1/72 AF-2S Guardian "Killer"

The Grumman AF Guardian was a single-engine carrier-based aircraft of the United States Navy, which became the first aircraft specifically developed for the role of anti-submarine warfare within an integrated system. The Guardian was deployed in pairs, as a single aircraft could not carry all the equipment required for both detecting and destroying submarines at the same time. Consequently, two complementary variants were developed: the search (“hunter”) AF-2W, carrying radar and equipment for detecting targets, and the attack (“killer”) AF-2S, which launched an attack based on the information provided. It is the AF-2S ‘Killer’ version that forms the basis of this kit and represents the combat element of the pair, armed to attack any submarine detected.

The Guardian was, in its day, the largest single-engine piston-powered aircraft operated from American aircraft carriers. It entered service at the turn of the 1940s and 1950s and saw most of its active service during the Korean War, when it formed the backbone of carrier-based anti-submarine units, before being later replaced by more modern types. For modellers, the Guardian is of interest as a less common but historically significant representative of the early era of specialised anti-submarine aviation and as a typical example of the US Navy’s post-war carrier-based aircraft.

The Sword kit, in 1:72 scale, is a glue-up model that captures the characteristic robust shape of this aircraft. The pack includes two variants of markings (decals) from the Korean War period, allowing you to choose the specific livery of the aircraft according to your own preference. A practical addition are the included masks, which facilitate precise and clean painting of the cockpit canopy and other surfaces without the need for laborious cutting. The 1:72 scale is one of the most common scales for aircraft models, making it easy to incorporate the model into an existing collection. The pack does not contain the paints or adhesives required for assembly.