Grumman HU-16A Albatross. 1:48 Trumpeter

[Shar2]

Grumman HU-16A Albatross

Trumpeter 1:48

History
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat that was used by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, primarily as a search and rescue and combat search and rescue aircraft. Inspired by the performance of the Grumman Goose during WWII, the U.S. Navy solicited Grumman to design a significantly larger amphibian with longer range. In 1944, Grumman submitted and won approval of its design G-64, to be named "Albatross," with accommodation for a crew of four, and a cabin capacity of 10 passengers, stretchers, or 5,000 pounds of cargo, as circumstances dictated. In addition, there were pylons under the wing and outboard of the engines which made it possible to carry weapons or drop tanks for increased range. In addition, fuel could be carried in the fixed underwing floats.

Originally designated as the SA-16 for the USAF and the JR2F-1 and UF-1 for the USN and USCG, it was redesignated as the HU-16 in 1962. The majority of Albatrosses were used by the U.S. Air Force, primarily by the former Air Rescue Service, and initially designated as SA-16. The USAF used the SA-16 extensively in Korea for combat rescue, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. Later, the redesignated HU-16B (long-wing variant) Albatross was used by the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service and saw extensive combat service during the Vietnam War. In addition a small number of Air National Guard air commando groups were equipped with HU-16s for covert infiltration and extraction of Special Forces from 1956 to 1971. Other examples of the HU-16 made their way into Air Force Reserve air rescue units prior to its retirement from USAF service.

The Model
Trumpeters somewhat congested release schedule has produced some real corkers as well as some rather underwhelming kits. The subject matter can sometimes be something modellers have been waiting a long time to see, and the Grumman Albatross in 1:48 is just such a subject. Inside the quite large box with some colourful artwork of an aircraft in USAF rescue colours overflying a foundering ship, (which has been the subject of some debate), there are seventeen sprues of medium grey styrene, one sprue of clear styrene, a sheet of etched brass, rubber tyres and optional metal undercarriage parts. All the parts appear to be very well moulded, with no sign of flash and only a moderate number of moulding pips. Detail seems pretty good throughout, including a nice cabin interior. Although there is still plenty that the modeller could add should they so wish. Small items such as cabling and pipework in the gear bays can be added and bigger jobs such as the frames, stringers and wing box sections within the cabin. If you are going to detail the cabin then it should be pointed out that there are quite a few ejector pin marks that will need to be filled first. External details such as the panel lines and rivets are nicely restrained and the styrene seems to be slightly matt with a fine, but definite texture to it. The clear parts are nice and thin but there seems to be some inconsistency in that some of the side windows are very clear and flat whilst others do have some distortion from the edges to the centre. This is also true of the main cockpit canopy, where the outer windscreen panels have slight distortion when viewed at certain angles. Maybe, when dipped in Aqua Gloss or Klear it won’t be so noticeable. The most obvious aspect of the construction is the separate nose section of the fuselage, which may be a clue to further versions being released.

Construction begins with the assembly of the nose undercarriage and bay. The nose wheels are made up of two hub parts sandwiching the rubber tyre. The wheels are then mounted onto the metal axle part which is then fitted to the main oleo, (either the styrene or metal parts), with the scissor link attached to the rear, joining the oleo and axle together. The retraction actuator jack is then attached and the undercarriage fitted between the bay sidewalls, which have had additional detail parts added beforehand. The front and rear bulkheads are then attached followed by the bay roof, with a strengthening beam attached.

Moving on to the interior, work begins with attaching the various black boxes, (radios and radar etc), to the cockpit/cabin bulkhead. This is followed by the assembly of the instrument panel. The Cockpit is made up of two separate floors onto which the pilot and co-pilots seats are fitted. Each seat consists of two outer frames, seat squab and back rest, two armrests, and the headrest. There is a third seat fitted behind the co-pilots position, this one is made up from front and rear frames, seat squab and back rest, crossed under seat bracing and the rotating base. Behind the pilots seat there are a couple of other black boxes attached. The two steering yokes are assembled to their respective control columns and fitted to the pilot and co-pilots positions.

The next assemblies are the main wheel bays. Each main part is fitted out with the top box, into which the separate pipes and cables are attached. At the bottom of each bay four triangular ribs are glues into place, followed by the single sidewall and internal access hatch. With the starboard bay fitted with additional radio gear where it intrudes into the main cabin the two bays are attached to the centre bulkhead which is then slotted into position on the cabin floor. With the bays in position then the cockpit, cockpit/cabin bulkhead, radar operators chair, attendants chair can all be fitted to their respective positions on the cabin floor. The three bunks on the starboard side are made up of the two end frames and the bunk frames, onto which the etched parts that make up the “canvas” are folded around. The nosewheel bay is glued into position, as is the cockpit front bulkhead and instrument panel. With all the internal sub assemblies in place the cabin roof can be fitted.

With the internals now complete it’s time to fit the clear windows into both halves of the fuselage. It is at this point that any further detailing, such as adding the frames and stringers can be carried out. The internal assembly is then fitted to slots in both the rear fuselage and also the separate nose section which has further attachment points around the main gear bays, giving the required strength. The fuselage/nose can now be closed up, having had an indicated 50g of nose weight installed. When the fuselage has been glued securely then the radome can be added and the canopy assembly, which has had the upper console fitted internally and the escape hatches, aerial and DF aerial fitted externally, can also be fitted. To the rear the horizontal tailplanes, elevators and rudder are all assembled and attached to the tail. Details such as the rudder trim tab, tail lights, aerials and intake scoops are also fitted. The main cabin door is fitted with its handle and can be posed open or closed.

Several more sub-assemblies are then constructed, including the main undercarriage bays for the wing, the two engines, which are nicely detailed out of the box with the two part cylinder bank attached to the bulkhead and onto which the push rods, crank case and magnetos are attached. The engines are then inserted into the cowlings and the propellers assembled and fitted to the prop shafts. Two drop tanks are then assembled, complete with pylons, sway braces and fuel pipe, after which the two wing floats are also constructed out of a three part main float, two end pieces and a two piece pylon. The centre wing is assembled out of a single piece upper part and two lower parts. Both the upper and lower parts are fitted with the engine nacelle sections, whilst the upper section has two upper hatches fitted and once the gear bays are fitted to the lower sections they can be attached to the upper part. The outer wing panels are also made up of top and bottom parts which, when joined are fitted out with the two part flaps and ailerons. The two landing lights, one per wing, can be posed extended or retracted and outside of these two pitot probes are fitted per wing. The wing floats and drop tanks can also be attached at this point and the whole assembly attached to the fuselage. The completed engine sub-assemblies are then attached to their respective nacelles with the addition of the two lower cowl flaps. Lastly the complex main undercarriage is assembled, again with styrene or metal main oleos, numerous struts, actuators, and bay doors along with the three piece wheels, made in the same way as the nose wheel. The main bay door and the two nose wheel bay doors are the last to be fitted.

Etch
The small etched sheet provides the three bunk beds, components for the nose and main undercarriage bays, brackets for beneath the starboard side hatch and, most importantly lap and shoulder straps for the pilots and co-pilots seats. The brass is of a decent thickness, but quite pliable and should be fairly easy to bend to shape, even without the need to anneal first.

Decals
There are two decal sheets include in the kit. One for each option, which are:-

• US Air Force HU-16A, 0-10022, as per box art.
• Taiwanese Air Force, HU-16A, 1032

The decals are very nicely printed, in good register and of good opacity. They are quite glossy and there appears to be very little carrier film so should settle down well with the use of your favourite setting/softening solutions. A full set of stencils is provided, along with propeller warning stripes and crash crew cut outs. The instrument panels are also provided as decals. The Stars and Bars on the sides of the USAF version already have cut outs to allow them to sit over projections on the main cabin door and starboard side hatch. There has been some comments made on the forums about the lack of walkway decals for the USAF version, but this shouldn’t be too much of a problem masking off and painting at the same time as painting the wingtips and fuselage band. It’ll probably look better anyway.

Conclusion
This is a superb looking kit and will be quite impressive when built, so keep some space saved for it. Apart from the additional detail that really is needed inside the fuselage, and should have been moulded, the details and moulding all look very nicely done. Having the alternative metal oleos is a nice touch as I imagine this model will be quite heavy, especially with all the nose weight that is required, and the styrene parts may not cope for too long. There have been comments about the nose chine, but having checked pictures and plans it doesn’t appear too far out and certainly not as bad as it looked in the initial CAD drawings that were released. Highly recommended, and I’m looking forward to the later models that should surely be coming.

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

Is there's a good reason to have cut the ROCAF roundels in four parts?

I saw a box at my LHS, and it was funny to notice that the roundel on the ROCAF aircraft profile (on the box side) has been censored, too.

[Flankerman]

The Republic of China (Taiwan) is not recognised by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) - and I think its symbols are not allowed to be displayed.

I suspect that Trumpeter are playing safe by making the ROC roundel as separate parts - in much the same way as western kit makers provide the banned Swastika as multiple parts.

Although, to contradict myself, the ROC roundel is on display in full at various PRC aviation museums... (but then these are displays of a defeated ROC)

Ken

[Antoine]

I should have said "Is there's a good technical reason to have cut the ROCAF roundels in four parts?"

I mean a reason due to the kit conception.

I fully know about ROC and China, I live in Taipei.

Already posted elsewhere in this forum, a picture that I've taken of the real aircraft at Taoyuan museum.

[Shar2]

Antoine, I must admit, I assumed that there was a technical reason for them to be printed like that as there is for one of the stars and bars. I hadn't thought about political sensitivities. They don't look too difficult to line up, but I'm sure there'll be some am sheets out soon that will remedy the problem.

[Antoine]

Is the boxside profile censored on your sample?

[Shar2]

Yes it is.

[Son of Medicine Man]

So has anyone heard any plans for the "B" model?

Ken