1:48 U-2A

The real subject

The Lockheed U-2 is an American single-engined high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft with a very slender wing of great span, created in the middle of the 1950s for reconnaissance from altitudes beyond the reach of the air defenses of the day. The U-2A is the first production form. The structure is lightened to the limit of what is possible and in the air the machine behaves more like a glider than like a combat aircraft.

What the photo-etched set offers

Photo-etched metal parts for a U-2A model in 1:48 scale. They replace items that in plastic are inevitably thicker than the scale calls for, and they add fine texture that an injection mold cannot hold. The scope of the set and the fitting procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, as scissors will bend the metal. Sand away the remains of the tab with a fine file. Bend in a bending tool or between two blades, in one pass. It is glued with cyanoacrylate applied drop by drop on the tip of a pin; ordinary plastic cement has no effect on metal. Before painting, degrease the parts and spray them with a primer, otherwise paint does not hold on smooth metal and will rub off during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who are building the U-2A in 1:48 scale and want to take the model beyond the level of the kit parts. Working with photo-etched parts calls for tweezers, a sharp blade and calm, but the result shows on a finished model. Check in the instructions for the set whether the parts will fit a particular kit. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.