Vought SU-3, 1-F-19, VF-1, ca 1935

The Subject

US Navy fighter squadrons, before the high quality nav systems of the post-war period made them redundant, had a two seat utility aircraft for navigation over great distances. They additionally were good for instrument flight training, ensuring proficiency in the inevitable likelihood the pilot found himself in the clouds.

The Scout was an aircraft built by Vought in the early 30’s to replace earlier SU-1/2 and OU/O2U aircraft used in the late 20’s and 30’s. Later variants had a more rounded vertical tail and a few were fitted with floats. They were typically painted just like their fighter counterparts, but were numbered after the standard squadron strength of 18 but without section leader stripes or section cowling colors.

The Model

The only SU kit I know of is the Esoteric vacform in 1/72. The kit comes with white metal parts, decals and strut stock, plus a single sheet of vacuum formed major parts. I built the kit to represent an SU-3 I found a photo of, with help from Mark at Starfighter Decals, who also provided our group with some extra decals for the entire squadron.

The kit was not difficult, but then again I build 1-2 limited run kits each year and this is no more difficult, once the parts are removed from the sheet. I did not rig this as it was part of a group build and we agreed to “no rigging or weathering”.

Summary

Unfortunately I did not take much for pictures of this kit when I finished it. It now sits with the other 18 aircraft from the squadron, all Monogram F11C-2 Goshawks, in a typical formation for the time period, at the Naval Air Museum at Patuxent River, Maryland. The SU-3 is in the back, in trail.

Thanks for looking…