1/72 U-2C

[john53]

I am about to start on my 1/72 Seminar U-2 as Gary Powers U-2C shot down on May Day 1960 in the former USSR. I have searched the ARC forums and come up with this--

1 overall color was non specular dark sea blue

2 no humps on spine

3 intermediate intakes(light gray interiors?)

4 white sun shield on canopy

5 360 in red on tail

6 ejection triangles under canopy

7 single ventral fin antenna

8 four antenna on nose

Is there anything else I missed, I am not sure about the sugar scoop under the exhaust or the landing gear color. I am assuming the wheel wells and door interiors were chromate yellow?

Thanks---John

[gearheadrandy]

I've read that the Agency aircraft carried no identifying markings on operational missions. So, no Article number on the tail, just wingwalk stripes, ejection triangles, stenciling.

I would think intakes and gear wells would be the same color. On later U-2s they are a very pale cream. When I build my early Dragon Ladies I think I'll go with YZC unless I hear from someone more knowledgeable . . . ?

Definitely no sugar scoop. Those didn't appear until after the May Day shootdown.

Don't forget the slipper tanks, needed for the nine-hour mission.

I hope you can post pics, in progress or when finished. I love the Dragon Lady and have a little stack of 'em in the stash.

[john53]

Randy---thanks for the info. As far as intakes color I have seen shoot down photos of Power's and Cuban one and both interiors seem to be light gray and not chromate yellow. What color were wing walk stripes? I did paint my MPC 1/72 U-2C with chromate yellow though as seen here...

[john53]

I have another intriguing question---what was the "tan" area near the left side of the nose on Powers' dark blue U-2? Its shown on Cutting Edges decal sheet. I have also seen this color, light brown or tan on bottom of F-106s. Is this a fibre glass "no paint" area for radar or ECM devices?----Thanks---john