Testors 1/48 U-2C - COMPLETED

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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OK FSM, here I am with my first WIP since my return. I’m coming in with the old Testors (Hawk) U-2. Yes, I know AFV has put out their new Dragon Lady wunderkit, but I had this gem already sitting in my stash. Yes, I’m aware of all the issues and niggles with the kit, but I’m sure it’ll look like a U-2 when it’s done and on my shelf, and that’s good enough for me. The kit, with all of its challenges, will serve as an opportunity to hone on my skills.

I’ve been on Spring Break this week, and I took advantage of the time off and spent some time at my bench. I know this kit is very basic, but again, I wanted to use it as practice. Specifically, I figured it’d be a good way to practice painting a weathered black finish, and it’d be a good way to practice my scribing. So, the latter is what I’ve spent my time doing.

Really, besides the scribing, there isn’t too much to share. I did work on some scratched FOD covers for the exhaust and intakes.

Now that the main parts are scribed, I think I can begin with assembly.

As usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Thanks for stopping by!

Stay tuned!
-O

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ICM is making a U-2? It should be better than AFV Club’s boondoggle attempt. It’s a cold day in hell when the Hobby Boss kit is a better starting point.

The ancient Testors/Hawk kit seems to provide a solid base for a decent model. It’s overall shape and proportions appear to be accurate. It’s just a product of the time (the 1960s). Did Testors tool up a proper cockpit tub and add a tail pipe?

I have the original Hawk kit that represents an early U-2A, and I intend on robbing as many detail bits from the AFV Club as I can (cockpit, wheel wells/landing gear, tail pipe).

Anyway, good luck on your build!

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Looking forward to what you do with this one O. Getting more and more interested in this plane. At least in the SR-71 you had someone up there with you. In the U-2 you’re up there alone for 8-10 hours and then you get to land the most difficult plane in the world.

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I’m sure it will look like a U-2 when you’re done, O. Will follow along.

Gary

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Uh…RealG, I am mistaken. Thanks for catching my error. I meant AFV, not ICM. My apologies for any confusion. I’ve since corrected my mistake in my original post.

Cheers!
-O

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Well ICM does make a U2 but I don’t think it flies as high or as fast.

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One thing I’ve always wanted to do with a U-2 kit was turn it into a what if armed U-2 with missiles or some other armament. It might seem a bit far fetched, but Lockheed actually did design studies of such a concept. There probably would have been 2-3 missiles under each wing.

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Aw you guys are too funny! I would have been thrilled if ICM had a new-tool Lockheed U-2 in the pipeline. They are doing some terrific kits these days.

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He meant AFV Club

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This is making me wish I had a U2 in my stash. I’ve thought about it over the years, just never grabbed one.

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I’m really interested in seeing how it turns out. I have the Hobby Boss 1:48 scale in my stash and you’re making me want to pull it out.

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I love this plane. I’m still planning to build the TR-1B and the U-2R, but I’d definitely trade them for the U-2S Dragon Lady.

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Hey gang, thanks for following along. Sorry about the ICM vs. AFV confusion. Thanks to RealG and fxsti03-42 for helping sort me out.

I was able to get the primary assembly done. It’s a very basic kit, so there weren’t a lot of subassemblies. Here you can see the subassemblies dryfitted together.

The wings and stabilizers fit fairly well, so I decided I could assemble after painting. However, prior to painting, I had to mask and install the canopy. I also made a couple of small alterations to the airframe.

First, I added a couple of “bulkheads” to the landing gear well.

I just used a couple of small pieces of scrap styrene shaped to match the fuselage contours. Once the MLG bay is dropped in, they look the part.

I also used another piece of scrap sheet to box in the tail fairing above the exhaust.

After that, I got the parts primed in black Mr. Surfacer 1500.

Then I used some grays and tans to add some marbling before paint.

Then I covered all that with a blend coat of NATO black.

I plan to do more with the paint, but I’m happy with the “ashy” look I’m starting to achieve.

Oh, and just for grins and giggles, I dropped in the intake FOD covers to see how they look.

I like what I’m seeing.

So, that’s where I’m at. Of course, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out.

Thanks for lookin’!
-O

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I like the way the ‘black’ turned out. Very nice - always seems like a hard finish to pull off but yours looks awesome.

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Thanks keavdog! Much appreciated!

-O

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It’s turning out great, O! And I learned they make a Mr. Surfacer “black”. :grinning:

Gary

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Man, that is looking great! I really like how simple it is. No sense putting a ton of effort into spaces no one will get to see

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I love it. I have tried the marbling technique, but wasn’t successful once I started spraying over it. Need to practice this technique since it really does provide depth to the paint job.

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Nice looking finish, I think I’ll give it a try on the Airfix 1/72 P61 Black Widow I’m working on now. Well done.

Regards,
Adrian

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Hey gang, thanks for stopping by and for the pats on the back. Your comments and compliments are much appreciated!

I’m back today with a very small update. I finished up the landing gear. The kit is very basic and the landing gear and wells are very simple. I did not spend any time improving the kit’s parts, I simply built things up OOB.

As it stands now, the kit has a gloss coat and its four decals on it. I think the next post will be the finished product.

Thanks for stopping by. As usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Stay tuned for the final product!

Cheers,
-O

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