As of August 2012, the RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had logged more than 750,000 hours through more than 173,000 missions since its introduction in 2002. The B variant appeared in 2004 with longer, more-efficient wings, a more-reliable engine, and greater payload capability, among other improvements.
The Shadow’s primary role is low-level reconnaissance (under 15,000 feet) for the U.S. Army and Marines and many allies.
Academy’s box art shows the RQ-7B in flight. Inside the box, there there aren’t a lot of parts — no clear parts, no photoetched metal or resin. But sometimes less is more. Included are the RQ-7B, two figures, and a display stand — everything you need to make a diorama with what the kit provides.
Parts are held on three sprues: Sprue A has most of the parts for the UAV itself, Sprue B holds parts for the two figures, and Sprue C carries the parts for the stand. Of all 49 parts, only 26 are needed for the RQ-7B; you have the option of building four different RQ-7Bs. Decals are of very high quality, and the markings appear to be accurate.
The four-page instruction booklet includes a parts-tree breakdown, paint reference, and decal placement. The eight-step directions are clear and easy to follow. I did find a small mistake regarding decals: Decal No. 1 should be No. 2, and vice versa.
The molding is quite nice for such a tiny model, and fit of the parts took very little effort. I needed a touch of filler where the fuselage halves join, but that wasn’t a big issue. Detail on the figures was lacking, however. Facial features and the uniforms were a little soft. There were also issues with the fit of the arms to the torso, where a large gap needed to be filled and smoothed.
Decals posed no trouble whatsoever; they went on well with no silvering. The digital camouflage decals are fantastic, too. Designed by Crossdelta, they give the modern figures a realistic digital camouflage that is hard to replicate any other way. I cut small squares out of the camo pattern and added each individually. The decals conform to the nooks and crannies in the uniforms — time-consuming yes, but the outcome was well worth the effort. I used only one of the figures, as the base would have been a little crowded with both figures and the UAV.
My model took me about seven hours, much of which was used to put the camouflage on the figure. This is about what I had anticipated when I opened the box.
I found the build easy and enjoyable. Anyone looking for a fun weekend build should definitely consider this little gem. Academy surely didn’t disappoint!
Note: A version of this review appeared in the March 2013 FineScale Modeler.