U-2C Frances G Powers 1/48 Article 360

[Otto]

Is the old Hawk / Testors now newly re-released Lindberg kit still the only way to build the Article 360 airframe? I remember reading in some posts that the intakes must be modified a bit and the wing tanks must be installed from a newer testors kit. Any other thoughts? Any ideas on exactly what must be done to the intakes? There are a few different opinions on the intakes from various people.

[ReccePhreak]

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Edited June 19, 2016 by ReccePhreak

[Otto]

From what I understand of the intakes, is that they must just be made more spherical laterally but not bulged vertically. I have a testors kit to take the wing fuel tanks from and bought metal landing gear and a vac canopy. I will have to see what I can modify a cockpit from.

[dehowie]

You may or may not be interested but cutting edge released the resin available to doGary Powers aircraft.

Resin seems quite good as well but I'm not a expert on the U-2..intakes etc..

[Otto]

That resin is very hard to find and when it is on eBay it is VERY expensive. I have looked for quite a while for it. This picture shows the intake shape quite well.Here is the proof that the aircraft had the wing tanks attached to it also. There is some discussion about that subject on other sites. Also these pictures verify the blue color and not black. The same color as used by Taiwan aircraft.

Edited May 15, 2016 by Otto

[mrvark]

Some years ago I made a model of Power's jet for Chris Pocock, a long time friend and THE acknowledged expert on the history of the U-2, with at least three books on the subject. Since the model was a surprise, I kept bugging him about details. I could tell he was wondering why I kept asking so many questions and was getting a bit annoyed with me. Of course, all that evaporated once he saw why I'd been bugging him so relentlessly! Below is a summation of the details that should help you in your quest, as well as a few photos of the model to show the decal placement for all the various flush antennas.

One thing that I couldn't fix (and I don't think the vacuform canopies correct either is that the white 'sunshade' area on the canopy is substantially too big. (Why is it if a manufacturer is going to screw up just one piece in a kit it is bound to be a clear piece?!)

Power’s U-2 was article 360 (56-6693). This aircraft was delivered as a U-2A, but was converted to a U-2C in Aug 59. Then, marked as “449” (probably in white), it crash-landed in Japan on 24 Sep 59 (see Dragon Lady p.44). After undergoing repairs in the US, it was transferred to Adana, then forward-deployed to Peshawar, Pakistan, from where it flew its fateful 1 May 60 mission (probably without markings). Its configuration was:

Slipper Tanks

Ventral Fin

NO dorsal fairing of any kind

Interim, “non-coke bottle” inlets

B-camera installation with seven windows

SIGINT System 3, which shared a long Scimitar antenna with System 6, which was housed in a ventral fin.

SIGINT System 6, identifiable by rectangular antennas (with rounded corners) on both sides of the nose, two each circular and rectangular antennas on either side of the Q-bay hatch and Scimitar antenna which it shared with System 3 in the ventral fin

AN607 non-specular Sea Blue paint, which matched the later FSN 35042 ANA Bulletin 157e, 15 October 1964)

NO insignia. Tail number policy at that time is unknown. (By 1964, CIA aircraft had white walkway outlines on the wings plus "No Step" stencils at intervals. There were also ejection seat warnings and emergency canopy release instructions below the cockpit on both sides. These were decals that were apparently never removed (See photo taken in Japan in late 1950s on p 40 of Dragon Lady.)

[Otto]

Thank You, that will help a lot. Is it for sure that the tail # was not on the aircraft? I just ordered the "Warbird Tech" book on the U-2. I hope it has some useful info and pictures.

[habu2]

I just ordered the "Warbird Tech" book on the U-2. I hope it has some useful info and pictures.

It has several photos of small-wing U-2s but the majority of the book focuses on the big-wing jets. Only 3-4 paragraphs on Power's flight, no photos of the specific jet/mission.

Aerofax also has a good U-2 book (Aerograph #3) although somewhat dated, published in 1983. Lots of photos but none specific to Power's flight.

I don't have Pocock's book... :(

[dehowie]

Pococks book is simply awesome.

As for the resin kep an eye on EBay I picked up a full set with decals and a U-2 for a good price..ie less than 100.

[Otto]

I think the most important thing are the intakes. I should be able and modify those on the kit. The only thing I will have to figure out, is which is simpler enlarge the ones on the Hawk, or shrink the ones on the Testors.

[Jay Chladek]

This is a subject near and dear to me as well since I have an original Hawk U-2A kit, sans decals. I've been leaning towards doing a straight U-2A (such as the one that did the first assigned overflight of what we know today as the Baikonaur launch complex about a month before Sputnik) rather than doing Powers' bird due to all the crazy mods required for it.

BTW, concerning the new Hawk U-2C reissue of the Testors kit, the plastic may be the same but the new decal sheet is a VERY good reason to get it as they give you a couple additional marking options on it, including a mid-1970s NASA jet with the red worm font on the tail and the proper fuselage stripes. Now if only Airfix could repop their excellent early U-2 in 1/72. Sure it was raised panel lines, but it had some nice options and a good shape.

[KursadA]

Jim, many thanks for the information - it will be useful for the early U-2 decals I am working on.

Edited May 17, 2016 by KursadA

[Otto]

I have two of the hawk kits and might also do an earlier A model.

[DonSS3]

I keep hoping somebody will come out with new resin enhancements for the Hawk/Testors/Italeri U-2s. Those Cutting Edge sets typically go for prices well North of what I'm willing to pay, or can afford.

[X-Plane Fan]

With so many choices of colors and markings, why limit the U-2 collection to just one airframe....

[ya-gabor]

Have spent few hours in Moscow with a measuring tape and camera around that airframe (remains) and also of the one in Cuba. The seat was of special interest for me, but for the moment all the data is just a raw material, never got around to using it. Will have to dig out the Airfix kit and see what can be done about it.

Best regards

Gabor

[Rob de Bie]

Jim, many thanks for the information - it will be useful for the early U-2 decals I am working on.

Interesting!! Can you give an approximate release date, or is it too early for that?

Rob

[Otto]

With so many choices of colors and markings, why limit the U-2 collection to just one airframe....

Hay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!_____________________________ COOL, there is one that has NAVY on the side. I never knew that. Also the noted diference between the Taiwan blue and the US CIA blue. I woner if that is so or if in fact they are the same color.

[Flankerman]

The wreckage of a Taiwanese U-2 is in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing.... where I took this photo..

My photo of Gary Powers airframe from the Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow....

Ken

Edited May 18, 2016 by Flankerman

[echolmberg]

I saw the Hawk U-2 box at my LHS just a couple of days ago. I was sooooo tempted to get it. Does this release have the slipper tanks for the wings?

[aircal62]

The Testors U-2R/TR-1 kit intakes, should be larger than the early U-2's without fatness of the U-2C. I do not have the "R" kit, but might those work as a starting point for your project Otto?

[Otto]

That is what I am wondering if the Testors is simpler to shrink or the hawk to enlarge. I do have a suspicion that the Hawk to enlarge might be simpler. I also have both and will have to investigate closer.

[aircal62]

Otto, another intake to investigate without the shock cones would be from an F-104. I do think that either the U2R or F-104 would give you a good cross-sectional intake for your build.

[Otto]

Because the bulge is only to the sides and not up and down, I think the mod will be easy.

[DMC]

Because the bulge is only to the sides and not up and down, I think the mod will be easy.

Hi Guys,

Serendipity led me to this Website and U-2 thread. I am a member on Britmodeller and am currently running a WIP thread on a U-2C. I am using the Italeri issue of the Testor's reworking of the Hawk U-2A. For my first attempt at a U-2 I thought it best to build the kit as moulded rather than backdate it by removing the so-called canoe hump. I have done a little scratchbuilding on the kit and have decided to depict it as one of the white NASA U-2Cs. I have lately acquired one of the Hawk U-2As and will be using that as the basis for Powers' 'article 360'.

Really pleased to find this up-to-date thread as I thought I had exhausted every useful source of U-2 information on the Internet.

Would have included the Britmodeller link but as a self confessed Ludite I wasn't sure if it was allowed. Given the okay I will gladly provide it.

DMC