KINETIC MODEL KITS [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
148
Grumman S-2A Tracker
Grumman S-2A Tracker
  • move

by: Kevin Brant [ SGTRAM ]

Introduction

First flown in 1952, the Grumman S-2 Tracker was designed as a submarine hunter. Powered by two Wright Cyclone R-1820 engines, the Tracker entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1954. The aircraft could be armed with two torpedoes in its internal bay and had six underwing hard points for mounting depth charges and/or rockets. Through its life the Tracker carried many types of surveillance equipment that were changed as technology changed.

The S-2A version was the S2F-1 redesignated in 1962. With over 1100 Tracker aircraft built, including 99 built under license by de Havilland for Canada, the Tracker served with many countries, some serving into the 1990’s in military use, and some continuing to find homes in civilian use and in smaller country militaries.

Contents

This is the second Tracker kit released by Kinetic Model Kits in 1/48 scale. Having not seen the first kit, I cannot compare the differences, but this kit contains parts and marking to not only build a U.S. Navy variant, but also a Canadian and Japanese variant. New is in this kit as well are the parts for folding wings and shorter engine nacelles. The Japanese version would be very close to the U.S version, as Japan received their aircraft from U.S. stocks.

The kit contains:

9 – Grey plastic sprues
1 – Clear plastic sprue
1 – Large sheet of decals
1 – Instruction booklet

Review

The kit is finely molded in grey plastic. The panel lines are fully engraved, and there is some great looking detail. A look at the sprues shows no visible flash, with only molding seams that will need to be cleaned up, also from first look there are no ejector marks that will show after completion. Some nice detail includes raised rivet details on the inside of the internal bay and landing gear doors. The clear plastic for canopy and lights are very well done, no visible bubbles, with great raised detail on main canopy.

Looking at the instructions, building the kit starts with the cockpit, and this is a little bit of a letdown. The cockpit is a bit sparse, with seats with no real detail on them, the overhead panel has no detail, and while the main flight panel has raised detail, it is not the greatest. The entire cockpit screams for a good aftermarket replacement, hopefully we will see one soon.

The front landing gear bay is molded to the bottom of the cockpit floor, and does contain some nice detail. It should be noted that there does not look like there will be a lot of room to add weight to keep the nose gear on the ground.

Assembly then moves onto the fuselage, which looks to be a pretty standard assembly. The kit provides the option of leaving the internal weapons bay open with the addition of two torpedoes. Unfortunately there is no surface detail with in the internal bay. During assembly you will have to watch for some optional parts for the Canadian version on the fuselage, including the radar component over the cockpit.

With this kit, there is an option to assemble the wings folded, and the internal wing detail is very well done for the ends that will show if the wings are built folded. The wings included molded on control surfaces, which may not appeal to all modellers. But overall the surface detail of the wings is well done. The external hard points are included, with rocket launcher pods, but you will have to drill out the holes in the lower wing halves, which the steps seems to be omitted within the instructions.

The engine nacelles build from two halves, enclosing the main landing gear, again with decent looking detail in the bays. Another disappointment is the flat molded engines, while the detail on the cylinders is decent, it would have been nice to have a full molded engine. Again, this is another section of the model that would benefit from a good aftermarket replacement. The landing gear struts to look to have some decent detail, with the wheels built in multiple parts.

The instructions do contain some paint callouts during construction, referring to colors with no paint manufacture recommendations. The instructions include paint schemes and markings for three aircraft:

- S2F-1 US Navy, VF-32 – 1962
- CS2F-1 Canadian Armed Forces – 1984
- S2F-1 JMSDF II FS – 1975

Again with no paint manufacture recommendation, but some colors do have a FS paint numbers to reference.

The large decal sheet contains markings for all three aircraft and looks to be very well printed. The artwork is by FighterTown Decals, while they are printed by Cartograph. The color on the decals looks great, and all look to be within register.

Conclusion

The S-2A Tracker from Kinetic Model Kits looks to be a decent model on the exterior, the engraved panel lines and appropriate raised detail looks good. Unfortunately Kinetic missed the mark on some of the internal detail, poor cockpit detail, no bay detail in internal weapons bays, and engines flat molded to bulkhead. The addition of the markings for both Canadian and Japanese versions is a great plus. Overall, this does look to be a decent kit from Kinetic, but hopefully we will see some aftermarket parts soon for the weak areas. I would recommend this kit, especially for Canadian aircraft fans, as this is the first decent model of the Canadian Tracker.
SUMMARY
Highs: Nicely molded with engraved panel lines, decal options
Lows: Lacking details in cockpit and weapons bay, as well flat molded engines
Verdict: Overall a decent kit, the options for decals, including the Canadian version, make this kit appealing.
Percentage Rating
70%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: K48039
  Related Link: S2F review
  PUBLISHED: Jun 06, 2013
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 88.35%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 86.73%

Our Thanks to Lucky Model!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View This Item  |  View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Kevin Brant (SgtRam)
FROM: ONTARIO, CANADA

I am an IT Consultant and father, with a passion for plastic models. I mostly prefer 1/35 Armor and 1/48 Aircraft. My main interests are anything Canadian, as well as WW2 German and British Armor and Aircraft. I have been building models since I was a young kid, got away from it for awhile, but r...

Copyright ©2021 text by Kevin Brant [ SGTRAM ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

It really does look like a fine kit, and I for one will make the purchase. I'm not certain that it will make an accurate Canadian version, though. I believe the Canadian one was built by DeHavilland 18" shorter so she would fit in the Bonaventure's hanger area. Not likely, manufacturers are going to mold specifically to a Canadian version.
JUN 06, 2013 - 12:37 PM
This being an A model tracker it's shorter (42 ft) than the later trackers (43 ft 6"). I don't believe that the Canadian aircraft were shortened from that measurement.
JUN 06, 2013 - 12:49 PM
Well, Jessica, I'm just not sure about that. The subject is certainly confusing. My information derives from this source: LINK However, being no expert, I don't know if the site is talking about a shortened S-2A or not.
JUN 06, 2013 - 01:35 PM
I think they're referring to the then-current S-2E which was the lengthened version. The -A (S2F-1) was the original fuselage length. Wikipedia says: " All the Canadian Trackers were built to the earlier "A" model airframe design with a length of 42 feet (12.80 m) (c.f. 43' 6" for later model Trackers) in order to fit in the Bonnie's hangar."
JUN 06, 2013 - 01:52 PM
I stand corrected then; looking forward to securing the Kinetic kit to do a Canadian example. I'm quite positive there will be AM appearing for the weaker areas, and I already have that lovely Belcher Bits decal sheet.
JUN 06, 2013 - 03:37 PM
I want to do that lovely RCN scheme
JUN 06, 2013 - 04:16 PM
Having grown up a mere 15 min drive from Grumman's main Bethpage NY headquarters & plant. My brother (Peterpools) and I grew up watching just about every version take off and land there until Calverton came on line. So every 1/48 scale Grumman release is a kit I will purchase and eventually build.
JUN 10, 2013 - 03:20 AM
Well, there you have it. I fail to find this at any of the common mailorder houses I like to use, and even the Kinetic site doesn't show it. Nor does the Kinetic site display properly. Looks like she's still a waiting game.
JUN 11, 2013 - 01:52 AM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT