1/48 Lockheed RQ-3A Darkstar

Stealth technology, a DARPA program, a fuselage that resembles a flying saucer, and a prominent role in Tom Clancy’s book “The Bear and the Dragon”. How could anyone not be fascinated with Lockheed’s RQ-3A Darkstar? Plus, an RQ-3A is a must-have to display alongside Skunk Models’ 1/48 RQ-4B Global Hawk. Both air vehicles were designed as part of DARPA’s High-Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HAE UAV) program in the 1990s.

Downen Scaled Replicas’ design of the RQ-3A is in 1/48 scale and features the UAV in a flying configuration (gear up) with engraved panel lines and a faithful representation of the Williams FJ44-1A engine fan and exhaust. Display base is also included.

You get a complete Darkstar kit in seven resin parts. The fuselage is in upper and lower halves with a separate engine nozzle duct. The FJ44 engine fan and mixer are represented and visible within the inlet and nozzle. The wings are provided in left and right halves correctly representing the wing dihedral as well as the 2-degree wing incidence and trailing edge “joggle” at the wing root.

Printed with the highest-quality desktop 3D printing technology, this kit consists of 3D printed resin parts. Assembly with CA or epoxy glue is required, and some cleanup of support stubs will be necessary as you will receive “rough trimmed” parts as well as some parts with printing supports still attached.

See all photos to understand what is included in the set. All landing gear doors are closed and no landing gear are included with the kit. No decals are included.

Check out our YouTube channel for a complete video build of this kit.