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After the 1/72nd kit (link) Brengun has just released a 1/48th AAI RQ-7B Shadow UAV resin kit - ref. BRS48009 Source: http://www.hauler.cz/e-shop/1-48-construction-kits-30/rq-7b-shadow-uav-1643 V.P.

RQ-7B Shadow UAV (BRS48009) 1:48 Brengun The RQ-7 Shadow is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed the AAI Corporation. The requirement for such a tactical UAV capable of battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition had been identified by the US Military and originally the RQ-6 Outrider was developed for this, however this programme was cancelled after 3 years of development. AAI looked at their existing RQ-2 Pioneer and developed this design into the Shadow. The small UAV with a length of 3.4m and a wingspan of 3.8m weighs in at 170kgs loaded. It has a 6 hour endurance, stretched to 9 with increased endurance wings. Take off is from a pneumatic assisted launcher, and landing are automatic with a ground mounted arrestor hook system. The improved RQ-7B arrived in 2004 with an increased payload capacity of 45 kgs and new "wet" more aerodynamic wings. Avionics have been improved and a new radio relay communications package installed to allow troops to communicate in locations in which radio would not normally work. Further developments of the system are to be introduced which may include IED jamming and ability for troops to see directly what the UAV is seeing. Arming the UAV was looked at however the USMC ran out of available development funds and the US Army had shown little interest in this. The shadow is currently in use by the US Army, US Marine Corps, and the US Navy. Overseas operators being Australia, Italy, Romania and Sweden, The Kit This is a re-boxing of the Attack Squadron kit by Brengun which first came out in 2017. The kit is all resin with a small PE fret and a small decal sheet. There is one block with the wings, one with the fuselage and tail booms, one with the inverted V tail, and two with all the other small resin parts. Construction is fairly simple. The wings attach to each side of the main body, underneath the sensor turret is added. The engine then fits onto the rear of the main body, you then have a choice of a resin, or PE propeller. At the rear the twin booms extend out to the inverted V tail. The basic sprung landing gear is then attached, as are some aerials and the control horns for the flying surfaces. As the kit is resin all the joints are butt type, so some care will be needed to get everything aligned correctly. The Decals There is no printers name on the decals, so could be in house? They appear to be glossy, and in register. The decals consist of serial numbers and warning tests only. The UVA is painted overall in Ghost Gull Grey (FS 36375) with patches of Dark Grey (FS 35270). Conclusion This is a great kit of this diminutive modern UAV. It is good to see more models of UAVs. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Brengun has just released a 1/72nd AAI RQ-7B Shadow UAV resin kit - ref. BRS72011 Source: http://www.hauler.cz/cs-cz/e-shop/1-72-stavebnice-20/rq-7b-shadow-uav-1538 V.P.

Recently finished this CAR ( Costruzione Automodelli Roma ) 1/43 DN9b Shadow from the 1979 season. The kit is from sometime around 1981. The engineering and fit was overall a little better than the CAR Ferrari 312B/74 I built earlier this year. It's finished in Tamiya lacquers, acrylics and two part automotive urethane. The decals had survived the last 35 years in pretty good shape and most didn't prove overly fragile or dried out. I am aware there is a nicer, newer Tameo kit of this car, but this is the kit I had so I built it.

The ES-3A Shadow was a spin off from the Lockheed S-3 Viking which was designed as a specialist in Anti Submarine Warfare. The ES-3A was developed for Long Range Electronic Reconnaissance (ELINT). 16 S-3's have been converted to ES-3A with numerous antennas and specialized equipment. ES-3A's replaced the aging EA-3B Skywarrior and joined the US Navy in 1991. ASW and ELINT where used less and less and the ES-3A's quickly had another task, airborne refuelling station. A rather expensive solution. Only two squadrons where formed, VQ-5 Sea Shadows and VQ-6 Black Ravens. VQ-5 was assigned to Pacific Fleet Squadron and VQ-6 to the Atlantic. The ES-3A's flew as a Detachment (DET) to the carriers air wing. They used the groups letters on the tail. In 1999 all 16 ES-3A's where retired early and put into AMARG storage at AFB Davis Monthan, Arizona. Ordinary Vikings flew until 2009, often also a tanker with the well known Buddy Pod and a 300 USG tank on the other wing. I got this kit from a friend of mine and I have a lot of extra's. I plan to build a S-3B in the distant future where I will be using the Goffy Models sets as well as the Paragon wing folds. So it's Eduard and Wolfpack. I am thinking of backdating the Wolfpack IP to a ES-3A as some might be seen through the canopy. I don't plan to correct all other panels, since I only have picture of the ES-3A cockpit.. Thanks Erik! fltr.. AMT S-3A canopy, ES-3A and the Squadron, which has been vacformed over the other, making it a bit too big.. Doug's lovely Royale Resin wheels vs AMT.. AMT vs Wolfpack 133.. I'll be using Attack Squadron 300USG tank and the Wolfpack set for the Buddypod.. I like a lot.. IT FITS right away.. Let's check what will be visible..

Hi everyone, I'd like to present my ES-3A Shadow by Italeri. I just finished the model yesterday after a 10-month build. The S-3 Viking kit itself is ok, whereas the Shadow specific parts are absolutely horrible and don't fit at all. Im quite pleased with the result, of course some minor bits bug me, but in general I'm happy. I hope you like the model! That's it! Cheers