1/32 Kittyhawk OS2U Kingfisher

[brandonk]

Time to get this one out and dust it off. I started this kit back in Jan of 23 and worked on it till March when other 1:1 projects put a stop to things. Now I am here to get back in the saddle and finish it up.

I have heard many folks complain that this kit is crap and fit is horrible. Not true at all. It is not a Tamiya kit and as far as fit ALL, and I mean ALL, the alignment pegs are larger than their corresponding holes. Other than that, fit is good and detail is great. She will build up into a very nice bird in the hands of someone who is capable of more than tossing glue and paint in a box and shaking it up. There are enough pieces in this kit that are complex to add and you have to plan 4-5 stages ahead of where you are so you can actually fit various components together without having a stroke. Once you think ahead everything works fine. Basically, what I am saying is this kit will force you to think about what you are doing and where you are going or you will run into major problems.

I do remember that the engine in this kit has nearly 100 parts on its own and the kit is somewhere near 600 if I remember correctly. I did add Eduard PE to the pits but nothing else. I'm sure I will remember more as I work on it and I'll add that as I go. Not too much left at this point so hopefully it will go quickly. So, let's get going.

And this is where we begin our journey anew. More to come.

[kyledehart5]

What an epic start!! Can’t wait to follow along.

[dupes]

Ooooooh, nice! I was hoping this would make it's way to your bench.

[Joe Rix]

That is some outstanding work Brandon. Exquisite work on the cockpit. You certainly seem to have a handle on this overall. Kudos to you for showing that with a little attention to the actual process one can overcome the notorious fit of this kit. I am really looking forward to seeing you bring this home.

[Tobi]

Good to know. I have experienced that phenomenon as well. People complaining about how bad a kit is and when I build mine I find "what's the problem actually?"
Really looking great what you have done so far.

[TJ]

Fantastic start. Everything looks top notch

[brandonk]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. It'll take me a day or so to get my head back around this one. I have to figure out where I am and where I was headed as this one requires you pay attention and plan ahead at all times. If I recall I had planned on the tri-color scheme and was planning on painting it floats off and then putting it together. The other kingfishers I've built were a pain to paint with the floats attached. I don't recall there being too much assembly left so I should move reasonably quickly, I hope.

[mrt51]

Watching this one for sure.

[tcoat]

Already way more progress than that OTHER Kingfisher build we were promised by somebody else.

And thanks a lot Brandon, now I have yet another kit on my Must Have list.

[reserve]

Did not know this kit existed. Yer making a killer job of it I must say

[brandonk]

Feb 9, 2024 10:53:40 GMT -5 reserve said:

Did not know this kit existed. Yer making a killer job of it I must say

I bought this kit for $60 US years ago when Kittyhawk was still in business. Now the prices for these is nuts. I like Kittyhawk models, but not for what everyone thinks they are worth now. I have the Venom and Viper (built one already) still in the stash and that will be the last of the KH kits for me likely.

[tcoat]

Feb 9, 2024 11:04:45 GMT -5 brandonk said:

Feb 9, 2024 10:53:40 GMT -5 reserve said:

Did not know this kit existed. Yer making a killer job of it I must say

I bought this kit for $60 US years ago when Kittyhawk was still in business. Now the prices for these is nuts. I like Kittyhawk models, but not for what everyone thinks they are worth now. I have the Venom and Viper (built one already) still in the stash and that will be the last of the KH kits for me likely.

Do we know if anybody bought the molds? I may have to deep dive this since I really want one.

Rereleased this year?

www.scalemates.com/kits/kitty-hawk-kh32016-os2u-kingfisher--1528104

[keavdog]

Looking great BK! I'm a kingfisher fan and have the old monogram kit with all the flightline 3d printed bits in the stash.
Is that the lifting cable over the pilots seat?

[lyle]

That sho’ nuff looks great!

[brandonk]

Feb 9, 2024 11:43:39 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Looking great BK! I'm a kingfisher fan and have the old monogram kit with all the flightline 3d printed bits in the stash.
Is that the lifting cable over the pilots seat?

Yes Sir, that is indeed said cable.

[406 Silverado]

I've heard the same thing you have about this kit not being very fun to build at all but it looks like you're breezin' through this one with no trouble Brandon. Out of curiosity, what references are you using for color and details?

Bookmarked!! 

[lyle]

Marvelous work!

[TOWGunner]

Man Brandon you're making this kit look easy. You're doing such an excellent job on it. That cockpit looks outstanding. Seems you have the assembly nailed, too. Nice build!

[deafpanzer]

You are off to a great start. Definitely bookmarked!!!

[brandonk]

Feb 9, 2024 16:30:13 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

I've heard the same thing you have about this kit not being very fun to build at all but it looks like you're breezin' through this one with no trouble Brandon. Out of curiosity, what references are you using for color and details?

Bookmarked!! 

I use two books that have good b&w reference pics and some color. Most of what I've learned about these is that there are non left flyable and only a few in museums. Pictures are in short supply for these as apparently they just were not too popular for photos at the time. I'm building this off of that info and some hopes and prayers. In the end it will look like my mind imagines how they looked at the time as best I can with what little reference there is about these. On a side note, 1/3 of these had floats and 2/3 were fixed gear and they could be converted to floats in about an hour. The float version got all the love and pictures, the fixed gear version is really hard to find pics of.

[brandonk]

This is the other Kittyhawk kit I built several years ago. I know these are great kits in the hands of a patient modeler. Fit is not an issue as long as you take your time and work it up slowly. The details on these is stupendous.

[brandonk]

Here are my other Monogram Kingfishers. Both have resin pits and engines, scratch work and PE. A ton of work in both. These old kits really take alot of work to make nice.

[kyledehart5]

Man those are too cool!! Love them. Thank you for sharing.

[handiabled]

Bookmarked! Those are lovely builds! It looks like you have this well in hand so far

[lyle]

Brandon, those are awesome. Great schemes.

[Medicman71]

Your Kingfisher is looking great as does your other builds.

[keavdog]

Feb 9, 2024 11:06:38 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Feb 9, 2024 11:04:45 GMT -5 brandonk said:

I bought this kit for $60 US years ago when Kittyhawk was still in business. Now the prices for these is nuts. I like Kittyhawk models, but not for what everyone thinks they are worth now. I have the Venom and Viper (built one already) still in the stash and that will be the last of the KH kits for me likely.

Do we know if anybody bought the molds? I may have to deep dive this since I really want one.

Rereleased this year?

www.scalemates.com/kits/kitty-hawk-kh32016-os2u-kingfisher--1528104

Squadron is taking pre-orders!  Someone bought the kitty hawk molds


squadron.com/blog/kitty-hawk-models-is-back/

[brandonk]

There are a few Kingfishers on Ebay for reasonable prices right now. As far as anyone picking up the molds, who knows. Kittyhawk had some nice kits, although like Kinetic, some had fit issues. But, as far as I am concerned that is all a part of modeling. I get greater satisfaction from completing difficult kits and having them look good vs. a shake and bake kit. Both are great and easy kits are needed sometimes, but building one up that had some issues and pulling it off is more rewarding to me at least.

[brandonk]

Oh, and I have the KF in primer now. I should be starting the paint very soon.

[jmarc]

Feb 10, 2024 11:14:12 GMT -5 brandonk said:

Here are my other Monogram Kingfishers. Both have resin pits and engines, scratch work and PE. A ton of work in both. These old kits really take alot of work to make nice.

NNNNNNNNNNNice , they look great well done SIR and thank you for sharing them with us, it's quite appreciated !