Super Etendard

Kinetic, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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The Super Etendard is an interesting aircraft with its fundamental design being an advanced development of the original Etendard IVM naval aircraft.

The Super Etendard is a single engined, mid wing aircraft of all metal structure. Both the wings and tailplane are swept, with the folding main wings having a sweep back of about 45 degrees. The main weapon of the Super Etendard was the French anti-shipping missile, the Aerospatiale AM-39 Exocet.

The Super Etendard first flew in October 1974 and entered French service in June 1978. French Super Etendards have served in several conflicts such as the Kosovo War, the War in Afghanistan and the military intervention in Libya.

The Super Etendard was also operated by Argentina and Iraq, who both deployed the aircraft during wartime.  The aircraft was used by Iraq to attack oil tankers and merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war. Argentina used the Super Etendard and the Exocet missile during the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War.

The Super Etendard Modernise (SEM) flew strike missions in Operation Enduring Freedom.  Mission Heracles saw the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its Super Etendards in Afghanistan.

This new 1/48 scale release from Kinetic has been expected for some time now and is a worthy replacement for the aged Airfix/Heller Super Etendard kit first released some 20 years ago.

The surface detail is fine and restrained and represents the panel lines of the Super Etendard that I have viewed in walk-around photographs without being overdone and trench like.

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The kit contains approximately 260 light grey injection moulded parts, 14 clear parts and 5 photo-etched metal parts. The fuselage is basically two one-piece halves to which is added the wings and intakes. The intakes are well done having full intake ducting back to the engine compressor face, a big plus.

The cockpit has sufficient detail with alternate instrument panels being provided A Martin Baker Mk4 ejection seat is provided with alternate ejection seat handles.

The cockpit is made up from 17 parts with adequate detail not to need a replacement aftermarket resin set. A resin Mk.4 seat would be a sufficient update which is typical of most kits as it is difficult to capture all the intricate detail in kit plastic.

Separate speed brakes are to be greatly applauded as most of the time when a Super Etendard is on the ground the speed brakes are open. This includes detailed air brake bays that are fitted as an insert into the fuselage.

The canopy is supplied in two parts and may be posed open or closed. The transparencies look great and are crystal clear; most importantly they are the correct shape.

The wheel wells look good with all the prevalent rib and structure detail that is evident in the wheel well. The nose wheel well detail looks great as does the undercarriage legs and doors. The wheels are typical of Kinetic construction having separate hubs that are sandwiched between the tyre halves making them easy to paint without masking.

Kinetic also provides separate flaps and slats along with actuator covers for either streamlined or drooped. The outer wing panels are also separate allowing for them to be displayed in the folded or extended configuration. Etched metal wing spoilers are also provided for accuracy.

To cater for the various configurations of the fin, Kinetic have engineered a series of drop in parts to allow all versions to be built. The only kit surgery required is the removal of a small spike antenna on the leading edge of the fin for the IIIO and IIIEA versions.

The tailplanes may also be fitted in the drooped position to cater for parked, take-off and landing, and in flight positions.

The stores supplied for this kit is extensive with the following supplied:

• Matra 550 Air to Air Missiles with pylon

• Exocet Anti-Shipping Missile

• RP1 595L wing fuel tank

• RP-23 wing fuel tank

• RP-24 600L fuselage fuel tank

• In-flight refuel pod

• Barracuda 2 jammer

• Phimat Chaff dispenser

The Matra 550 air to air missiles make up from multiple parts and look to be very accurate as does the Exocet Missile.

Crossdelta has released a canopy masking set for the model already, which is also available online from Lucky Model.

Markings

There are 5 schemes provided by Kinetic for this kit with the decals printed by Cartograf and the decals designed by Crossdelta Decals.

The markings supplied are as follows:

• Super Etendard, Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation) Flotille 11, 14 and 17 in the 1980s. This aircraft is finished in Dark Sea Grey CSI CREOS 331 upper surface and Satin White CSI CREOS 316 lower surfaces.

• Super Etendard Modernise, Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation) Flotille 11 and 17 deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. This aircraft is finished in overall Grey CSI CREOS 307/FS36320.

• Super Etendard Modernise, Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation) Flotille 11 and 17 deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. These aircraft are finished in overall camouflage of Grey CSI CREOS 305/FS36118 and Grey CSI CREOS 337/FS35237.

• Super Etendard, Comando de Aviacion (Argentine Naval Aviation) in the 1980s. This aircraft is finished in Dark Sea Grey CSI CREOS 331 upper surface and Satin White CSI CREOS 316 lower surfaces.  The elevators, rudder and fin top was painted in large White CSI CREOS 316 and Sky Blue CSI CREOS C34.

• Super Etendard of the Iraqi Air Force 1983-1985. This aircraft is finished in Dark Sea Grey CSI CREOS 331 upper surface and Satin White CSI CREOS 316 lower surfaces.

This is a superb kit of the Super Etendard and a vast improvement over the old Airfix/Heller kit with very little that I can criticise with the actual kit.

I cannot wait to build this kit and see how it assembles but it looks a breeze. Big kudos to Kinetic for this excellent kit.

Thanks to Lucky Model for the samples

Review Text Copyright © 2016 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
Page Created 15 February, 2016
Last updated 16 February, 2016

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