T-38 Talon, does anyone still carry one

eBay! I've got a couple of the Testor's T-38, there nothing special but they were the only show at the time I picked them up. The Sword kit should be able to be found at LHS around the country. Maybe someone has or know of where they can pick one up for you. Otherwise, there is one for sure on eBay

The Testors one is the old Hawk kit; although sharp looking at the time it was released (the chrome plated one was a real beauty) it's very undetailed by today's standards ... particularly in regards to cockpit detail. Other than that, it's a very good fitting kit, with no real problems. I think that was one of the "second generation" Hawk chromed kits where they roughed up certain panels in the mold to give a two-toned appearance to the paneling on the model (gloss and semi-gloss); that worked very well indeed. You might be able to find one on ebay - the chromed one with a scratchbuilt cockpit and wheel well detail would knock your eyes out. Unfortunately, I think there is little chance for a new Talon coming out in 1/48 scale...trainers aren't sexy like fighters, and although tens of thousands of fighter pilots probably loved the little supersonic aircraft that they earned their wings in, it's not the most exciting subject for a model.

Pat

Squadron has some.

It's the Sword 1/48 Thunderbird edition. Same kit as the USAF ( actually better cockpit ) version with T-bird decals. That's okay though because you can get some aftermarket decals no problem if you don't like the T-bird edition.

Also keep in mind you can usually find a Sword T-38 kit at a model contest out among the vendors.

Sword made the best version of this aircraft. The Testers kit was a joke. The Minicraft versions I believe were actually F-5B's in T-38 clothing. =]

Two bobs makes some nice decals at :

Chris

Vietnam camouflage? The South Vietnamese Air Force used the F-5 "Freedom Fighter", but did we ever camouflage the T-38 for use in the Vietnamese theater of operations? Or is this supposed to be one used by the USAF Aggressor Squadron?

Pat

Pat

That's an understatement.

The Sword kit just blows the old Testers kit out of the water.

Oh Pat ! Bury my head in my hands. =( Can an aircraft get any more sexy than a T-38 ? Have you seen the glass cockpit in the T-38C ? Long before the F-16 made it's debut the T-38 was the sports car of the Air Force ! It's because of people like you that I had to wait sooooooooo long for an accurate T-38 kit like the Sword kit to come out. ( Well it's not perfect ... but much much better than anything that came before it. ) You guys just aren't happy enough with numerous versions of F-4's, F-16's, F-18's etc. Ever since I was a kid in the 1970's and my dad was a T-38 flight instructor, all I ever wanted was ONE good kit of the T-38. Finally Sword came out with one 30 years later. Sheesh ! And what do people like you have to say about it ? " It's not the most exciting subject for a model bla bla bla ".

I think I'll go puke now.

Chris

That's a desert camo job used by USAF aggressors ( also looks like some nice NASA markings included as well ). However I've never seen a T-38 with that kind of desert paint job. Initially T-38's were used as aggressors but the high G environment was better suited to F-5B's and later F-5E's. Mostly T-38's in a ' grape ' or ' smurf ' camo job were used in the Fighter Lead in Training program. This kit is just another release of a very old and tired mold with different decals.

Chris

It's not "sexy". It doesn't kill people or blow things up. It fails the sex-violence test as a marketable item.

Now, lets move on to a discussion of the 1/32 scale model of the T-33. At least the T-37 dropped bombs on people in the guise of the A-37 "Dragonfly". The Talon is limp in the shorts in the all-important category of destruction. Modelers who want a model of one probably read this as a child:

Men of course archived their first erection while reading this: Pat

The Hannants website shows two Minicraft boxings (one USAF, one NASA) as Future Releases.

I've got a slide of a T-38 wearing that scheme, or one very close to it. Two USAF T-38s in what looked like glossy Aggressor-style schemes came into McChord AFB late one afternoon around 1989 or 1990 for a gas-and-go. A friend of mine was able to get photos before they left. I was on duty and couldn't get home to grab my camera in time before they left, but my friend shared a couple of slides with me. If you're interested I'll see if I can find the slides this afternoon when I get home from work. Let me know if you want to see them, and if so, where you would like me to post scans of them, alt.binaries.models.scale, or alt.binaries.pictures.aviation? Scott Wilson

Oh thats okay. Go ahead if you want to though. Did it look like this ?

Chris

Actually I think mine came during an episode of "Big Top". I remember the lady wearing the short-skirted outfit on the high wire. From down below the camera got a great shot up underneath. I must have been 4 or

5 at the time. 'Course I had no idea why it felt so good but it made a lasting impression on me. :)

As far as the T-38 goes I recall first seeing them in a Glines book on the Air Force and thinking that was one ultra-modern trainer we had. It looked 'sexy' to me.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

Farewell, Luciano, we'll miss you.

I discussed the T-38 kit with Minicraft at the IPMS/USA Nats last month. I was told that they are already shipping 1/48 T-38 kits to hobby dealers. They are reissuing the Sword kit under their label, so it is a decent kit (and hopefully a decent price!). You can order kits directly from Minicraft, check out their web site. I have never done this, but I believe the Minicraft marketing person mentioned this to me.

The T-38 is one fine machine! Mike