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David Kopielski
67 articles

1/48 Trumpeter HU-16A Albatross Sea Plane

July 2, 2021 · in Aviation · · 14 · 2.8K

This build is the HU-16A . I chose the United States Coast Guard scheme from 1957 using Caracal decals. The kit itself comes with a small photo etch set for added details, metal landing gear struts, and rubber tires. I scratch built all the fine details in the interior. The fit of this kit was very good. It did require a little “adjustment” to the canopy section but everything else fit nicely. The instructions are well laid out making assembly easy. See all photos and details from start to finish in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-hu-16a-albatross-uscg/

Reader reactions:
21  Awesome

8 additional images. Click to enlarge.


14 responses

  1. David, very fine results of a seldom seen subject. I like the clean aluminum with yellow, it just looks so tidy.

  2. Nice paint job on this. It would have been aluminum lacquer, not NMF, and you got the look just right.

  3. Looking superb, David.
    Your thread was also a nice one!

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    Walt said on July 2, 2021

    Really cool, I didn't even know about this kit. I love these Grumman amphibs, and yours looks great and really captures the what the ones I have seen look like. I spent eight years restoring a Grumman Goose, and can confirm what Tom said, it would have been painted silver. Grumman anodized their aluminum which gave the plane an over all grey appearance. You can get an idea of it by looking at the pictures from early in the build of the Goose on our Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/Goose-N642-310408869056897/

    Again really nice looking build!

  5. Man, that is so nice! David, that's a beautiful model; thanks for sharing her! 🙂

  6. Chiming in after the fact. Very nice model!

  7. As a fan of anything Grumman it's great to see this quality build.

  8. Beautiful build, David.
    Great paintwork and detailing.

  9. Thank you all for the comments!

  10. Inspirational...thanks for sharing and great work.

  11. I grew up on the New Jersey shore, and every morning a USCG Albatross would fly north on patrol, and in the afternoon an Albatross would fly south on patrol. They had a unique sound, and we would get plenty of warning it was coming. If we were on the beach and were waving, the pilot would rock his wings...great memories and a great build.

    Bruce

  12. My recent build is the Air Force version. Caracal decals have been out of stock for ever. Trumpeter really needs to add the walkway to the decal set. It was a PITA to paint.

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

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