1:48 ERA-3B

An electronic aggressor from the carrier-based Skywarrior family

The Douglas A-3 was created after 1947 as a strategic nuclear bomb carrier for the US Navy. The XA3D-1 prototype first flew on October 28, 1952, the aircraft reached Heavy Attack Squadron One in 1956 and production ended in 1961 after 282 examples had been built. The design consists largely of a conventional semi-monocoque fuselage, two J57 turbojets in nacelles under the wing, folding outer wing panels for stowage below deck, a radar-directed tail turret and a crew of three.

The ERA-3B designation belongs to a later stage of service, when the heavy bombers became specialized electronic warfare aircraft. They simulated an opponent's jamming and transmissions during the training of naval formations, carried jamming pods and countermeasure dispensers, and their fuselages were decorated with unusual antenna fairings. Those are exactly what make the finished model a striking piece among other naval hardware.

The box contains injection-molded plastic parts in 1:48 scale, that is an unassembled and unpainted model. Glue, paints and putty are not included and have to be obtained separately. The size of the real aircraft puts the assembled piece among the bulky exhibits, for which it is worth having a place in the display case worked out in advance.

The build suits a more experienced modeler. The broad surfaces of the wing and the fuselage call for careful sanding of the seams, and the cockpit and the landing gear bays can be raised a level with photo-etched sets made for this family of aircraft. The tail section also deserves attention, as the equipment there differs between individual versions.