Italeri 1/72
Jaguar E

Background

The SEPECAT Jaguar is a twin-engine strike aircraft designed with a wing loading that provides a stable release platform at low-level/high speed flight. This aircraft can carry a sizable weapons load into harms way and get the job done well, as proven by RAF and French Air Force pilots during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

SEPECAT was a joint venture between the UK and French governments to develop a common strike aircraft at a lower overall cost by sharing development costs. The original design was intended to be a counter to the General Dynamics F-111K that was being considered by the RAF in light of the cancellation of the TSR.2 program. In the end, the RAF embraced a simpler solution that would become Jaguar.

As the Jaguar was a single seat combat aircraft, the RAF and French Air Force both required a two-seat conversion and proficiency trainer. Thirty-eight Jaguar trainers were produced for the RAF and another forty for the French.

The Kit

Italeri has released several versions of the 1/72 single-seat Jaguar in the past years, and this is the second time they've addressed the two-seat trainer. The first was with the RAF Jaguar T.2 reviewed here.

This kit is molded in light gray styrene and is presented on two parts trees, plus a single tree containing the clear parts. The detailing is nicely scribed on the wing and fuselage surfaces.

This kit includes a variety of weapons and stores including MAGIC missiles, bombs, rocket pods, a reconnaissance pod, and even the ECM-equipped vertical stab from the single-seat RAF version.

Assembly appears to be straightforward with the most fitting and fiddling where the forward and rear fuselages come together.

Markings are included for three examples:

• Jaguar E, E.C.2/11 'Vosges', Toul, 1986
• Jaguar E, E.C.3/11 'Corse', Toul, 1992
• Jaguar E, E.C.2/7 'Argonne', Toul, 1998

In addition to the distinctive unit and national markings, the decal sheet provides a nice set of maintenance stencils for the airframe.

Conclusion

This aircraft will look nice on your scale flightline. Any of the three distinctive color schemes will look great as something different from the average color schemes. This kit is recommended to builders of all skill levels.

My sincere thanks to Testors and the DLV Company for this review sample!