es-3a electronic viking in 1/48

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

greetings all: I have been doing some research while deployed in Iraq. An came across a very interesting subject the electronic warfare version of the viking, I think amt/ertl did one a few years ago, is the there still a kit being produced or a conversion for a s-3a viking.

armyrn

2

I just bought the 1/48 AMT/Ertl ES-3A Shadow yesterday at my local hobby shop. Lots of good reviews around the net about it, and it seems to be a pretty solid kit. I have also heard that Italeri has boxed some of the S-3 kits, although I beleive that AMT is still the only source for the electronic warfare variant (Shadow). The kit is near impossible to find at an online retailer…and I was darned suprised to find one in my local shop. I don’t think I’d take my chances with ebay, but that may be the only option until it’s (ever) re-released.

Andy

3

thanks, any chance there is anymore, my only hope is to wait for re-release, my schedule end of duty here in Iraq is next year. thanks for the answer

armyrn

4

I picked one up at a swap last year I think for about ten bucks. I also purchased an aftermarket cockpit for it. Too bad the window tint is so dark. The decals I plan to sue are the ‘Mission Accomplished’ 'cals with W at the controls.

5

A dip in Future will add more clarity to the tinted windscreen, if I recall correctly. I built the kit back in the mid-90s.

6

Its not the clarity of the w/s, its how dark the tint is. The tint is almost black.

7

The kits that are oldest have far less tint to the canopies. The newest ones are so dark that nothing is visible through them. My oldest is an ESCI boxing and the canopy in it is far better.

8

Squadron has a clear vacuum-formed replacement canopy available. Check their website.

Mark

9

I believe Bush flew in a S-3B, not a ES-3A. Saw a picture of it the other day. The airframe was actually retired shortly after his flight and is now on display someplace - can’t remember where right now

Mark

10

I have a feeling you’ll be waiting a while to see a reissue of the ES-3A, but if it does happen, I suspect Italeri will be the ones to do it. They seemed to get quite a few of the molds when AMT/Ertl stopped making aircraft models.

I think something like ridiculous prices and bidding on e-bay will be the sort of thing that could make it reissued.

Unfortunately, the S-3 family are sort of like the E-2 Hawkeye, they are work horses that get little glory so unlike a Tomcat or Hornet there’s no guarantee that everyone will go nuts for a kit of one if its put out on the market. Thats why S-3 kits are few and far between and we are STILL waiting for a definitive styrene kit of an E-2.[:(!]

11

I got a ES-3A from Hasegawa a my local hobby store a few months ago. It’s a really nice kit, but i’m not very good at building them.

12

Thanks for the discuss, the census is keep looking and checking your local hobbyshops or swap meets. This a project that will have to wait untill I get home from Iraq next year. If somebody has an extra kit please let me know at bruce.wheeler1@us.army.mil thanks again.

armyrn

13

After reading all your posts, I am tempted to make one…let me see, I have plans of the Viking somewhere…The Italians used it a lot. I saw a beauty last year in their Air Force museum in Vigna di Valle, very near Rome…[dinner]