the P7 was - after changes to the aircraft's tail section with a taller fin and a higher position of the stabilizers - an initial batch of 20 aircraft was ordered in late 1939. In service, the AFF P7 became known as S 13A; the designation had formerly been reserved for the Fokker G.I, but that type never entered Swedish service after the German inavion of the Netherlands. Anyway, despite the type's production, the P7 had only little hope for a prolonged production, since modern fighters and bombers now had top priority and its performance was mediocre, at best. Another lethal blow for the company in general and the P7 in specific came in March 1940, when AFF's American staff was ordered back to the United States and left the company so crippled that business had to be shut down. The firm was later re-integrated into Saab, but production of the P7 or any further development was never resumed.

Eventually, the P7's competitor, the Saab 17 dive bomber/recce aircraft entered serial production and took the P7's aspired place in the Swedish Air Force's arsenal. The few S 13s in service mostly served in observation and recce roles, or were used for liaison duties and target tugging, and the war survivors remained in service until the late Forties when all remaining airframes were scrapped.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



General characteristics:
    Crew: two (Pilot and observer or passenger)
    Length: 30 ft 5 in (9.27 m)
    Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
    Height: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
    Wing area: 260 ft² (24.2 m²)
    Empty weight: 4,365 lb (1,984 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 6,330 lb (2,877 kg)

Powerplant:
    1× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G Twin Wasp 14 cylinder radial engine
         with 1,050 hp (780 kW), driving a three blade metal propeller

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 236 mph (210 knots, 380 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
    Range: 600 miles (522 nmi, 966 km)
    Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,550 m)
    Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 8 min
    Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 305 yards (279 m)

Armament:
    One fixed 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in the starboard stub wing outside of the
    propeller arc, firing forward, plus another, moveable Browning machine gun for the observer
    A single hardpoint under the fuselage for 500 lb (227 kg) of bombs or a 250 l drop tank



The kit and its assembly:
Despite the weird looks the AFF P7 isactually a real Swedish aircraft project from early WWII - but it never entered any hardware stage and it's also one of those funky designs between the World Wars that took both old and modern design details and mixed them into something ...strange!

The only visual referrence for the P7 I know is a drawing by C. G. Ahrenmark which pops up everywhere in literature and in the WWW when the obscure P7 is mentioned:



It shows an aircraft that resembles a Westland Lysander a lot in general layout and outlines, but with a different tail surface shapes and low stub wings instead of the Lysander's large, spatted landing gear - and into these the landing gear could be fully retracted, inlcusing the tail wheel. Even the wing planform looks very Lysander-esque, even though there are only single stabilizer struts. I copuld not find information concerning the engine - but I assume that the P&W R-1830 was a serious option, since it was used in other Swedish contemporary designs like the Saab 17 and later in the FFVS 22, too.

So, it's no wonder to start with a Westland Lysander as a conversion basis - in my case, it's the Matchbox kit, even though in Revell's "Vintage Kit" re-boxing.

Anyway, only the fuselage, wings, propeller and interior was used, and several donor parts added in order to come closer to the P7's illustration:
- Rear fuselage and fin from a P-47 (actually from an MPM kit)
- Stabilizers from a Heller Curtiss SBC Helldiver
- A Twin Wasp engine, left over from a Matchbox PB4Y-2 Privateer
- Wing tips from a VEB Plasticart 1:100 An-24 as stub wings

The propeller is from the Matchbox Lysander, but with a new, stout spinner. On the rear fuselage, the fabric-covered, tubular structure was hidden under a coat of putty. The flaps were lowered for a less static appearance, and the whole Lysander tail chopped off and replaced by the Thunderbolt fin and tail section. While the change is subtle, I think the different fin shape changes the overall look of the Lysander a lot - somehow the profile reminds me now of a DHC Beaver or a Noorduyn Norseman?


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The landing gear is a mix of Spitfire struts and wheels (Airfix) and covers from a Hawker Tempest (Matchbox), IIRC, with lots of improvisation. For example, the wells had to be drilled out of the massive and brittle VEB Plasticart material. Looks a bit shaggy if you look directly into them, but when the model rests on the ground, noone will ever tell...


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
Well, this was a bit experimental. I wanted to add another unique Swedish Air Force aircraft to my growing collection, and a simple olive green/blue grey livery would certainly have been the more conservative option. But there were exceptions in the P7's time frame, had the aircraft entered service around 1939. One of these was the J 9 fighter, how the Severski P-35A was called in Swedish service. These American machines were delivered in NMF, but locally received a rather special camouflage: a zinc chromate yellow overall base coat with olive green streaks and mottles applied on top, so that the primer would still show through - reminding a bit of Italian aircraft camouflage (e. g. the Fiat CR.42, which was flown in Sweden, too, and basically retained its original Italian paint scheme). The undersides were standard blue grey.

To make things even more exciting I decided to add temporary winter camouflage on top of the basic scheme - inspired by a picture of J 9s in wintertime and the fact that there was an official pattern catalogue for tactical whitewash application. The creative patterns would leave the original camouflage partly visible and create dark shapes on the white surroundings, including shapes that look like small rivers or paths, and even bushes and leafless trees were part of the styles!

At first, the kit received a basis of uniform Humbrol 225 (Mid Stone), which is very yellow-ish and darker than true inc chromate yellow (Humbrol 81). The latter was added for some post-shading, though.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Once dry, I created the blurred, green pattern through thinned acrylic paints. A first layer was done with a mix of Revell 16 and 65 (Sand and Bronze Green, respectively), and on top of that - once dry - another layer with pure 65.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Then the decals were applied, puzzled together from various sources. Around these, the whitewash winter camouflage was added - again with acrylic paint, but this time with a more viscous artist paint: titanium white, with a bit of grey and beige added, and applied with a relatively small brush for visible streaks and a hand-made, provisional impression.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


After some soot stains (with Tamiya's Smoke) and a few pencil-painted panel lines, the kit received a final coat of matt acrylic varnish.



Finally, a model of a rather obscure Swedish aircraft. Except for the landing gear (which is not exactly like the benchmark drawing, a compromise through the parts at hand) I am quite happy with the result, and the paint scheme with the added whitewash on top really makes the P7 model different.


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 AB Förenade Flygverkstäder (AFF) S 13A; aircraft "12" of the F 4 Kungliga Jämtlands Flygflottilj's 1st Division; Frösön Air Base, Östersund, Sweden; December 1940 (Whif/modified Matchbox kit) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

Really interesting build Dizzy 

I could see her in Red Stars as well

[PR19_Kit]

Amazing build Thomas. 

I've never heard of the P7 before and it does look remarkably like a Lysander.

[zenrat]

Thats nice Dizz, good job.

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you very much. It's really an obscure topic, but one with roots in reality. One of those interesting Swedish aircraft that never made if off of the drawing board, and the deeper you dig into that topic, the more interesting whif projects you find, like the J 19 fighter which looks like a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" (already built, but might soon re-surface again on my workbench with a personal twist).

[Snowtrooper]

That T-Bolt tail and Helldiver tailplanes are cleverly hidden, I would thought that they too were from a Lysander (just extended)! Which is course the mark of a succesful whiff And the "hand made" paintjob is simply lovely.

Already expecting the next Swedish project aircraft to materialize from your production line!

[Gondor]

Very nice 

Gondor

[CSMO]

Out-freaking-standing!!!

That model is testimony to what can be accomplished with basic modeling skills and imagination.

Rock on, brother!

Adios, Larry.

[Thorvic]

Excellent work Dizzy nice build of a rare and unusual project. 

[TheChronicOne]

Hey cool!!  Some interesting patterns on there. Looks great!!

[comrade harps]

Bril and inspirational! 

[Tophe]

Great mix, congratulations!

[Dizzyfugu]

Again, thank you very much - glad you like it! 

[DogfighterZen]

Not my type of plane but the paint job on that thing makes it very interesting indeed, great work as always!