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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images below to see larger images
The model
itself........well, not a b ad 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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images below to see larger images
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