The release of Blue Wolves decal sheet has prompted me to dig out my AMT S3A kit and do the George Bush carrier landing example. I could have sworn there was mention of this in FSM regarding the conversion kit available, but for the life of me I’ve not been able to find it back. Is there a kit available or did I just imagine this?
Thanks
Steve
historian63,
Italeri just released an S-3A/B 1/48 kit (it builds an A or a B model). The kit number is 2623, and it cost me about $25 here in Indy. Maybe you can find it a little cheaper on-line (but, of course, there are the shipping charges that you’d have to add in). The conversion kit would probably cost you as much as the Italeri kit anyway. I HAD to buy the kit because I bought the George Bush decals about a week before. Of course, that kind of logic makes no sense to my wife…
That kit is also my current project. I did a pretty extensive search for aftermarket stuff available for the S-3, and I don’t recall an A->B conversion kit. Could be wrong, though. So far, there’s cockpit masks, an Eduard P/E detail set, a Black Box cockpit, Aeroclub metal undercarriage, and plenty of decals around. The Paragon wingfolds have been out of production for a while. Be wary of ordering these over eBay. I did, and then heard that they might actually not be genuine parts (ie, poorer quality homemade copies) but that’s another post for another day.
Thanks for the info guys.
Gary, compared to the AMT kit, how was the Italeri kit? I found the AMT Kit not too shabby.
Oh…and my wife stopped questioning the logic of why I puchase what and when. I show it to her, she wrinkles her nose and says…“yeah…that’s nice dear” Of course there is a flip side to that, when she asks what I think of a pair shoes that looks just like the other ten she bought, I say…yeah…looks nice dear." No problems…
Thanks again
Steve
Someone correct me if I’m wrong please, but I believe that there is no differance externally between the A and B models. All the changes were internal as far as avionics, acoustics, radar and electronic countermeasures. The B is also is equipped to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon.
Paragon makes wing fold and flap/slat kits for the amt kit. I believe that Eduard makes a photoetch cockpit set in 1/48 and 1/72. This would be a bit of a waste of time and money IMHO, since you can’t see the cockpit due to the tinting of the canopy.
I just finished building the Revell Germany 1/72 S-3B kit. It is a reboxed Hasegawa kit with new decals. It’s a bit outdated and lacking detail, but the new decals really dress it up and make it a worth while project. I displayed mine in a “clean” configuration in flight. This took a lot of shimming and sanding to get the gear doors fit properly.
good luck
Darren
There is no difference between the AMT (Esci) and Italeri kits. Many of the old Esci molds have been reissued by Italeri, and as far as I know, there have been no changes to the mold on this one.
I’m also pretty sure the S-3A and S-3B were externally the same, except maybe for an antenna blade here and there.
Hi
The external differences between A and B models are not big, but there are some.
the wing tip sensors have a different shape, there are three flare dispensers between and behind the main gear wheel wells, there is a small oval grid behind and underneath the cockpit on the left side. Bear also in mind that all B models that you see flying now (Navy One being one of them) have got most of their electronics removed, together with the external anti-sub equipment: the MAD boom is gone, so are most of the sonobuoy dispensers (only the 16 dispensers between the main wheel wells are still there), so is a good deal of the antennae the Hoover was carrying around… use your documentation, it is not as easy as it looks…
andrea
historian63,
I haven’t built the kit yet, and I haven’t seen the AMT kit. I do have the ESCI US-3A kit, though, and, except for some antenna and underwing stores differences, it’s the same kit as the Italeri. Virtually identical. I’m thinking of building both at the same time to put on my IMAGINARY 1/48th carrier deck… 8-))
As far as just looking in the box goes, I’m pretty impressed with the kit. Really nice engraved panel lines, decent detail, and not too much plastic. I have a Black Box S-3B Cockpit set that I picked up rather cheaply, but, after reading about detailing an S-3’s cockpit here, I don’t know if I want to bother with it if I can’t see it after it’s all done. Still, I can’t wait to start on it. The Viking has always been one of my favorite planes. It just has that mean look to it. Has anyone seen the Wings episode about it? It’s amazing what this plane can do.
As far as wives go, yours is a little more forgiving than mine. When I bring home another kit (or two or three), my wife looks at me, rolls her eyes, and says, “NOT AGAIN!!! You’ve already got more than you can build now!! Where are you gonna put all of those once you’ve built them? Speaking of which, WHEN are you gonna build those things?! Blah, blah, blah…” It’s worth it, I guess.
Gary,
I made deal with my wife years ago, each time she buys another pair of shoes or an expensive dress…I get a new kit.
Ya gotta love those sales
Steve
Steve,
My wife says the only deal she ever made with me was marrying me 20 years ago. Ya know, after 20 years in the military, you can retire…hmmmmmm.
But, in reality, she’s ok with my modeling. I have my own little modeling room, now that my oldest son is in the USMC. I used to model on the kitchen table, and that wasn’t the greatest thing to build a model on, especially if you needed to do some airbrushing. I’m actually amazed that she’s put up with it for this long. But, she does say that she’d rather see me modeling than hanging around at a bar somewhere with a bunch of floozies, although that doesn’t sound too bad, now that I think about OUCH!!! She hit me!!!
Getting back to the topic, in addition to what’s been mentioned, the S-3B had a folding vertical fin (rudder) to fit into the aircraft carrier elevator lower deck opening, whereas the S-3A didn’t have a tailfin fold. At least, that’s what the book “Lock-On S-3 Viking” says…
I can assure you that after 4 years in the S-3 Community ALL Vikings have fin fold. I was in VS-41 and VS-33 and every S-3 I ever saw or worked on have it. I have picsture from my 81 cruise book that clearly show several of our birds with their tails stowed. The S-3 tail is so high that if left unfolded, it would not clear the elevator opening.