1/48 ES-3A Shadow

by Shawn "Phantom" Weiler

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This is the AMT ES-3A Shadow in 1/48 scale.  The shadow was a briefly used intelligence gathering aircraft based on a heavily modified S-3 Viking.  Some 16 Shadows were converted from Vikings in the 90s and from what I have read they did admirable work.  Unfortunately millions were required to modify the airframes for future use.  Millions the US was not willing to pay.  So the fleet was mothballed.

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The model itself........well, not a bad kit.  For some strange reason I went against my own advice and used a True details cockpit set on this kit.  Nothing wrong with the resin, in fact its very nice.  You just can't see squat through the heavily tinted windows.  Luckily the cockpit set came REALLY cheap.  Cheaper in fact then just buying the ejection seats alone (from another resin company) So I went for it.  Well, that's a week off my time I'll never get back, for very little worth in the end.

Oh....During the photo shot the upper resin parts attached came loose, well, I can't see it anyway, so I guess it does not really matter.

Another fault of my own.  I forgot this model is a very heavy tail sitter, even with the added resin.  I cheated with the fix by simply gluing the arresting hook into the down position.

The hat and VQ-6 badge came from the squadron shortly before they were disbanded.  VQ-6 was the Atlantic fleet Shadow squadron.  Luckily the kit came with basic squadron decals as I have never seen aftermarket decals for VQ-6.  VQ-5 yes, but then they were never attached to CVW-8.  This plane was built in line with the discussion forums recon group build.

Shawn

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Photos and text © by Shawn "Phantom" Weiler