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In-Box Review
148
U-2S upgrades
U-2S upgrades for Academy/Italeri kit
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by: Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]

History
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-jet engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day and night, very high-altitude (70,000 feet; 21,000 m), all-weather intelligence gathering. The U-2 has also been used for electronic sensor research, satellite calibration, and communications purposes.
The U-2S is a redesignation of the TR-1A and U-2R aircraft with updated General Electric F118 engine, improved sensors, and addition of a GPS receiver; 31 converted.
Info from Wikipedia

Cockpit and vacu canopy
Item No -C 48-28 Price - £17
As normal for Pavla's cockpit sets the resin parts are protected in a foam backed blister pack. The set contains a resin cockpit tub, a one piece resin seat, a resin instrument panel, three smaller resin parts, and a vac form canopy. A set of instructions complete the contents of the set.
The resin parts are flawless, with no discrepancies present. The parts are connected to a casting block, but as normal for Pavla, the removal of the blocks should be no trouble.
The tub, seat and instrument panel are very detailed with a lot more detail then the kits parts, and are a vast improvement.
The cockpit tub has the side consoles cast onto the resin tub, and has the throttle handles and instrument panels and buttons as raised detail. The cockpit tub back wall is very detailed with raised ejector seat rails, spars and hydraulic lines.
The seat is crisply moulded with the harness moulded onto the seat cushions. The detail for the seat frame is way above the kit part with raised and recessed detail. The seat has the ejection handle in moulded as part of the seat.
The main instrument panel is superb with several screens and raised buttons adorning the I.P face. The I.P comes with the hood moulded onto the panel and has a very delicately done rough surface. Rudder pedals hang from the bottom of the I.P.
The smaller resin parts replace the control column, and a grab handle a rear view mirror to attach to the front canopy.
The canopy although moulded as one part is in fact two parts, with the front windscreen and main canopy joined by access plastic. the parts are thinner then the kits offering and clarity wise are a lot better with no distortion. care will need to be taken separating the two glazed areas.
A set of instructions for adding the parts is supplied and although Pavla don't specify any paint companies names for the internal areas, they do at least tell you what generic colour each part is.
The construction is simple as the cockpit is all replaced, but you will have to remove a rear bulkhead which is moulded onto the spine of the plastic kit.
The resin seat and the vac from canopy can be bought separately.
SR-1 ejection seat
Item No -S 48047 Price - £1.99
Vacuform canopy
Item No -V 48-18 Price - £TBA

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Well cast, and beautifully detailed
Lows: None really
Verdict: If you want to open up the cockpit area of the U-2 then you cant go far wrong with adding at least the resin seat for the cockpit.
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: see text
  Suggested Retail: see text
  PUBLISHED: Jul 26, 2015
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 84.81%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.99%

Our Thanks to Pavla Models!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Andy Brazier (betheyn)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH EAST, UNITED KINGDOM

I started modelling in the 70's with my Dad building Airfix aircraft kits. The memory of my Dad and I building and painting a Avro Lancaster on the kitchen table will always be with me. I then found a friend who enjoyed building models, and between us I think we built the entire range of 1/72 Airfi...

Copyright ©2021 text by Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

[quote Andy Brazier spys (sorry, my puns are getting worse) [/quote] So's your spelling If I spy on your spies I'd be spying That I.P. looks better than the kit part but looks a little bit on the rough side, shame this wasn't around a couple of years ago when I built mine although I do have an earlier version waiting in the stash, just need to check pictures and see if it's usable it that.
JUL 25, 2015 - 10:27 PM
So's your spelling If I spy on your spies I'd be spying That I.P. looks better than the kit part but looks a little bit on the rough side, shame this wasn't around a couple of years ago when I built mine although I do have an earlier version waiting in the stash, just need to check pictures and see if it's usable it that. [/quote] As soon as I had typed it I knew it was wrong but forgot to change it . The kits I.P is just basically a blank black bit of plastic compared to the Pavla I.P. I have been looking around the flat wondering where I would display something with a foot long wingspan, the Better Half has suggested the bin. I did say the bin wasn't big enough for it. My first thought when I got the update sets was your U-2 Lucky. If I get mine built we wont have to worry about filling the stand at shows. Andy
JUL 25, 2015 - 11:33 PM
No problem Andy. For those that need the refer here's a couple of IP photos: U-2R U-2C ER-2 (NASA)
JUL 26, 2015 - 01:05 AM
   
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