AJ-Savage-72scale-03-Wing-Engine-Right

The North American AJ Savage was the first naval combat aircraft designed to carry an atomic bomb and for a time was the world's largest carrier based aircraft.  The first production AJ-1 flew in May 1949, with deliveries to US Navy squadron VC-5 beginning in September 1949.  The first carrier landings were performed aboard USS Constellation in August 1950.  The photo-reconnaissance AJ-2P, equipped with 18 cameras for day and night photography at high and low altitudes, photo-flash bombs in the weapons bay, and a remodeled nose, with a prominent "chin" to accommodate a forward-looking oblique camera first flew on 6 March 1952.

This 1/72 scale model of the AJ-2P contains 27 parts and was designed to give the builder multiple options for display.  Two sets of landing gear are provided, one with the gear doors up, and one with the gear doors down.  Gear doors are also provided so the model may be displayed in-flight with gears up.   The airframe includes a detailed cabin interior and the canopy is printed in clear plastic.  The wingtips and vertical stabilizer are separate parts and are designed to be installed in the folded position.  The connecting tabs can easily be removed for displaying them deployed.  Similarly, the cabin access door is designed to be installed in the open position, but the tabs may be removed for displaying it closed.  The bomb bay doors may be displayed open or closed and (although not carried by the AJ-2P) a Mark IV atomic bomb and two AN-M66 2,000 pound bombs are included in the kit, along with somewhat crude parts for attaching them inside the airframe.  A parts list and a parts diagram are available.  A file containing decals for several AJ-2P’s found on the Wings Palette website is available upon request.