Special Hobby 1/48 AF-2S/W Guardian

          The Grumman AF-2 Guardian series were the largest piston-engine aircraft to ever operate from carriers, which is pretty surprising since they flew from CVEs for the most part.  (Actually that is the largest single engine piston powered aircraft as the S-2 had a wingspan that was about ten feet greater and about the same length. Guardian 43'4" long, 60'8" wingspan; Tracker 43'6" long, 72'7" foot wingspan. The AJ Savage was heavier and longer than the S-2, but had a slightly shorter wing span and also had a jet engine in the aft fuselage. Ed) The Guardian was the first purpose-built anti- submarine warfare  carrier-based aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy, and used two different variations of the same airframe, since all the required equipment could not be fitted into a single aircraft.   The "hunter" was the AF-2W, which carried two electronics operators and a ventral radome for APS-20 search radar and electronic countermeasures suite consisting of an APR-98 Countermeasures Receiver and AP-70 Bearing Indicator. The "killer" was the AF-2S which had a bomb bay, a searchlight and short-range radar.  First flown in 1945, the Guardian entered service in September 1950 and remained in service until August 1955, when it was replaced by the twin-engined Grumman S-2 Tracker.  It remained in service with the Naval Air Reserve until 1957.

 The Grumman Model G-70, was selected by the Navy with the designation XTB3F.  It was designed with "mixed power," using an R-2800 radial engine and a Westinghouse 19XB turbojet.  This was  found to be unsuitable, and the jet engine was removed without ever having been used in flight and the role of the aircrfaft was changed from torpedo bomber to ASW. The XTB3F-1S carried a crew of two seated side-by-side and an armament of two 20 mm cannon and 4,000 lb of bombs, torpedoes and/or rockets, and made its first flight on 19 December 1945.

           The Guardian provided ASW coverage for Task Force 77 in the Sea of Japan during the Korean War from 1951-53, to face the threat of Soviet submarines operating from Vladivostok.  It proved unpopular with pilots because it was underpowered and heavy on the controls, which made things "adventurous" for crews when operating from CVEs in heavy seas, and suffered a high accident rate.

          I first saw one of these huge airplanes at the Navy Day airshow at NAS Buckley Field in Denver, Colorado, at age 10.  Its bulk was impressive.  I have always wanted to see kits of the airplane in 1/48, but had resigned myself to never having the Guardian in my collection since I wasn't interested in spending $500 to acquire the two kits from Collect-Aire.  Fortunately, Special Hobby has come to the rescue of we lovers of esoteric naval aircraft with their release of the AF-2S and AF-2w.

          The two kits are exactly the same in the box and differ in that you assembled the AF-2W using the radome parts, while using the bomb bay doors for the AF-2S.  Both kits include underwing ordnance, which is only used on the AF-2S. 

          Special Hobby has done their research with these kits.  They have designed in the 3-degree right offset and 3-degree down angle of the engine correctly; the engine is the now-standard resin with separate crankcase and cylinders.  The fabric detail is very petite and is the most accurate representation of fabric covered surfaces I have seen.  The rest of the surface detail is of equal quality.  Test-fitting of the major airframe parts shows that the kit goes together easily.  The forward cockpit is provided in good detail and includes seatbelts with the photoetch detals.  The clear parts are very clear and the canopy can be posed open if you desire.

          Decals are of excellent quality.  For those wishing a decal alternative that allows them to do two aircraft from the same squadron, Caracal Decals will soon release a set for these kits that include two airplanes from VS-37, which had the most spectacular markings of any Guardian squadron.  However, a modeler will have to provide the additional radome the AF-2S aircraft in this squadron carried.  Thee are likely to be the only aftermarket decals done for these kits. (Kit markings are basically white lettering on sea blue planes with options from VS-21/24/25 and a reserve unit from Oakland. Ed)

           As I said, I have wanted to have a model of the Guardian since I was 10.  It's good I stuck around long enough to get these two kits, which are among the best Special Hobby has done.  Anyone with experience of doing a limited-run kit should have no problem with these kits.

Tom Cleaver

May 2015

 Review kits courtesy HobbyLink Japan.  Get yours here.

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