Although the beautiful Lockheed Constellation was quickly being replaced by the first jet airliners in the late 1950's, the Warning Star would continue in service for at least two more decades with both the US Navy (initially as the WV-2) and the US Air Force, primarily employed for high-altitude, long-endurance (flights often lasted 14 to 20 hours!), radar picket duties at considerable distances from the U.S. coasts. The first WV-2s entered service with the US Navy in 1954. Equipped with some five-and-a-half tons of radar and electronics, including ventral APS-20 radar (replaced by APS-95 in 1962) and a dorsal APS-45 height-finder (later upgraded to APS-103), WV-2s served from 1956 to 1965 as part of two 'barrier' forces, one off each cost of the North American continent, designed to provide early warning of any surprise Soviet bomber or missile attacks. The Navy operated eight of these specially converted 'Willy Victors' (yes, only eight of which two were lost in accidents as the tropical climate wreaked havoc on those Wright R-3350-34 Turbo Compound 18-cylinder supercharged radial engines) that operated with three special weather forecast squadrons: VW-1 'Typhoon Trackers', VW-3 'Typhoon Chasers' and the legendary VW-4 'Hurricane Hunters'.

The WV-2/EC-121 was a BIG airplane and even in 1/700 scale, the size of the model is impressive. Check out the well proportioned model including that beautiful fuselage complete with detailed cockpit, windows, doors and the huge dorsal and ventral radomes, the wings, engines and the distinctive triple-tail fin assembly.

Although the surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers), the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene.

NOTE: While we currently maintain limited inventories of most items, some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.