Saab came because of Swedish air force needs end nineteen-thirties with a pusher prop fighter, the J-21. It had its canon armament in the nose, enabling a clean shot. In 1941 the air force wanted the aircraft but where to get engines as Sweden was neutral in the Second World War. German engines were formally purchased for license building but the first engine made in Sweden wasn't delivered until after the war. Aircraft production began but about 300 J-21 aircraft were delivered. Its armament consisted of one 20mm cannon (in the nose, slightly off center) and four 13mm machine guns. Two of the guns are fitted in wing pods. There were, like also for the similar looking Fokker D-XXIII, engine cooling problems. Also, as a fighter the performance was not optimal so quickly it was used as ground-attack aircraft. The J21A-3 was a version capable of carrying a 700 kg bomb load or 8 rockets. The type was used until 1949.
The J-21 was also after the war converted to built a first Swedish jet aircraft, the J-21R.
Saab J-21A (prop)
Aircraft J-21A (cn 21364) at the Flygvapen (Swedish AF) Museum, Linkoping, Sweden. Seen August 2012.
Photographed by Peter Booij ,(C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Heller has a 1/72 model but the Special Hobby kit now is much more detailed.