Subject: Re: Airfix S-3 Viking
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Gilbert Gregg" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:13:13 -0700

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: Gilbert Gregg 
  To: Steve Bamford ARC 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:58 PM
  Subject: Airfix S-3 Viking

  Steve, 

  When I originally sent in my article the other day, I had a hard time sending the photos from my Window's mail account for some reason.  I am trying again using online gmail.  I might have to send several emails.  There are ten pictures.  Did you get the original written article?

  r/Gil Gregg (Dutycat)
  Jacksonville FL

  Steve, I sent the photos separately. Thanks.

  "1/72 Airfix S-3A"

  by "Gil Gregg”
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  Most ARC regulars know I flew as a Sensor Operator in VS-24 back in the 80’s. So naturally, the S-3 Viking is an aircraft that is in my regular building rotation. In my preferred scale (1/72) there are two choices...the commonly available Hasegawa kit and the long out of production Airfix kit. The subject of this build is the Airfix kit. Although this kit will not be found on the shelves at your LHS, it can be found on ebay, and from used kit venders at model shows. Both kits date from the late 70’s. The Airfix kit was also boxed by MPC in the USA, and later under USAirfix label. The Hasegawa kit has seen several re-pops with different box art and decals.  It has also been reboxed by Revell of Germany.

  Most folks assume naturally assume that the Hasegawa kit is superior. So why would anyone seek out and take on the Airfix kit? Well, as an old ball coach once said, “It’s not always what you know. Sometimes it’s what you think you know that just ain’t so.” And so it is when comparing these two kits. There are some major differences between them, and which one you choose will depend on what you are trying to achieve, and how much work you are willing to do. Neither is a shake and bake and each presents unique challenges.

  Airfix kit advantages: 1- Separate rudder and elevator surfaces. 2- More accurate cockpit, although you won't be able to see much given the enclosed cockpit configuration.3- Open Weapons Bay. 4- Inclusion of Mk-46 torpedoes and Harpoon anti-shipping missiles.  Airfix Disadvantages: 1 Almost total lack of surface detail on the upper fuselage and top of the wings.  Flaps, ailerons, spoilers, leading edge slats, and operator hatches are all represented by raised lines.  However, the wing fold hinges are accurate as they do not have hinge covers.  These were removed in the fleet. 2-Unusable decals 3-Non-tinted canopy.

  Hasegawa kit advantages: 1-Thinner, more accurate wings and tail surfaces. 2-Better fit of parts. 3-Crew hatch can be positioned open, 4-Tinted canopy, except for the ROG boxing 5-Good surface detail (raised). Hasegawa kit disadvantages:  1-Poorly shaped intake lips.  2-Poorly fitting flaps. 3-Cross hatch design on top of the wing is not present on the real aircraft and needs to be sanded off.

  Either kit can be constructed as a straightforward build. The Hasegawa kit is easier to find and will have useable decals. If you want to dress the aircraft out in full ASW configuration with torps, the Airfix kit is probably your best option. Lets see what it takes to get a decent result with the Airfix kit.

        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 photo 04.jpghere. 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 photo 05.jpghere. 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 photo 06.jpghere. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  The parts for the Airfix kit are packaged in the typical Airfix way...all sprue tree’s stuffed in one big bag, with the inevitable loose parts are rattling around. The plastic is white, but if you have the MPC boxing the plastic will be a light off tan color.

  Construction is conventional. As one would expect in this scale, the cockpit is basic. The ejection seats in the S-3 are not attached to the floor as they are in most other tactical aircraft. They are modified to mount to rails on the rear cockpit flight deck bulkhead. The Airfix kit represents this, although the seats are basic. Pavla makes resin replacements, which I used. I used Alclad Transparent Green for the overheard sunscreens, then tinted the remainder of the cockpit glass with Alclad Transparent Smoke.

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

  The first real challenge area is the engine intakes. Viking engines are pod mounted, like on an airliner. The engine nacelles are split into halves which must be assembled. Since the intakes are very visible, if you wish to show them, the seams must be filled somehow. The good thing is fans in the Airfix kit attach to the rear “engine” portion of the assembly, not the forward nacelles. This makes it possible to fix the seams as you can access the inside of the forward nacelles with a sanding stick. However, there are guides to position the fan blades that have to be removed. I used a Dremel with a sanding barrel attachment to remove the guides. 

  I decided to cut and fold the wings. The Viking wing fold hinge assemblies are complex. Wolfpack Designs makes a nice wing fold set which includes the entire wing. Unfortunately, the set has engraved lines. Neither the Hasegawa nor the Airfix kits feature engraved lines, so using the Wolfpack wings “as is” would not exactly mesh with the rest of the model. One could always rescribe the entire model....Umm...No Thanks! Instead, I decided to chop the hinge sections off the Wolfpack wings and graft them to the Airfix kit wings. This was not as easy as you might think.

  The classic gull gray over white paint scheme was done using Testors Model Master enamels. Stencils and such were kit decals, but the national insignia, NAVY, VS-24, USS Nimitz, AJ, and Dutycat were DIY made using Inkscape and my Inkjet printer. More on this aircraft, VS-24, and CVW-8 can be found on my website,www.dutycat.com. Thanks for looking!

  "Gil Gregg"

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpghere. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpghere. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpghere. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpghere. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg