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As my U-2 project neared completion, I realized I needed
corrections to the kit tails to make them accurate. Italeri
molds a set of ribs on the upper side, but there should be a
matching set of ribs on the bottom, too, and Italeri
missed these. An hour or so with liquid cement and 0.010" by
0.020" strip styrene fixed the problem.
After finishing the tails, the thought occurred to me that
other modelers might be interested in corrected tails, too. I
contacted Cutting Edge (Meteor Productions) and foud them
very interested in production a correction set for the tails of
the U-2R/S. It would compliment their already impressive line of
U-2R/S update/correction sets.
I am only going to show the pieces as they come out of the
set in this review. See my built-up U-2S to see this correction
set in use.
The Update Set Described
The set is made up of only two pieces, molded in the medium
gray resin that we have come to expect from Cutting Edge.
There were no molding imperfections in the test pieces sent to
me.
Tail Planes |
There are no changes to make to
the kit in order to use this set. The pieces are simple
replacements of the kit-provided horizontal tails.
Note that the tails are handed with a specific left side and
right side. I marked the masters on the mounting tabs to
indicate which side is the top side for each tail. See the
following image.
Tail Plane Tabs |
Additionally, if you are paying
really close attention, scribed onto the slag are small letters
inticating the Cutting Edge stock number and a letter
("L" or "R") to indicate which side the tail plane goes on.
Slag Scribing |
While you might feel this set
would be a shoe in and really hard to mess up, I decided to
write instructions for the set. The instructions make mention of
the specific left and right sides to the pieces as well as
outlining the usage of the set.
Whether a specific U-2R/S needs these ribbed tails is a
function of the serial number for the airframe. All the 1968
model year aircraft (serial numbers 68-103xx) get these ribbed
tails as part of the upgrade that modified the wings to use the
super pods. The 1980 model year aircraft (serial numbers
80-10xx) have the reinforcing built into the tails and do not
have the outside ribs.
You only need these tails if building an aircraft from
the 1968 model year after it was updated to use the super pods
on the wings.
This is a simple, straight forward set -- two pieces and no
kit modifications.
As the designer of the masters, I do not think it is my place
to recommend this set or not. I will let the pictures in this
posting speak for themselves and leave any recommendations to a
more objective reviewer.
(Newest to Oldest)
-
U-2R/S Walk Around by
David W Aungst
On-Line HyperScale Reference, 2003
-
U-2: The Second Generation
by Chris Pocock
World Airpower Journal, Volume 28, AirTime Publishing,
1997
-
Dragon Lady by Ted
Carlson / Toyokazu Matsuzaki
Koku-Fan Magazine, Volume 1996-04, Bunrin-Do Company,
Limited, 1996
-
Recce Tech by Paul F
Crickmore
Osprey Color Series, Osprey Aerospace Publishing, 1989
-
U-2 Spyplane in Action by
Larry Davis
Squadron In Action #86, Squadron Publishing, 1988/2002
-
Lockheed U-2R/TR-1 by Jay
Miller
AeroFax MiniGraph #28, AeroFax, Inc., 1988
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Lockheed U-2 by Jay
Miller
AeroFax AeroGraph #3, AeroFax, Inc., 1983
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