Jump to content

S-3B Viking - scratchbuilt


Starfighter

Recommended Posts

Hi folks, 

 

even though my big Hawkeye is currently on hold as I have to figure out how to solve some issues, something is going on in my workshop. I've always wanted a large scale S-3 or ES-3, so I started gathering information quite some time ago. When I had all the stuff I needed, I started drawing cross sections to build up a skeleton using Autodesk Inventor. This helped me figuring out how to assemble the model and avoiding problems (this didn't work out perfectly, but more on that later).

 

The parts I've drawn were then lasercut in 1,0mm PS. That's how the parts looked when they arrived:

 

IMG_3289.jpg

 

IMG_3288.jpg

 

After cleaning up, the parts could be assembled without any major issues. 

 

IMG_3293.jpg

 

IMG_3300.jpg

 

As usual, I filled up the areas between the cross sections with sheet and PU foam - sheet for the flat and simple curved areas, PU foam for the complex areas.

 

IMG_3595.jpg

 

IMG_3596.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As already mentioned, CAD drawing the parts helped a lot, but it didn't prevent me from having quite some shape issues. Even though everything looked fine when looking at the skeleton, some areas turned out to be not quite correct with the areas between the cross sections filled.

 

As on many other aircraft, the area where the fuselage merges with the wings is rather complicated. I had to modify the hump on the fuselage by hand to get it (more or less) right:

 

IMG_3686.jpg

 

IMG_3777.jpg

 

The nose and tail fin leading edge were a little too pointy as well, so Magic Sculp came to help here (very crappy pics, sorry!).

 

IMG_3778.jpg

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the shape issues more or less solved, I started cutting out and detailing the tailhook bay and the crew entry door.

 

IMG_4202.jpg

 

The next step was adding the surface details - scribing the panel lines, adding anti slip texture to the forward avionic bay hatches and raised panels.

 

IMG_4329.jpg

 

IMG_4330.jpg

 

IMG_4332.jpg

 

Here's a little look at how the beast my look with its wings folded:

 

IMG_4333.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The wheels were drawn with Inventor and then 3d printed.

 

IMG_3663.jpg

 

And these are the last pics I've taken so far, showing the fuselage with a coat of Tamiya Surface Primer. In the meantime, I have already added the formation strip bases and started working on the cockpit. I'll do my best to update this topic on a regular basis. Comments and critique are welcome as usual!

 

IMG_4423.jpg

 

IMG_4424.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...