This
is the Esci Aermacchi MB-326K in its Impala MkII version as used by the South
African Air Force (SAAF). The Impala MkII was a single seat development of the
two seat MB-326 trainer aircraft produced by Aermacchi. The Impala MkII (and its
two seat counterpart, the MkI) were produced under licence in South Africa
by the then Atlas Aviation. Approximately 100 MkIIs were produced to provide
the South African Air Force (SAAF) with a light strike aircraft. These aircraft
saw extensive combat operations in the “bush” war on the border of
Namibia
(South West Africa) and
Angola
in the 70’s and 80’s. One of the most famous stories is of a flight of
Impalas ambushing several Angolan Air Force Mi-17 and Mi-25 helicopters on two
occasions, in the process scoring 6 kills (http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_193.shtml
and http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_183.shtml
).
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
Impala MkII has now been retired from SAAF service and replaced by the
Hawk LIFT. I decided to model an aircraft in the final colour scheme used
by the SAAF (as represented in the beautiful book Soaring with Eagles).
The Impala MkIIs received an upgrade during the bush war to provide
improved defence against SAMs – this consisted of an RWR system with
prominent antennae on each wingtip fuel tank’s leading and trailing edge
as well as beneath the nose. The aircraft was also fitted with chaff /
flare dispenser pods beneath each wing just aft of the main landing gear
wells. These were scratch built and added to the basic Esci kit. The Esci
kit is actually a peach with finely recessed panel lines and a reasonable
level of detail. The kit seat was modified through the addition of seat
belts (using Tamiya tape) and other details. Assembly of the kit posed no
problems, the fit being rather good. Weapons choice was a combination of
fuel tanks, Mk-82 bombs and 6 shot Matra rocket pods. The kit rocket pods
are of the larger 18 shot type which weren’t used on the Impala. Luckily, someone on the SA IMPS website provided the solution – the kit
gun pods were used as the body of the rocket pod and the front section of
each 18 shot rocket pod was cut off and attached thereby providing a neat
solution for a 6 shot rocket pod. Mk 82 bombs were found in the spares
box.
Painting
was done as follows – underside 50% Model Master Intermediate Blue
FS35164 and 50% Tamiya X2 white. Upper camouflage was a combination of
brown (XtraColour X-224 RLM79 + spot X-18 black) and Green (XtraColour
X-113 faded OD over sprayed with X-116 FS14102). SAAF decals are provided
in the kit but these were old and cracked up when put in water. No
alternative but to make my own – and thus I embarked on a long, tedious
and frustrating (but ultimately satisfying) journey of discovery. Using a
sample aircraft at the SAAF museum in Pretoria
and another at the
Johannesburg
war museum, I managed to get accurate details of all markings and
stenciling of late scheme aircraft. These were replicated and brought to
scale using CorelDraw. Printing was done using a Canon inkjet printer onto
Experts-Choice clear decal film. The printed decals were then varnished
with Testors gloss varnish to protect the ink from running. This worked
well and each decal was applied with Micro Set and Sol. A light dusting of
semi-gloss varnish was applied followed by weathering with dark grey
pastels. A final coat of mat varnish was applied. This is a beautiful
little aircraft which packed a mean punch. It will be truly missed –
apparently a number of MkI’s have been bought by enthusiasts in the USA
and the Brazilian Air Force to supplement their ageing force.
Malcolm
Click on
images below to see larger images
|