The Aermacchi MB.339 is a vastly improved version of the earlier MB.326 advanced trainer. Starting in the mid 1970s a replacement for the older MB.326 was sought. The requirements were that it retain most of the positive features of the older MB.326, while allowing for improvements over some of the less desirable qualities of the older aircraft. 

What emerged was an aircraft that looked very much like the older version. In fact, the biggest change was in the nose section which was more sharply raked so that the instructor pilot could be seated higher than the student. Most of the rest of the aircraft was very much the same as the earlier version.

The improved MB.339 first flew in 1976 and quickly took over the training duties of the MB.326. These 'extra' airframes were then farmed out to various units to be used as 'hacks' until finally retired in the mid-1990s. The MB.339 was one of the competitors in the JPATS competition for a new USAF/USN trainer. For this, Aermacchi teamed with Lockheed and touted the aircraft as the 'T-bird II'. The competition was won by the Pilatus PC-9 turboprop.

Supermodel's kit of the 339 is actually a pretty new kit, hitting the market in the early 1990s. It comes in one of those end-opening boxes that most of us hate as it gives no where to put your kit while it is being built. Made of the usual light grey plastic, the kit is free from any flash. However, there are a number of sinkholes, some of them which will be nearly impossible to fill without damaging the detail. The biggest ones are on the headrest of the ejector seats. There are others scattered throughout the kit and they are where there is an alignment pin or slot.

A very unusual feature for such a new mold is that most of the detailing is of the raised line variety. Quite odd in a new kit, though keeping with the rest of the Supermodel line. Kit options are open or closed speedbrake, open or closed canopy and two types of wing tip tanks. The underwing stores include fuel tanks and rocket pods. The location for the underwing pylons are raised locator lines; the parts being butt fitted. In fact this is true of the tip tanks as well despite there being a slot in the tanks.

The landing gear have the wheels molded as part of the gear, either for strength or simplicity of  molding. It is obvious from the way the two sprues are set up that the wings, gear and underwing stores are common to both this and the MB.326 kits. The cockpits are well appointed with seats and sticks. The instruments and consoles are provided with a decal, which is satisfactory for kits in this scale.

The instruction sheet is an eight page foldout with the usual history and warnings. One side of it shows the construction sequence and parts layout with a couple of photos to aid in construction. The other side is the history and decal/color chart. Four aircraft are featured on the sheet, which is matte and slightly off register. I also believe the blue is a bit questionable. The four options are: one with the Scuola Volo Basico Iniziale Aviogetti or SV for short in the early camo scheme. Next is one with 61 Brigata Aerea in the new grey. An Argentine Navy version is next and finally a demonstrator for the JPATS competition in an experimental grey scheme rounds out the selection.

Overall, it does not look like a difficult kit to build. I am slightly disappointed by it not having engraved panel lines and the sink marks, but it should not detract too much from the overall product.

Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet! 

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