1:48 Super Etendard

Super Étendard in 1:48 scale from Kinetic

An injection-molded plastic kit of the French carrier-based attack aircraft Dassault Super Étendard. For this box the manufacturer gives, besides the basic form, the modernized Super Étendard Modernisé as well, together with clear parts, photo-etched parts, external stores and decals for several machines. Check the contents of the package on the box.

The real subject

The Super Étendard was a carrier-based attack aircraft of the French naval air arm, developed from the earlier Étendard IV. It was neither as fast nor as agile as the fighters of its day, but it was small, rugged and able to take off from a short deck with a heavy load. It became best known in the service of the Argentine Navy, which used it to deliver anti-ship missiles in 1982. The French machines went through an upgrade to the Modernisé standard, received a new radar and equipment for precision-guided munitions and served in operations over Afghanistan as well.

Building and painting tips

Decide at the start which version you are building: the basic and the modernized forms differ in details of the nose and in equipment, and the instructions spell this out at the individual steps. Finish the cockpit before closing the fuselage and add the weight before gluing the front section together. Polish the canopy and mask it with liquid mask. The French naval gray and white scheme needs a clean dividing line, so mask it with tape and spray from the lighter tone.

Who the model is for

• modelers of the French naval air arm
• anyone interested in carrier-based attack aircraft of the Cold War
• builders in 1:48 scale who want a rich load of external stores
• collectors of the Étendard family in both generations

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.