1/48 Monogram OS2U Kingfisher: Jim Sullivan Memorial Group
This was the 2nd model I have built for the Jim Sullivan Memorial Group. In each build, I have tried to model a plane in a specific photo in one of Sullivan's books, in this case "Golden Wings". The Kingfisher is one of my favorite planes and I have always wanted to build a landplane version. Various reviewers of the Monogram kit all note that the float is about 30% too small, so this model dodges that issue. One of the problems building old kits (this kit dates back to 1966) is that it is hard to get things like PE, masks, and resin. I'm not sure if there was ever PE and masks for this model, but for sure they aren't available now. The cockpit in this kit isn't bad and would be a good basis for some scratchbuilding, but there are several sets of resin that really make the interior shine. All of these resin sets are difficult to find. I used the Cutting Edge interior set for this model. It is a very nice set that is impossible to find today. I managed to find one set on Ebay for a price well above $50. The part that really needs replacement is the engine, which in the kit is molded as part of the cowling. I had a Cutting Edge replacement cowling, but I needed a replacement engine. I found a nice 3D printed engine on Ebay, to which I added spark plug wires and push rods.
The kit went together well, and the resin interior fit like a glove. Things slowed down when I got to the canopy. I use a lot of pre-made canopy masks because I really hate to do my own masking. There were no pre-made masks for this plane, and the number of canopy panes that needed masking was daunting. My old way of masking consisted of placing one large piece of masking tape on the canopy, then manually cut around each pane using a sharp knife. This is a great idea when you have steady hands, which have become problematic as I have aged. I let the plane sit for a couple of weeks while I sat around, dreading the task ahead. I finally decided that I could use thin strips of tape on each side of each pane. These could be easily trimmed with minimum chance of catastrophe. Things went smoothly after I got the canopy masked and I finished the plane in just a few days with no issues. Sometimes your Karma just aligns with the Universe, and everything goes smoothly. I didn't do a lot of weathering on the model because the plane in the photo looks really clean. I limited the weathering to some minor streaking on the wings and fuselage, and some exhaust staining. This was a fun build (after I got past the canopy) and it is already filling a space in my display case. I want to do one more plane for the group, a T-6 Texan this time. Cheers everyone.
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- 1. Cutting edge set is really nice.
Lovely Kingfisher, though it does like like it's missing something without the float! All the adds you put into this look fantastic - way to bring an old kit up to speed!
Thanks, Greg (@gkittinger). I have always wanted to do a Kingfisher without a float. I still have a couple more of these, and a really nice 3D printed set from a company called Flightline Engineering that includes the full interior, cowling, engine, and a new float. I also have the 1/32 kit, so plenty of opportunity for floats.
George, @gblair, I stumbled into your build late, and have to say well done! You really showed this kit a lot of love and resin! In the end I think the results were worth it, you really made a good looking model. The finish looks great as well as the interior work you did. It is nice that at least you have a nice canopy to view it all through. Congrats on a great build.
Thanks, Walt (@luftwaffe-birdman). Next time I build this kit I want to see what I can do with the kit interior and some scratchbuilding.
Lurker, but I had to sign in for this one. A lot of people don't realize how good (and bad) the Monogram kits were. Raised panel lines are problematic, as well as fit, but outline was generally accurate. Cockpits could be sensational.
Regardless, inspirational. Time to take one of my Century series out of the stash 🙂
Thanks, Robert (@riffer). I really like building old kits, especially Monogram and Revell. I really haven't found the raised panel lines to be a problem and I almost never cut new panel lines. My one recent exception is a 1/48 B-25J that I converted to a CB-25J. The interiors in the Century Series models were pretty good. I'm looking forward to seeing your models.
@gblair - I really enjoyed following the WIP on this, and love the result.
Thanks, Tom (@tcinla). I appreciate the kind words. Thanks to your advice, I will be doing the Revell T-6 next. Thanks for following along.
@gblair - Fantastic work George!
Thanks, Brian (@brithebuilder). I am still boggled from your recent mass army build.
Well done on that masking, George, the canopy really makes the plane, it’s gorgeous.
Thanks, George (@chinesegeorge). I don't know why I have had such a mental block on doing my own masking, but I think I finally have it figured out. It only took me 70 years to figure out. :o)
That turned out awesome, George. The engine really added a lot and I enjoyed following along. ASW planes are a growing interest of mine. That was the first 1/48 kit that I remember my dad bringing home for us to build after a steady diet of bagged 1/72 Airfix kits. It looked giant!
Today, I have a Monogram kit in the stash along with Mark Buckler’s resin upgrades for it. I’ll eventually do it in yellow wings.
Again, well done!
Thanks, John (@j-healy). It was great to have you following along. This is definitely an elderly kit, but is still pretty good. Looking forward to seeing your Kingfisher. I still have a couple more to do, but I will wait a while. Baldwin County, Alabama? I bet the humidity is probably higher than here in central Texas, but not by much. 105 today with 70% humidity. I did a spot check on my kits in the garage and I think they are OK, too.
Yes, George. 84% humidity right now!
Beautiful work,George@gblair. Your persistence putting together this not so easy to build old Kingfisher and the final product shows us what real modeling is all about.
If these heat domes continue much longer, we’re all going to have to get an extra refrigerator for our kit stashes.
Thanks, Eric (@eb801). You know things are bad when we were hoping for the remnants of the tropical storm to hit central Texas. The resulting storms passed just a few miles south of us, so Austin temps dropped 25 degrees thanks to the rain, while ours stayed at 108. One of our neighbors just installed a small "satchel" air conditioner in his garage. He says it hasn't made a huge difference in his electric bill, so far. I'm not there yet, but I keep checking my models in the garage, just in case.
The updated engine and interior make for a great looking model.
Thanks, John (@jdtruby). Thanks for stopping by.
An awesome model, George! Your excellent skills and the extras used resulted in a really supreme outcome. Both the resin interior and 3D engine were great investments. Your build thread was, as always, a joy to follow.
Congratulations!
Very impressive result in this Kingfisher, George @gblair
The extras and your modelling skills brought really the best out of this kit. The paint work is superb as well.
Thanks for sharing your progress in the build thread.
Well done, George. It was a great build and a very nice accomplishment. Jim would love it!
Still can't get used to seeing a Kingfisher without floats.
Spectacular job on that old Monogram. The engine and cockpit improvements really make it stand out!
Thanks for stopping by Spiros (@fiveten), John @johnb), Gary (@gwskat), and Chas (@chasbunch). The Cutting Edge resin really made a difference. I have always wanted to do a Kingfisher on wheels because you almost never see models of them. Next one will have a float. It is always a pleasure to have friends join the WIP.
Love this, other George
Thanks, George (@blackadder57). I think one more for the group, this time a T-6 (it's Navy, so I guess it is an SNJ).
This Kingfisher looks great! The extra work & parts you added to it really improved it.
George R Blair Jr (@gblair)
You have done an incredible job with your Kingfisher. It looks amazing, and it's definitely the best one I have ever seen built. The aftermarket items and various scratch built parts were definitely worth the added time and effort. You normally don't see too many US Navy planes painted in the Atlantic ASW scheme, and most of the Kingfishers I have seen were all on floats. Well done !
It was an absolute joy to follow along with you during your build journal. I sincerely appreciate your continued support for the Jim Sullivan group. Jim would definitely be proud of this one for sure.
I'm also following along with your latest one, the SNJ / T-6 Texan build. It will be just as epic as this one was.
Thanks again, and I'll be sure to click on several of the different "like" buttons before I leave.
Thanks, Jay (@ssgt). I appreciate the kind words.
Thanks, Louis (@lgardner). It was fun to have you following along on the extended WIP. Maybe the canopy masking will come in handy on the SNJ. Glad you will be along for the "fun" paint on the Texan. I still want to do an early F4U-4 for the group, if I can fit it in.
Awesome build! Beautifully detailed cockpit!
Thanks, Robert (@roofrat). The Cutting Edge interior did all the heavy lifting on this one. I may try to use the kit cockpit on the next one, along with some scratchbuilding.
Well done George.
Thanks, Tom (@tom-bebout).
Great work !
Thanks, Martin (@matra).