Aftermarket S-2 Engine Nacelles

[11bee]

I'm trying to get my stalled US-2B build back on track, been sidetracked with some other projects, work, family demands, etc.

Anyway, can anyone provide info on a resin nacelle correction set for this kit? The kit nacelles are much to wide aft of the engines. I thought I saw a post somewhere on ARC about an aftermarket outfit releasing a set of corrected nacelles. The search function on ARC sucks, I can't find anything. I tried searches on Google, no luck.

Especially wanted is feedback from anyone who may have actually used this set.

Thanks very much!

John

[KursadA]

These are probably the ones by DMold - here you go:

DMold 48032 review

DMold item page

[11bee]

These are probably the ones by DMold - here you go:

DMold 48032 review

DMold item page

Those are the ones! Thank you very much. Now I just have to figure out if I can get them to work with the earlier B model I'm building.

Thanks again,

John

Edit - just check DMold's website, item is listed as "out of stock". Sigh.... Should have bought them when they came out I'll check out online retailers, maybe I'll get lucky. I'd still love to hear from anyone who has actually used this set on the Kinetic kit.

As a last question, anyone know if Kinetic fixed the nacelles when they released their S-2A version?

Edited July 19, 2014 by 11bee

[82Whitey51]

I think the Kinetic S-2A does have the proper nacelles.

If not, the Blecher Bits conv. parts for the Canadian Tracker may help;

http://www.belcherbits.com/lines/148conv/bb33.htm

Edited July 19, 2014 by 82Whitey51

[Corey]

Those are the ones! Thank you very much. Now I just have to figure out if I can get them to work with the earlier B model I'm building.

Thanks again,

John

Edit - just check DMold's website, item is listed as "out of stock". Sigh.... Should have bought them when they came out I'll check out online retailers, maybe I'll get lucky. I'd still love to hear from anyone who has actually used this set on the Kinetic kit.

As a last question, anyone know if Kinetic fixed the nacelles when they released their S-2A version?

Email Dmitri at Dmold, I believe I read somewhere that he was doing the S-2 stuff on a made to order basis.

[11bee]

I think the Kinetic S-2A does have the proper nacelles.

If not, the Blecher Bits conv. parts for the Canadian Tracker may help;

http://www.belcherbits.com/lines/148conv/bb33.htm

Hi Andrew,

I think the Kinetic S-2A nacelles are correct in that aft of the wing, the are smaller than the ones on the later versions. However, it looks like Kinetic still screwed up the overall design. On the real thing, the nacelles tapered significantly aft of the engine. This is very apparent when looking up at a Tracker. Kinetic completely missed this aspect of the kit (no idea how, it is very noticeable). Hard to explain in words but check out the picture from DMold in the following link:

http://www.dmold-modelworks.com/contents/media/S-2E%20nacelles_page.JPG

I will be purchasing the Belcher set, need the smaller horizontal stabs and the tapered aft nacelle sections. I'll still have to scratchbuild the pointy, aerodynamic fairings that the US-2B used to cover the sonobuoy launchers.

So much work....

[Tom]

So it would appear to me that you could purchase the DMold corrected, pinched nacelles to do a Canadian Tracker. What you would have to do then is cut the back ends off the DMold nacelles to match the length of the nacelle parts in the S-2A/CS2F-1 kit and also modify the downward slope of the nacelle immediately aft of the wing upper surface according to the Belcher Bits conversion. You wouldn't need the Belcher Bits sonobuoy launchers as they are in the S-2A kit. Does this make sense? Unless of course there were subtle differences in vents/panels on the nacelles between the S-2A and S-2E.

Cheers,

Tom

[aweber stoofan]

I am just finishing up a Kinetic Tracker with the DMolds nacelle correction set and I like the results. The correction set will work on your US-2, But you will have to make a change to the aft part of the nacelles. If it is a Bu # 136---- bird grafting on the late style S2F-1 aft nacelle parts included in the kit wouldn't be very difficult. There will be a little more work to rework the aft nacelle to a Bu# 133---- S2F-1 or Canadian version, but it is very doable and will be the way I will handle the job when I begin my next 133---- airplane. Dmolds nose and nacelle sets are the only way to go when it comes to building this kit. What a difference it makes, the model really does look like a Stoof with the corrections.

[82Whitey51]

Keep an eye on the DMold web site...I was looking there yesterday and they were listed as "In Stock". Today, "Out of Stock".

I think he makes batches and they naturally come and go. I ordered the E-2C Hawkeye fuselage fairing, it had been listed "Out of Stock" for several weeks but is now "In".

http://dmold-modelworks.com/index.html

[11bee]

Keep an eye on the DMold web site...I was looking there yesterday and they were listed as "In Stock". Today, "Out of Stock".

I think he makes batches and they naturally come and go. I ordered the E-2C Hawkeye fuselage fairing, it had been listed "Out of Stock" for several weeks but is now "In".

http://dmold-modelworks.com/index.html

Good info. As suggested above, I send him an email about this set, no reply. I'll check his site often, hopefully they'll be back in stock soon.

[11bee]

Keep an eye on the DMold web site...I was looking there yesterday and they were listed as "In Stock". Today, "Out of Stock".

I think he makes batches and they naturally come and go. I ordered the E-2C Hawkeye fuselage fairing, it had been listed "Out of Stock" for several weeks but is now "In".

http://dmold-modelworks.com/index.html

Good info. As suggested above, I send him an email about this set, no reply. I'll check his site often, hopefully they'll be back in stock soon.

[Darren Roberts]

I want to do a US-2B conversion for my Steel Beach line...and because I need on for a bicentennial scheme. What do a I need to do to the S-2A kit to get a US-2?

[11bee]

I want to do a US-2B conversion for my Steel Beach line...and because I need on for a bicentennial scheme. What do a I need to do to the S-2A kit to get a US-2?

It's going to required some work:

Add the pax windows on the starboard side. I cut out the rough openings with an Xacto knife and then used a small file to get the final shape. Since the windows on the real thing are affixed over the fuselage skin, you just need some thin clear plastic cut to shape and then glued over the openings.

Add the fairing that replaced the MAD sensor (not very hard, just use some putty to fair in the kit sensor).

Use the provided cover in lieu of the under fuselage radar.

Fill the void in the wing leading edge where the searchlight would have been mounted, I used styrene and putty, sanded to the contour of the wing.

You will need to fabricate the fairings that covered the unused nacelle sonobuoy launchers. Depending on the BuNo of your subject you will either need the later large fairing or the earlier, more pointed one. I haven't made it to this point on my kit. I plan on using laminated styrene sheet for the rough shape, then add miliput and sand to final shape.

May need to add some additional antennas. Check pictures of your subject aircraft.

If you are truly hardcore, add the 5 passenger seats.

If it helps, here is my build-log for an early version US-2B. I've got to finish one ongoing project and then I'll get back to work on it.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=245577

[Darren Roberts]

Thanks! That's just about what I thought I needed to do. For the conversion, I may need to leave the window up the modeler to do. I'll put it in my instructions, though. For the rear of the engine nacelles, I'll use Apoxie Sculpt for the master. Do you think I need to make two sets? There are two different styles back there that I can tell. There's one that has a completely vertical opening, and another has a parrot beak shaped fairing. The kit contains both.

[11bee]

Thanks! That's just about what I thought I needed to do. For the conversion, I may need to leave the window up the modeler to do. I'll put it in my instructions, though. For the rear of the engine nacelles, I'll use Apoxie Sculpt for the master. Do you think I need to make two sets? There are two different styles back there that I can tell. There's one that has a completely vertical opening, and another has a parrot beak shaped fairing. The kit contains both.

Hi Darren,

I missed the part of your post about making an aftermarket US-2B set. Where were you when I started my build a year ago? :)/>/>/>/>

As far as the rear nacelle fairings, I've seen US-2B versions with both, not sure which one was more prevalent. The USN conversion program took both early and late model S-2's. If you want to be comprehensive, do both. My subject is the earlier BuNo 133xxx version. Any BuNo in the 136xxx series had the later, larger fairings. I'm partial to the early version since a) I'm trying to build one and b ) I think they look better. I also think the larger fairings would require the Kinetic S-2E kit (don't think their S-2A kit has both types of nacelles). Also - Awber stoofan (posted on this thread) is a huge S-2 resource, as is Tommy Thomason. Might want to reach out to those guys for additional info, they are the true experts.

Late version (BuNo 136xxx)

Early version (BuNo 133xxx) - my subject, I believe this pic is courtesy of awber stoofan

If you can, please let me know if you plan on proceeding with this set. I'm not entirely happy with my progress on my build and would start over if Steel Beach was going to release a complete conversion set.

Regards,

John

Edited August 2, 2014 by 11bee

[Darren Roberts]

I'm going to give it a go. I'll post pictures as I progress. I checked my S-2A kit, and it comes with both sets of rear nacelles. So I'll include both early and late.

[11bee]

I'm going to give it a go. I'll post pictures as I progress. I checked my S-2A kit, and it comes with both sets of rear nacelles. So I'll include both early and late.

Great news. Good luck with your project and keep us informed. Sign me up for the first one that comes off the Steel Beach production line :)

[11bee]

I want to do a US-2B conversion for my Steel Beach line...and because I need on for a bicentennial scheme. What do a I need to do to the S-2A kit to get a US-2?

Hi Darren,

I just checked your website, no mention of the US-2B conversion. Any update?

[Joel_W]

11bee.

I'm really looking forward to following your build. I'm a Grumman's fan since I grew up 20 min from their main gate in Bethpage. I just bought the Kinetic S-2A, and plan on building it the early part of next year.

Joel

[11bee]

11bee.

I'm really looking forward to following your build. I'm a Grumman's fan since I grew up 20 min from their main gate in Bethpage. I just bought the Kinetic S-2A, and plan on building it the early part of next year.

Joel

Thanks Joel. It's already well underway, it just stalled due to temporary loss of interest / modeling burnout.

It's posted over on the In-progress forum:

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=245577&st=0&p=2337016&hl=tracker&fromsearch=1entry2337016

The first half is just some background info on the accident and data from the Navy report, followed by the initial build. I'm about 2/3rds done but am not fully satisfied with the state of the project. I'm planning now in re-doing some of the fuselage in hopes of improving things a bit.

Edited November 12, 2014 by 11bee

[Joel_W]

Thanks Joel. It's already well underway, it just stalled due to temporary loss of interest / modeling burnout.

It's posted over on the In-progress forum:

http://www.arcforums...1

The first half is just some background info on the accident and data from the Navy report, followed by the initial build. I'm about 2/3rds done but am not fully satisfied with the state of the project. I'm planning now in re-doing some of the fuselage in hopes of improving things a bit.

11bee,

Thanks for the link. I'm checking it out now.

Joel

[11bee]

Hi Darren,

I just checked your website, no mention of the US-2B conversion. Any update?

Bump... Just wondering if Steel Beach still has this in the works or not?

Regards,

John

[Darren Roberts]

Bump... Just wondering if Steel Beach still has this in the works or not?

Regards,

John

It's available at Sprue Brothers. I haven't had a chance to update the website yet.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Darren Roberts

[11bee]

It's available at Sprue Brothers. I haven't had a chance to update the website yet.

Order placed, this will save me many hours of scratchbuilding. Thanks for releasing such an arcane subject! Good luck with your US-2 project, post some pics if you can!

[ReccePhreak]

I wonder which aftermarket sets I will need (if any) to make my Royal Thai Navy S-2F Tracker.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nc10ATl-RiI/T0nk8bSMNxI/AAAAAAAACkE/19WVA21RpIY/s640/RTN-1204.jpg

Larry