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US-2B Tracker


John1

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Here are some pics of a pretty special project of mine.  It's a 1/48th US-2B Tracker (a utility version, stripped of all ASW gear), it represents an aircraft that crashed at a nearby Naval Air Station in MA when I was a kid.  Both crewmembers were killed when, upon returning with a failed engine, they lost their second engine a few miles short of the runway.  They opted to put the aircraft into a wooded area to avoid hitting nearby homes. The project took a couple of years.  I submitted a FOIA request, got the full accident report (which in itself was fascinating, much more to the story than originally known). 

 

The kit is the Kinetic S-2E, heavily modified.  I shorten the fuselage to replicate the short-bodied early version, added Vector engines, did a ton of scratchbuilding, opened up the cockpit windows, added Belcher and Steel Beach resin, etc, etc.  A kind soul printed the custom decals for me.  If you are interested, the full build (along with a write up on the accident itself) is over on ARC. 

 

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/245577-memorial-build-for-a-lost-tracker/&tab=comments#comment-2337016

 

IMG_6856_zpserwbvrat.jpg

 

IMG_6849_zpswonaotdx.jpg

 

 

IMG_6915_zpsgo93clcp.jpg

 

IMG_6916_zpsyztjkfug.jpg

 

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of giving this model to the family of one of the deceased pilots.  Truly a wonderful end to a long and challenging build. 

 

 

 

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