Subject: Re: Hasegawa S-3A Viking
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Gil Gregg" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:08:38 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gil Gregg 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 5:15 PM
  Subject: Hasegawa S-3A Viking

  Gallery Article Template

  "1/72 Hasegawa S-3A Viking" 

  by Gil Gregg
  ------

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  The starting point for this build was the tried and somewhat true Hasegawa Viking.  A old squadron buddy of mine contacted me and asked me to build him a VS-24 Viking of mid 80's vintage, like we used to fly back in the day.  Most USN aviation enthusiasts are familiar with the Viking's basic role as a carrier based submarine hunter and medium range patrol aircraft, and its subsequent mid 90's conversion to a mission tanker to support the Navy's thirsty F-18 fleet.  Leaving commentary on the wisdom of that decision aside, I will instead focus on the build itself.

  The kit is an older mold from the late 70's, and his been released many times with different decals.  It features mostly raised surface detail, with control surfaces and a couple of large vents engraved.  The boxing I used featured a nice painting of an aircraft from VS-28 in a mid 80's scheme, a good starting point for a Viking of this period.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpghere.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Construction is a bit unusual.  The Viking's fuselage is square, so in addition to the normal fuselage halves, there are two sections, forward and aft of the bomb bays, that have to be glued in. Care should be taken in their alignment.  Outline and planform are correct, but the kit does have some inaccuracies.  There is molded gridding on the top of the wing.  This just does not exist on the real aircraft and should be sanded off.  The pod mounted engines also represent a challenge.  For some reason Hasegawa engineered the nacelles with a tapered intake lip which wraps around and inside of the engine intake trunk.  The real engines have straight intakes.  I sanded a good bit off of the inside of the lips in order to correct them.  It is also a hassle to eliminate the assembly seams inside of the intakes. You have to assemble the nacelle halves, fix the seams, set the fan blades in the nacelles, then attach the nacelles to the engine bodies.  This is difficult because the fan locating guides and engine placement guides have been removed in order to fix the seams.  This kit cries out for a set of aftermarket seamless intakes.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  The paint scheme is classic light gull gray over white.  Airbrushing was accomplished with Model Master enamels.  I used a Paasche H for large area work, and an H & S Infinity for feathered edges.  There are numerous decals which take a good bit of time to apply accurately.  I used the kit decals except for a few numbers, USS Nimitz, the stylized AJ on the tail, and the small dutycat.  Weapons were Mk-82 slicks, which came with the kit, and were carried by the Viking on ocassion. Clearcoat was Testors Acryl thinned with Tamiya thinner. 

  Thanks for looking!

  Gil Gregg