If all else fails, look at the Bertella plans (Italy). 40.00 EURO plus 25.00 Euro shpng. His is TR1 version-1600mm long, wingspan 2615mm. He has canopy. Dynamic Balsa has(had) 8' foam wings. I drew my own plans for the TR1 I've been tinkering with for years. I'm now building an SU27 from Bertella plans and they are not great, but better than nothing. If you've scratch built some, you can work with them. Absolutely no detail/instruction! His are for DF but easily-I think-convertable to turbine. Good Luck, Bill

T45 - Do you realize that a 1/6 U-2 would be 18' span? The one Paul shows above (and I have waiting for bench space) is 1/9 scale and spans 12 feet. Anyway, this one ( 1/9) was designed by Butch Sickels, and he told me he's working on one that's a little bigger to have more fuel capacity. Butch is real helpfull, so you should call him if you really are interested.

I too am interested in building a U-2. I've got a full machine shop in my basement including a CNC mill, plasma cutter and a large scale CNC hot wire cutter.

I can do a nice job on balsa or obechie covered foam wings. I use a computer controlled foam cutter to cut the cores and then sheet with a thin veneer followed by a very light (.6 oz) fiberglass cloth. I use very little resin and the entire wing is then vacuum bagged and heated until cured.

If anybody gets the fuselage mold going I'd be willing to work out a deal doing some wings/tail surfaces in exchange for a glass fuse.

Best to all,

Lawrence Feir
Innovation Robotics
336/274-4846

I happened to be talking to Mark Hambleton at DCU the other day and he mentioned that he had the last Butch Sickles TR-1/U-2R fuse that he wanted to sell. I think he mentioned 500 bucks. You can email him at:

[email protected]

No kit, no nothing except for the fuse.

Mark is rather out of the jet biz these days and is doing lots of composite work for LM Aero.

I think DCM needs to get cracking and CNC a new 1/9 or 1/8 scale model...

I actually prefer the original U-2C, myself.

Has there been any further movement on this whole U-2 Thing? I have contacted Butch S. and PS2727 about theirs and the possibility to make more. Has anyone else moved forward with one? I would love a 1/8th one but a 1/9 would work fine as well.

Thanks,
FastMover

Anymore U-2 kits or plans or buildups outthere? Tried to get ahold of Butch Sickels about his previous builds but was not able to contact him.

Fast mover,
There is a kit in development but not from the Texas gang.
I'll have to look thru my stuff to find the info again.
Paul

Sam Snyder from Tyler Tx is building a U2 from scratch.

Hi There Fast Mover,
I Started working on this about a year ago now, and have run into a few problems allong the way, but the span on the aircraft is 3.9Meters, fully built up structure, and will be powered By a BVM 96 Fan. I figure if it gets off the ground with this then I will look at putting a Turbine into it. Retract wise It will fit a Trim Aircraft Retract, (since there is Limited space, a turbine will cure this instantly), which Turns through 90 degrees to save space. The Original plan I saw was a Bertella Plan which was lacking in all the detail to say the least, so I scaled the Plan and Redrew half of it to make it more scale based on an Italari Kit, although this U2 will never be a 100% scale, I will have a prototype from which I can build a second, and learn from the mistake of the first, (Foam wings will be the first thin I cut next time), If you would like more pics or info let me know
Regards
Sean

I have a set of plans that I purchased on ebay. They are designed and drawn by Jack Bale sometime back in the 70's. Problem is, I have never sratch built before. The plans call for a K&B 7.5 Turbax fan and have a 1:8 scale to them. I would like to find a kit for a ducted fan model, as I am not ready to spend the money on turbines. Any help would be great.

Jason

Sean,
Great looking model. I'm not sure a fan will fly that monster. Mine is 11.5 feet and the guys who've flown it say it needs a P-80 or better. The real U-2 takes off at a 60 degree angle. Just make sure you've got a long runway for the test flight. The U-2 drivers I work with say it does take kindly to stalls.[X(]

Hi Mike,
Thus far as you see the aircraft plus the fan, servos retracts, wheels, tanks etc... the all up weight is 11.5lbs, there is really no weight to the fuselage at all everything I have done to this aircraft is basically, carbon fibre strengthened skin of 3mm Balsa, the wings contain most of the weight. I expect the aircraft to be below 17lbs once all together. The Horizontal stab should help out slightly, as I am testing my luck as the fullsize has a inverted cross section. Your Fuz looks a lot more roomy then mine I am guessing, this is because the older version was a shorter wingspan, this is a TR-1 or U-2R version.

Is there anyone building U-2 from Scratch that has a plan in any CAD format? I would
Regards
Sean

Hi everyone,

can anyone direct me as to who can sell me plans or a kit of a U2 or TR 1 for turbine power? There seem to be a number of individuals working on such a project, is any one willing to sell plans or kits of the plane?

Best regards

Joseph

G. Bertella in Italy has plans for a TR1. Many of the model magazines has address. I believe the folks at Dynamic Balsa can make you some foam wings for a 106" wingspan U2/TR1, I bought some a while back from them. As for kits, I personally don't know of any. Bill S.

I have the U-2R or TR-1 in a CAD file. I will work something out with you if that is what you want. I have plans to CNC the plugs out later this year but I can't start till I finish my other project. It is drawn in at full scale but it can be change with one button. Let me know, I will help YA ! That's You in TEXAS ! Butch [email protected]

Hi Bill, thanks for the reply, but the Bertella plan is too small for turbine power.

Butch, have sent you an e mail.

Thanks and best regards

Joseph

try here dont know if thay are still around but the web page is still working
http://www.jensenjetmodels.com/id28.htm

As someone mention before. The Knights of the Air stuff was sold to a guy in New Jersey. I can't remember his name but in talking to him over the phone he did'nt really know what he got into and quit selling the stuff. I got a F-106 from him. It's still flying today. The U2 looked like a "C" model and appears to be to small for turbines. But with this new stuff who nows. Several years ago Aeroloft Designs here in Mesa, AZ. somehow ended up with the fuselage plug that Butch Sickles made. it was a pretty good size and it appeared the wingspan would be over 100". I don't know what happened to it. You may want to check with Aeroloft. Good luck
Austin

Thanks for the info Austin, Butch Sickels is to send me the plans.

Best regards

Joseph

Hi All,

Has any more work been done on the U-2/TR-1? Really like to have one and am about to start making a plug for a mold unless somone else already has.

Thanks!

Jimmy

Have a set of Jack Lynn Bale 1/8 116" wingspan U2. Says at the bottom of the plans that a company called dreamsoft.com/jackbale/ has vacuum form parts for these plans. Looked them up on the net but can't find any info on company. Anyone have any info on any companies or persons that make any parts for the Jack Lynn Bale plans?

I believe I have the same plans. But I thought it was 117". Haven't look in my boxes for a while.

Jack passed away many years ago.
- website is gone
- any parts are gone, but a canopy is no big deal to make anyways.

I have these in Cad now, and can blow them up to just about anything.

Hi Mike,

Could you please let me know how much you will charge me to post a set of plans blown up to 160" wing span? Post is to Malta, Europe.

Thanks and regards

Joseph

I have one of butchs U-2.
It is fir sale,my phone is 734-981-1321
james smith

Is it NIB? Do you have a price in mind?

Don