Eduard 1/48 Saab J-35 Draken Limited Edition Kit No. 1135
Eduard 1/48 Saab J-35 Draken Limited Edition
Kit No. 1135
Eduard 1/48 Saab J-35 Draken Limited Edition
The Saab J-35 Draken (“Dragon”) was one of the most advanced European fighters of the Cold War era. Designed in Sweden during the 1950s as a supersonic interceptor capable of defending against Soviet bombers, the Draken became famous for its radical double-delta wing configuration, exceptional climb rate, and sleek futuristic appearance. The aircraft served with Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Austria well into the 2000s.
Eduard’s Limited Edition release combines the highly respected Hasegawa 1/48 Draken tooling with extensive Eduard upgrades including color photo-etch, resin wheels and ejection seat, masks, and Cartograf decals. The release includes marking options for Swedish, Danish, Austrian, and Finnish aircraft.
Builder & Reviewer Feedback
Builders consistently praise the kit for:
Excellent overall shape accuracy
Fine recessed panel lines
Outstanding surface textures
High-quality Cartograf decals
Excellent resin upgrades
Strong cockpit detail
Excellent Scandinavian camouflage options
Hyperscale praised the kit’s:
“very fine crisp surface textures” and “high level of detail.”
The same review also highlighted:
High-quality photo-etch parts
Resin wheels and ejection seat
Excellent decal printing
Strong Hasegawa base tooling
Eduard’s own release information confirmed the package includes:
Color PE parts
Resin seat and wheels
Tail hook upgrades
Cartograf decals
Painting masks
FineScale Modeler forum builders frequently describe the kit as:
“a lovely kit.”
The same FSM discussion praised:
Excellent intake fit
Clever trailing-edge PE detail
High-quality decals
Strong engineering
Excellent finished appearance
Modelers frequently mention:
Excellent natural metal finish potential
Outstanding Scandinavian camouflage schemes
Very unique shelf presence
Excellent fit compared to many limited editions
Strong compatibility with aftermarket upgrades
Builders also commonly note several challenges:
Intake assembly requires careful fitting
Tail cone may need adjustment
Some inserts require sanding
Complex camouflage masking on some variants
PE trailing edges require patience
FineScale builders specifically warned about:
Intake lip fitting
Tailcone alignment
Gun insert fitting issues
However, most experienced jet modelers strongly recommend the kit because:
The Hasegawa tooling is fundamentally excellent
Eduard upgrades greatly improve the package
The aircraft is visually striking
Few modern Draken kits rival it in 1/48 scale
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate
Features
1/48 scale Saab J-35 Draken
Eduard Limited Edition release
Hasegawa plastic tooling
Color photo-etch included
Resin wheels and ejection seat
Cartograf decals
Painting masks included
Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Austrian markings
Paint Suggestions
Swedish splinter camouflage
Austrian overall gray
Danish natural metal
Finnish green camouflage
Satin operational finish recommended
Heat-stained exhaust weathering
Builders frequently recommend:
Metallic panel variation
Exhaust staining
Hydraulic streaking
Weathered walkways
Subtle panel fading
Chipped maintenance panels
Store Recommendation
One of the definitive 1/48 Draken kits available and an outstanding showcase for Cold War European aviation. Eduard’s upgrades transform the already excellent Hasegawa tooling into a premium package with excellent detail and striking marking options.
