1/48 Testors U-2C as Rudolf Anderson's U-2F

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I’m doing this one and an RF-86F for the museum where Solano Scale Modelers meets once per month. Here’s that club’s website:

https://goldeneramodel.com/SCSM1/SCSM1.html

I recently started managing the web site and we be adding more current affairs type club content to it as time goes on.

I will be doing this model as Major Rudolf Anderson’s U-2F. Major Anderson lost his life when shot down over Cuba, an incident that is thought to have been a big factor in things not getting worse during that crisis. Caracal Decals did a sheet that has the correct markings. The U-2C kit has the long upper fuselage fairing which had to be shortened. After cutting the necessary area a plastic card backing was made for the area and then Aves Epoxysculpt was used to bring things back to the proper shape. The cockpit will be just the pilot, seat, and instrument panel as it will be an inflight display, and with the addition of a bulkhead blocking off the rear of the cockpit. The same process was used to fill in the landing gear bays and a recess for a duct on the bottom was also filled and faired. The model has been rescribed using a JLC saw and a fine Tamiya scribing tool. A tailpipe was made from 9/16 K&S brass tube.

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I have added a fairing to the tail cone that seems to be fitted to the CIA U-C’s, made from a slice of brass tubing attached with superglue followed by epoxysculpt filler. The engine air inlet ducts have been added, with green zinc chromate sprayed in the interiors before the front of the duct was added. More Epoxysculpt and filing and sanding here as well.

Update:
The U-2 is progressing, if slowly. The markings here have all been painted, only the stars and bars and the small decals around the cockpit, and a few stencils will be used. Annoyingly the right stabilizer has decided to take a short holiday, looks like some drilling and pinning is in my future.

Here’s the finished pictures with some fun in-flight shots. Cloned out a brass tube that fit in the tailpipe. No prop to spin on this one, more’s the pity.

John

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