Lockheed U-2A in USAF service
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/0/9/1700809-10501-68-720.jpg)
Kit contents. Lots of plastic bags and a type of polystyrene that really stinks the place up. Kept the box closed during the build…
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/8/0/8/1700808-10501-30-720.jpg)
What you get for the cockpit is basic but allright. What is lacking is decals for the side consoles, but will make those myself.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/8/1/0/1700810-10501-88-720.jpg)
Cockpit assembly and painting in progress
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/8/1/3/1700813-10501-37-720.jpg)
Cockpit almost done, the main instrument panel is a bit of a laugh. Should have replaced that as well.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/0/7/1700807-10501-69-720.jpg)
According to various Internet sources HB got the vertical fin wrong in being too vertical.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/8/1/1/1700811-10501-37-720.jpg)
The fix is not that difficult, just remove plastic from the fin mount on top of the horizontal tail and fuselage.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/8/1/2/1700812-10501-34-720.jpg)
A few minutes of carving and sanding and problem fixed!
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/8/1/4/1700814-10501-55-720.jpg)
The pod on the RH wing is not supposed to be there so is carved off.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/8/1/5/1700815-10501-31-720.jpg)
Wings assembled, requiring filler around the LE inserts and the tip. Fuselage ready for assembly.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/8/1/6/1700816-10501-46-720.jpg)
Despite the decent fit I could not get things seamless. While filling the long seam kept on cracking open as well. Duh.. Wings are rescribed and ready. Will be adding a thick metal wire to control anhedral.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/8/1/7/1700817-10501-62-720.jpg)
Fuselage seam finally gone, getting ready to install the tailplane and fin. Took some final adjusting to get a reasonable fit of the fin.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/8/1/9/1700819-10501-75-720.jpg)
Time to install the wings. Used a copied reference to figure out the correct anhedral.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/8/2/0/1700820-10501-75-720.jpg)
Wing joint needed some filler, but nothing major.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/8/2/1/1700821-10501-97-720.jpg)
Primer coat applied which highlighted a need for some rework on a few seams. Sanded down the primer coat in preparation for the NMF finish.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/8/2/2/1700822-10501-12-720.jpg)
NMF sprayed with Vallejo Air. Not my best effort, with several booboo’s on the underside due to too much paint. But the upper side looks OK.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/8/2/3/1700823-10501-65-720.jpg)
Masked and sprayed the nose and antiglare panel.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/8/2/4/1700824-10501-16-720.jpg)
The decals went on fine, although they are not very accurate. I replaced the serial number but should have replaced the US Air Force decal as well. I cut out the big carrier sheet between the walkways which made them a pain to apply…
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/8/2/5/1700825-10501-92-720.jpg)
Based on the various photographic references I did some very light weathering to break up the monotony of the NMF finish a bit.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/8/2/6/1700826-10501-20-720.jpg)
Sealed everything in under a semi-gloss coat which turned out a bit more matt than expected.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/8/2/8/1700828-10501-73-720.jpg)
Adding the geary bits. Intended to install the air brakes open but an actuator zinged away into oblivion while installing it so I was forced to go for closed after all. Unfortunately the pogo’s ended up floating. Not sure where that went wrong…
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/8/2/7/1700827-10501-27-720.jpg)
And done! A nice kit to add to my collection although awkard to photograph and an annoying space hogger in the display cabinet 🙂.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/8/2/9/1700829-10501-81-720.jpg)
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/8/3/0/1700830-10501-80-720.jpg)
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23 6 April, 08:30