Model Description

Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale  S-3B Viking “100 Years of Naval Aviation” BuNo 160581, VX-30 “Bloodhounds”, 2011. Buy online now at Flying Tigers.

In 1974 the Lockheed S-3 Viking entered service with the USN as a twin-engine jet aircraft used for enemy submarine warfare. By the late 1990’s the role shifted to surface warfare providing the carrier battle group with long range surveillance capabilities and aerial refueling. The S-3 was in production from 1974 until 1978 with 186 (187) aircraft completed. Most airframes saw upgrades to the S-3B and sixteen became ES-3A “Shadow” electronic intelligence collection aircraft. The low pitch sound of the engines earned the S-3 the nickname “Hoover” after the vacuum cleaner.

To celebrate “100 Years of Naval Aviation” S-3B Viking 160581 c/n 394A-1161 VX-30 “Bloodhounds” was painted a blue-gray over light gull gray the same scheme worn by USN aircraft at the Battle of Midway, June 1942. The paint is a combination of colors and markings worn by TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers and SBD Dauntless scouting squadrons in 1942. The first flight of the Viking took place in January 1972 and all S-3s were retired in 2009 with the exception of 3 aircraft that were flown by VX-30 until 2016.