AFV Club 1/48 U-2A

Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

AFV Club 1/48 U-2A

Posted by Real G on Saturday, November 10, 2018 12:49 PM

I was so thrilled that news of a new tool kit in 1/48 was coming, but now my enthusiasm is tempered by test shot photos.

http://www.hyperscale.com/2018/reviews/kits/afvclubar48112reviewjm_1.htm

The “Red Line Brigade” has already started discussing ouiline and detail issues, which I normally downplay, but the nose and windscreen/canopy are noticeably wrong even through casual observation. In a nutshell, the clear parts are too tall/deep and the windscreen incorrectly has a scooped lower edge and does not taper enough to the front. The nose appears to be slightly too blunt and possibly short.

In a weird twist of logic, I am considering using the AFV Club kit as a part donor to build the vintage Hawk U-2A I have. Or maybe graft the Hawk nose to the AFV kit. But the intakes have a weird bulge on their sides which would also require correction or grafting from the Hawk kit. I have decals for an ATC U-2A in NMF/da-glo red that I really want to use. Hopefully a fix can be managed, as I had read that the two seat U-2CT is also to be released.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Pawel

Member since
May 2009
From: Poland

Posted by Pawel on Saturday, November 10, 2018 3:27 PM

Hello!

Funny thing, the review you linked has nothing but good things to say about this model.

I would love to get some more info on the U-2 ram horn system that was used in Vietnam - from what I know it is still classified today!

Some people say it's easier and faster to scratchbuild your own nose cone and vacuform a canopy than trying to graft pieces from other kit on.

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Saturday, November 10, 2018 4:32 PM

Pawel, that is the price one pays for knowing. I‘m a fan of the U-2, so even before the guys with the lines started posting, one look at the test shots told me that the canopy and nose were off. Reviewers cannot know every subject to heart, so Brett Green is to be forgiven.

Anyway, if the details like the cockpit and wheel wells look good, I’ll get one and sort things out myself.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Pawel

Member since
May 2009
From: Poland

Posted by Pawel on Saturday, November 10, 2018 5:46 PM

G, like I wrote, I wish you good luck with your project and I'll be watching.

As a fan, what can you tell me about those babies operating over Vietnam?

Thanks in advance for the info and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

Reply

Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Saturday, November 10, 2018 9:55 PM

Pawel, I don’t know much about the ram’s horn configuration. I have the Squadron and Aerofax books which show it though.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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Real G

Member since
May 2011
From: Honolulu, Hawaii

Posted by Real G on Friday, May 31, 2019 3:50 PM

The kit has been out for a while, and now it is totally quiet. Is no one building the kit? Where is the Red Outline Brigade? Have they moved on to another yet to be released kit? I deferred buying one, hoping to get some feedback on correcting the nose/canopy/intakes first. I got one at a good price (around $45 shipped), but it’s on a slow boat from China.

The mock up of AFV Club’s follow on U-2C at Shizuoka looked like they are going to correct the front end. Here’s hoping they do fix it, and do the two seat trainer.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”