Grumman S-2A Tracker. Kinetic 1:48

[Shar2]

Grumman S-2A Tracker

Kinetic Models 1:48

History
The Grumman S-2 Tracker (previously S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the U.S. Navy. The Tracker was of conventional design with twin engines, a high wing and tricycle undercarriage.

The type was exported to a number of navies around the world. Introduced in 1952 the Tracker saw service in the USN until the mid-1970s with a few aircraft remaining in service with other air arms into the 21st century. The last operating fleet is maintained by Argentina and Brazil.

Intended as a replacement for its predecessor, Grumman's AF-2 Guardian which was the first purpose-built aircraft system for ASW, using two airframes, one with the detection gear, and the other with the weapon systems, the Tracker combined both functions in one aircraft. Grumman's design (model G-89) was for a large high-wing monoplane with twin Wright Cyclone R-1820 nine cylinder radial engines, a yoke type arrestor hook and a crew of four. Both the two prototypes XS2F-1 and 15 production aircraft, S2F-1 were ordered at the same time, on 30 June 1950. The first flight was conducted on 4 December 1952, and production aircraft entered service with VS-26, in February 1954.

Follow-on versions included the WF Tracer and TF Trader, which became the Grumman E-1 Tracer and Grumman C-1 Trader in the tri-service designation standardization of 1962. The S-2 carried the nickname "Stoof" (S-two-F) throughout its military career; and the E-1 Tracer variant with the large overhead radome was colloquially called the "stoof with a roof”.

Grumman produced 1,185 Trackers. Another 99 aircraft carrying the CS2F designation were manufactured in Canada under license by de Havilland Canada. U.S.-built versions of the Tracker were sold to various nations, including Australia, Japan, Turkey and Taiwan.

The Tracker carried an internal torpedo bay capable of carrying two light weight torpedoes or one nuclear depth charge. There were six underwing hard points for rocket pods and conventional depth charges or up to four additional torpedoes. A ventrally mounted retractable radome and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) mounted on an extendable rear mounted boom were also fitted. Early model Trackers had an Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM) pod mounted dorsally just aft of the front seat overhead hatches and were also fitted with a smoke particle detector or sniffer. Later S-2s had the sniffer removed and had the ESM antennae moved to four rounded extensions on the wingtips. The engine nacelles carried JEZEBEL sonar buoys in the rear (16 in early marks, 32 in the S-2E/G). Early Trackers also carried 60 explosive charges dispensed ventrally from the rear of the fuselage used for active sonar (JULIE) with the AN/AQA-3 and later AQA-4 detection sets, whereas the introduction of active sonar buoys and AN/AQA-7 with the S-2G conversion saw these removed. Smoke dispensers were mounted on the port ventral surface of the nacelles in groups of three each.

The Model
Due to the fact that Kinetic seem to stick to a standard sized box, this kit is veritably stuffed into it, with the box top visibly bulging. The attractive box art shows a Tracker at the point of leaving an aircraft carrier. Inside there are nice sprues of light grey styrene, one sprue of clear and quite a large decal sheet. The moulding appears to be very nice, with crisp details and quite fine recessed panel lines. Even though the kit is stuffed into the undersized box, there doesn’t appear to be any damage as the sprues are contained in their individual poly bags. There is some flash, but mostly around the sprue centres, although the engine nacelles have small amounts, but this won’t take more than a few swipes with a sanding stick to remove. There are, however, quite a lot of moulding pips and these have quite thick attachments to the parts which will need some careful removal and a bit of cleaning up.

Due to the earlier release of the S-2F there are quite a few unused and also optional parts that will go straight to the spares box. The clear parts are very clear for the windscreen and roof windows, but the side glazing of the cockpit sections is quite wavy, looking like it’s been removed from the mould too quickly. The same can be said of the searchlight glazing, but not quite so marked. These may be remedied by carefully sanding and polishing the areas with micromesh then dipping in Kleer or Aqua Gloss.

From research for this review it appears that there are some quarters that feel the kits fuselage is too long aft of the wing. Having checked the relative positions of parts and compared them with several drawings doesn’t appear to be the case, although it could be that this reviewer isn’t able to see the imperceptible differences. The length for the fuselage forward of the wing has definitely been shortened when compared with the previous S-2F kit.

Construction begins with the cockpit, which in all honesty is a bit sparse, with just the cockpit floor with moulded in rudder pedals, the pilots and co-pilots seats, instrument panel and yokes. There are no seatbelts which are needed at the very least. The cockpit canopy is made up of the two clear parts joined together at the centre with the overhead console fitted inside. Fortunately the area of the join on the roof is quite large and will be pained so there shouldn’t be too much of a problem removing the seam. The difficult bit will be to try and hide the join between the windscreens. With the cockpit and canopy constructed, then the other sub-assemblies are built up, these include the searchlight housing, and radome with nose light.

Construction then moves on to the fuselage with the cockpit fitted to one half along with the cockpit bulkhead, bomb bay roof, the main aft radome, which can be positioned either retracted or extended, the arrestor hook well. With these parts fitted the fuselage can then be closed up, along with as much weight as it’s possible to fit in forward of the main undercarriage legs, after which the two air intakes on either side aft of the wing are attached as is the canopy sub-assembly and nose radome with the clear nose light fitted. Turning the fuselage over the two lightweight torpedoes and assembled and fitted to the bomb bay along with the bay doors, whilst the MAD boom is assembled and slid into the tailcone. The crew access door is then fitted with its handle and attached to the opening on the starboard side. Construction of the nose wheel assembly includes the single piece oleo, scissor link, front bay door panel and struts, two three piece wheels, with the hub sandwiched between the two tyre parts. The completed assembly is then fitted to the nose wheel bay, followed by the two rear bay doors and what looks like a VHF aerial just to port of the bay.

Because of the folding arrangements the assembly of the wings is a little more complex than standard builds. Firstly the inner wings, consisting of top and bottom halves and the fold joint rib are built up. These come complete with pre-moulded spars which attached to corresponding slots in the fuselage, giving a good solid joint. To these the engine nacelles, made up of inner and outer halves, main wheel bays, rear sonar buoy magazines, cooling doors and exhaust are attached. For those modellers who were worried about the pen nib fairings not being included, worry no more as they are giving more options to modellers who may wish to us aftermarket decals for other operators. The main wheel assemblies are constructed of the main oleos, actuator struts, and the main wheels, built in the same way as the nose wheels. These assemblies are then fitted to the main wheel bays as are the two bay doors. The engines are then assembled, with the engine, cowling and propeller. The engines themselves could do with a little bit more detailing, such as the addition of the ignition harness, although the modeller doesn’t really need to do too much as the cowling is quite tight around the engine, so they may be content with just a good paint job. With the engines complete these too are attached to the nacelles and the whole lot attached to each inner wing. At this point in the instructions, they call out for the two horizontal tailplanes to be assembled; these come as top and bottom halves and just need to be joined together. The inner wing and tail assemblies can then be joined to the fuselage which is finished off with a selection of communications and ILS aerials. The radome above and just behind the cockpit comes with optional parts depending on which operator the modeller is choosing to model.

The outer wings are then constructed, again out of top and bottom halves and fold joint rib. To the wing tip the clear navigation light parts are attached and there are optional parts to add if modelling the Canadian version to be added here. There is a separate outer slat part that is attached to the leading edge and the radome is fitted just inboard of the slat on the starboard wing. The kit comes with six pylons and six rocket pods should you wish to add them. If the wings are to be displayed folded then the hinges are first fitted to the outer wing and allowed to set well before slotting the other end into the inner wing section. For the unfolded condition there is a rib shaped mating piece that is added to the inner section before sliding the outer section into place and keeping it steady until the glue has set. The model is now complete bar the painting and decaling.

Decals
The large decal sheet provides insignia for three aircraft. These being:-

• S2F-1 US Navy VS-32, USS Lake Champlain, 1962
• CS2F-1 Royal Canadian Forces 1983
• S2F-1 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force 1975

The decals have been printed by Cartograph, to their usual high standard. The decals are glossy, with very good opacity, in register and have a very thin decal film, so should settle down nicely when using your favourite softening/setting solutions. Apart from the national insignia there is a full set of stencils for one aircraft and included the large walkway markings on the upper centre section of the wings, propeller warning stripes and propeller tip stripes.

Conclusion
This is a very nice looking kit of an important aircraft in its genre and I think Kinetic have done it justice. Yes it could be more detailed in the areas mentioned above, but on the whole I think it will make a nice addition to any collection. The instructions are clear, but they look a little like a sketch book, a style which I’m not overly keen on and it’s a shame that the colour chart with the three aircraft is not in colour as that would have been much more helpful than shades of grey. Recommended

In association with

[snapper_city]

Liking the look of this one Dave. Might have to get me one soon...

[Martian]

This is seriously cool! Gill has bought me one as a wedding anniversary present. That woman has sure got me figured out!

Martin

[Paul J]

Got one in the post unexpectedly. Currently building it and found a couple of small issues. Short moulding on one half of the cockpit glazing right at the pointed end of the part. In genearl though it is nice and looks quite impressive.

I have also found that the tiny tabs on the outer wings do not line up with their reciprocating positions on the inner wing stubs. So if the wings are to be spread, then these tabs nust be removed to fit the rib part.