Historical and Reference Notes

As you delve into this project, you should really become familiar with the basic U-2 story from its origins in 1953 all the way to its usage in 2025 – that’s over 72 years.

I recommend Wikipedia’s history, which I warn you, is extensive: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2

US Air Force: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104560/u-2stu-2s/

Several terrific YouTube videos (each of contain U-2S a/c):

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpcKKAhhGiw
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAFYws37JWA&t=8s
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAPNg8p_Umg

Lockheed Martin’s references: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/u2-dragon-lady.html

U-2R Senior Span "Dragon Lady"

Where does the name ‘senior span’ come from, you may ask?

On top of this U-2 is the prominent “Senior Span” or “Senior Spur” data uplink dome. This dome is an antenna used to communicate with satellites and other over-the-horizon assets. In simple language, this large dome transmits intelligence data captured by the U-2 sensors to users on the ground. This is part of a data link relay system. This data link allows real-time information to be gathered, analyzed, and disseminated.

The U-2's other capability is referred to as 'SIGINT' – signals intelligence. Inside pods on the wings are antennas able to soak up radio signals and intercept mobile phone signals that would otherwise be blocked by high terrain. One analogy stated, ‘the basic design of the U-2 is to act like a Lego set. Don’t like a sensor for this mission, take it off, plop another on, and away you go. These sensors are valuable and only get used when they are needed.’

The HobbyBoss statement includes these introductory items:

U-2 built in complete secrecy by Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunk Works, the original U-2A first flew in August 1955. Early flights over the Soviet Union in the late 1950s provided the president and other U.S. decision makers with key intelligence on Soviet military capability. In October 1962, the U-2 photographed the buildup of Soviet offensive nuclear missiles in Cuba, touching off the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Construction Notes

This kit is an easy build….well sort of…… The instruction booklet is a mere 8 pages long, detailing the 8 sprue sections’ molded grey plastic with 130+ parts. You might be surprised as you pull the pieces from the box: this is a very large kit, with a wingspan of 25.7 inches and length of 15.8 inches.

I really appreciate the basic sprue diagram. The construction begins with the hull sections, including some notes detailing where holes require drilling and continues with the cockpit area and wheel wells. Then onto a few areas where I decided to jump around in construction sequences, namely when to attach the numerous antennae (17 on the bottom of the fuselage and 3 on the top side, and ‘rear view’ mirror). I suspect you will conclude as I did, that some or all of which would be broken off unless I waited until the last possible (and still managed to break off two more than once).

The balance of the building steps are all clearly laid out and easily followed, with my remaining caveat: with the very large wing span (which also begs the question and hurdle of where to store such a kit), this model poses a significant issue. Just picking the aircraft up and handling it is challenging to say the least.

Fit and Finish

The fit is generally not up to the prevailing standards we see from many other manufacturers, including the level I have seen in other kits from HobbyBoss themselves. There are a significant number of areas where added attention should be directed, with some of the most egregious noted below:

1. There are a significant number of areas which require some putty (I use Vallejo Plastic Putty; this is a totally water soluble);
2. There are a few places where there are attachment stubs, which I found needed both filing and sanding;
3. The decals are finicky, to say the least. After some experimenting, I decided the adhesive used is not great. I encountered several areas where the paper backing would not release parts of the decal.

I apologize for my apparent negativity, although as I have tackled this HobbyBoss U-2R build, I have to ‘call them as I see them’ and this kit requires quite a bit of additional effort on the builder’s part to get through the build.

Painting

For painting my U-2R I chose the following finishing products and color paints:

I use Mr. Hobby’s Mr. Color Leveling Thinner (#T-106:300), performing all my cleanup with denatured alcohol (as suggested by John Miller).

• Vallejo Plastic Putty (Acrylic) #70.401
• Mr. Surfacer Finishing Surfacer Black 500 & 1500
• (surface preparation)
• RC 001 Flat Black
• RC 251 Dark Ghost Grey (interior area)
• RC 222 Insignia White (intakes)
• ATOM 20169 Burnt Iron
• AK Real Color Markers for both touch ups and to pick out small dials and knobs, etc.

I followed this with an overcoat of Alclad II Lacquer’s Aqua Gloss Clear (#ALC 600). This is my personal favorite, which produces a great clear finish (though in the bottle it appears cloudy, not to worry). And I sprayed my overall final finish using Testors Dullcoat Lacquer (#1160) (again diluted about 30% with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner).

One other miscellaneous expense is the darn very large case I had to purchase just to transport this critter in (@ $39.99). There is apparently no end to the pain we as modelers must endure……

Recommendation

Overall, this is an impressive kit, especially when considering the relatively small part count and six pages of instructions. On balance, I recommend the HobbyBoss U-2R kit. It’s not a kit I would recommend for a novice builder, though a more experienced builder should be able to overcome the issues I mentioned.

The dimensions and unusual shape of the U-2R are captured very well. I did run into some ‘bumps’ along the way; however, they are correctable and certainly do not affect the end result. The greatest issue appears to be how to display this very large aircraft model and how to store it.