ShinMaywa INSIGHT

[Series] How the US-2 is made (10)

Close coverage by a professional writer

The yellow primer-painted aircraft will finally be painted in dark blue!


After the assembly of the fuselage was completed, the surface of the US-2, such as bulges and fairings, was installed. This color makes it difficult to see from the air when flying at low altitude or landing on the water.

At the Konan Factory, there is a painting booth that fits the entire aircraft, adjacent to the area where the aircraft is assembled. When US-2 enters here, scaffolding is assembled to make it easier to work, and the screen is lowered to prevent dust from entering from the outside.

Areas that should not be exposed to paint are completely masked, and workers also wear protective clothing and dust/gas masks to protect themselves from the paint, ensuring that no skin is exposed. Although environmental can be very harsh in the summer, multiple workers work together to apply the paint to ensure that the paint is even. The entire aircraft is covered in offshore camouflage, and after the paint dries, the letters and Japanese flag that will be on the aircraft are painted over.

When the yellow primer turns dark blue and comes out of the paint booth, it instantly looks like a US-2.

*Outfitting: The process of installing the engine and equipment inside and outside the aircraft, or the equipment itself.

「US-2」が1機丸ごと入る巨大な塗装ブースの全景です。(1) Panoramic view of the gigantic paint booth where the entire​ ​US-2 can fit.

塗装ブースに「US-2」が入ると、足場を設置し周囲にスクリーンを下ろし、塗装しない部分をマスキングします。(2) When the US-2 enters the painting booth, scaffolding is set up and a screen is lowered around it, masking the areas not to be painted.

スプレーで迷彩色を塗っていきます。塗料の流れるホースが塗装面に触れないよう、複数の作業員が協力しています。(3) Paint the camouflage color with a spray. Several workers work together to ensure that the paint hose does not touch the painted surface.
塗膜の厚さを均一にするため、機械のように一定のリズムで腕を動かし、後ずさりしながら作業します。(4) In order to make the thickness of the coating uniform, move your arms in a constant rhythm like a machine and work while backing down.
主翼上面の「日の丸」。赤丸を塗り、その部分をマスキングして縁取りの白を塗っています。(5) "Hinomaru" on the upper surface of the main wing. I painted a red circle, masked the part, and painted the white border.

機体色の上に文字を重ね塗りした部分のマスキングテープを剥がします。塗料は乾いているので、息苦しいマスクも不要です。(6) Peel off the masking tape on the part where the letters of the aircraft color are overpainted. The paint dries, so you don't even need a stuffy mask.
胴体側面のプロペラ位置を示す注意表示を塗り終わり、ステンシルシート(文字や模様を切り抜いた型紙)を剥がしています。(7) Finished painting the warning sign indicating the position of the propeller on the side of the fuselage, and peeled off the stencil sheet (pattern with letters and patterns cut out).
塗装の終わった「US-2」が塗装ブースから引き出されました。(8) The painted US-2 was pulled out of the painting booth.


Writer Hidenori Itakura

 

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