1/32 GRUMMAN J2F-5 'DUCK' FLEET AIR PHOTO UNIT ATLANTIC | LUKGRAPH

[Boch]

Friends,

 

As some of you may know, I'm currently running a build log here on the forum for the Lukgraph Oeffag D.III. I’ve always lived by the principle: one model on the bench at a time. Well… not this time.

 

When Lukgraph invited me to take part in this extraordinary project, I knew from the start I wanted to be a part of it. Although my interests lie far from American flying boats of the 1930s, the “Duck” is more than just another aircraft to me. It’s a memory from childhood — one of the first aviation films I ever watched with my dad. Peter O'Toole in the lead role, scene by scene experienced together... The emotions of those evenings and the image of the Duck have stayed with me ever since. This aircraft has soul and character. It's one of a kind. There is only one Duck.

 

 

I also knew that the person responsible for designing this model — someone I truly admire — had gone to great lengths to achieve fidelity, detail, and accuracy. The entire Lukgraph team deserves recognition for the tremendous work they put into releasing this miniature. Being a part of this project is also my way of honoring that effort.

So here we are. I’ve become the first person on this planet to receive a production J2F-5 kit from Lukgraph. I will be sharing with you the build of this impressive miniature — a fully 3D-printed behemoth with a massive float and — thank goodness — two wings.

 

 

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That means we’re launching a new build log. I also want to take a moment to apologize to all of you who have been following the progress of my Cooper, Corsi, and their Oeffags. I solemnly promise: once the J2F-5 is completed, we will return to our heroes from the Polish-Bolshevik War.

In the meantime, I invite you to follow along as I tackle this build. What are my goals? First and foremost — I will build this kit straight from the box. I may add some wiring in the cockpit and around the engine, but everything else will come directly from what the manufacturer provides. The paint scheme will also be “out of the box,” which is quite rare for me, but the box art by Piotr Forkasiewicz — and the scheme itself — is just too beautiful to pass up. It represents the aircraft with side number 3, assigned to the Fleet Air Photographic Unit Atlantic. So yes — this will be a Duck straight from the box. But don’t let that fool you — I plan to go all-in with painting and weathering. My build will depict a well-worn airframe from late 1941 to early 1942, exposed to the harsh conditions of the Atlantic.

 

 

 

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This build log will not focus on historical background — unless something truly fascinating crosses my desk and I decide to share it with you. Why am I setting aside the usual historical deep dive that always accompanies my builds? The answer lies below.

The term “project” in the context of this model refers to more than just a build log. The ultimate goal of this endeavor is a comprehensive, fully illustrated modeling guide that I’m creating together with Lukgraph. It will be dedicated to building 3D-printed aircraft models, using the J2F-5 as an example. Hard cover, glossy paper, tons of photos, descriptions of modeling techniques, tools and materials, 3D design insights, base construction tips, and a history of the Duck aircraft family. We sincerely hope to have it in your hands later this year.

 

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As a warm-up, today I’m sharing the first modules that will be used to build the cockpit. This is just a preview of what this kit has to offer — even at this early stage, the level of detail makes it clear this will be a very special project.

 

 

 

 

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And finally, a few words on references and research. The main sources I’ll be using throughout this build include:

 

• Grumman JF/J2F Duck – Naval Fighters, Steve Ginter

• Grumman J2F Duck – Legends of Warfare, David Doyle

• Grumman G.15, G.20 & J3F Duck – Serie Aeronaval No. 15, Jorge F. Nunez Padin

• J2F-6 Airplane – Pilot’s Handbook of Flight Operating Instructions

• Grumman JF Duck – Squadron/Signal No. 7, Timothy Hosek

• Grumman JF/J2F Duck – Monografie Lotnicze, Adam Jarski

 

Special thanks to Tomek Gronczewski for his patience and generous help in resolving numerous technical questions related to the particular airframe I’m building.

 

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I also warmly invite you to follow my social media accounts — Facebook and Instagram: Aces in Scale — where I’ll be sharing additional content, build updates, close-up photos, and plenty of reels. You can already watch the unboxing video of the kit there!

 

That’s it for today. More soon!

 

Regards,

Lukasz

Edited May 31 by Boch

[scvrobeson]

I saw the unboxing video that you posted on Facebook, I'm really looking forward to this build.

 

 

 

Matt 

[Boch]

Just now, scvrobeson said:

I saw the unboxing video that you posted on Facebook, I'm really looking forward to this build.

 

 

 

Matt 

Thank you Matt. See you soon 😁🙏

[LSP_Kevin]

All I can say is ... wow!

 

Kev

[Boch]

42 minutes ago, LSP_Kevin said:

All I can say is ... wow!

 

Kev

thanks Kev

[Markjames1968]

Its Peter O’Toole ……and this is the wrong Duck..

Edited May 31 by Markjames1968

[monthebiff]

You really need to go Yellow Wings, that would be absolute perfection and give you a real challenge on the finish.

 

Regards. Andy 

[Madmax]

Fantastic - looking forward to this build Lukasz! Piotr's artwork for the box top is absolutely brilliant... 

[Boch]

Thanks guys, the first sections are already cut from the supports and the surface is being prepared for painting. I hope to be able to update every few days. Keep your fingers crossed, this is my first US Navy plane, so there will be some challenges.

Lukasz

[dennismcc]

This looks like a fascinating build of for me a really obscure but interesting subject.

It looks like 3d printing will become more common and the future of modelling, so it will be very educational to see how it is done.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Oldbaldguy]

As mentioned above, the box art is gorgeous, altho it is not clear to me why an airplane assigned to a photo squadron would be carrying depth charges.  Additionally, period photos show these airplanes in what looks to be pretty good shape so it will be interesting to see how much weathering you end up doing.  No idea what it is about Ducks - big, one too many wings, butt ugly and it floats - but everyone loves the things, me included.  Can’t wait to see where you go with this.

[AngryJazz_Models]

Very excited about this build - will be fun to follow 😊

[MikeC]

17 hours ago, Oldbaldguy said:

As mentioned above, the box art is gorgeous, altho it is not clear to me why an airplane assigned to a photo squadron would be carrying depth charges.

I suspect a case of artistic licence.

[Simmo.b]

I have been following on Facebook and of course here too, eagerly awaiting my pre-order!!

[Boch]

Workshop Update
 

Kick-off and Planning

Work is now in full swing. After carefully reviewing the instructions and thoroughly examining all available parts, I began planning the build. The cockpit was the natural first step – the logical heart of the entire structure. Before reaching for any tools, I needed to choose the appropriate modules to cut out and properly organize the workspace. I prepared separate containers for the trimmed elements to minimize the risk of damaging or losing them in the inevitable modeling chaos.

 

 

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First Impressions and Pure Delight

Even at this early stage, I must highlight the delight I experienced with every new part I inspected. The sharpness of the castings and the level of detail are simply staggering. The kit includes faithfully reproduced instrument panels, complete radio gear, throttle and mixture control systems, radiator mechanisms, and even... a urinal. Yes, you read that right – a urinal. I couldn’t stop smiling for hours.

 

 

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Support Removal and Cockpit Assembly

Eventually, it was time to cut off the supports – and they proved to be another pleasant surprise. They're delicate, subtle, and can be easily removed with a sharp blade or nippers. Most importantly, their design not only prevents part breakage but also eliminates the risk of mistaking them for actual model elements. The cockpit is built according to the real-life J2F-5 layout – based on a system of bulkheads and floors, to which equipment is gradually added. At this point, kudos must go to Lukgraph. The cockpit is engineered as a separate module that doesn’t require integration into the fuselage walls during assembly. While the fuselage isn't strictly needed at this stage, it’s still immensely helpful in understanding how everything will fit together.

 

 

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Cutting the Fuselage – Patience Rewarded

So, I moved on to cutting out the fuselage. Fair warning: arm yourself with patience. It took me nearly three hours – but I aimed for precision and minimizing the risk of edge breakage. The interior walls of the fuselage are densely packed with detail and equipment mounting points, and more components will be added during construction. The fuselage itself is an absolute beast – large, molded in two full halves, covered with a dense pattern of rivets, and rich in form. Without question, it’s the most spectacular fuselage I’ve ever had on my workbench.

 

 

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Sanding – A Meditative Necessity

With the cutting phase complete, it was time to begin sanding. Personally, I enjoy working with resin – it’s much more forgiving than polystyrene and responds well to files, sandpaper, and sponges. I made it a point to refine every piece, even those that will remain hidden from view in the finished model. Though sanding is a tedious and time-consuming process, I consider it one of the most crucial steps. Over the following days, I refined and perfected each cockpit component until I was finally able to test-fit the prepared elements.

 

 

 

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Planning the Wiring Layout

Right now, I’m mapping out the wiring in the crew compartment. There’ll be quite a few cables in there, and I want to bring even more life to a cockpit that already looks incredibly promising.

 

That's all for today – until next time.
Lukasz