Posts: 31
From: Rutherford, NJ 07070
Registered: Apr 2010

posted 04-27-2012 10:36 AM            

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The models and toys that I collect tend to be on the smaller side, I guess it would be 1/400 scale, say about the size of Corgis Century of Flight vehicles.

Does anyone know if any company has ever made a T-38 Talon with NASA livery at this scale? I've searched the Internet and never found one.

Posts: 1458
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006

Posts: 31
From: Rutherford, NJ 07070
Registered: Apr 2010

posted 04-27-2012 12:37 PM            

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Well I really don't pay attention to scales, so that was a guess on my part. The Corgi Century Flight vehicles averaged 3" in size, so that's the approximate size I'm looking for.

Though the size that you mention might fit as more of a realistic scale to some of the shuttles that I have.

...though that is not a requirement.

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From: Denver, CO USA
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Posts: 3788
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 04-27-2012 02:24 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by ilbasso:
A 1/400 T-38 would be downright tiny!

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Dragon produced a F-16 at 1/400 which came with their KC-46 tanker model. It's not bad for such a scale — if you're not too picky. For a fighter jet, 1/200 seems to be the minimum. But since I'll have two F-5s at 1/72 from Hobby Master, I'd like to keep the same scale.

A NASA aeronautics line of models would be welcome. Not sure the market is there for those, but my F-5s will come with the Swiss Air Force/acrobatics liveries (how many people are interested in those?), who knows about a NASA livery.

Posts: 2159
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 04-27-2012 06:31 PM               

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At about three inches, that would be close to 1/72 scale. I believe the Corgis are 1/72, given that they are using the same scaling data for the Corgi diecast planes as for Airfix's kits (since both companies are owned by Hornby now). Nope, I have not seen Corgi do a T-38, certainly not in that size.

T-38s are something of a scarce animal, even in plastic models. Companies in the past that have done kits have just slapped T-38 decals into the box of F-5B kits and called them T-38s when they are not. Sword is the only company to date to do a proper T-38 kit in 1/72 and nobody I know has done a pre-built in that size. A 1/48 scale T-38 is planned from one of the Chinese model companies this year, but I don't know when a 1/72 kit might come out or if a pre-built pre-paint might be done. Pre-painted F-5Es have been done by some of the Japanese firms (I have one), but I have yet to see them do a proper T-38, or even an F-5B.

Dragon might be the best hope for seeing one as they tend to do both pre-built pre-paints AND model kits. But if they did one, I would perhaps expect it to be 1/144 scale. Dragon IS doing a 1/144 U-2R and an SR-71, so I would not be at all surprised if we eventually saw a NASA ER-2 and a NASA marked SR-71 in the same scale from them. A 1/144 T-38 would be cool to see so I could have a chase plane fleet for my shuttle models in that scale.

Posts: 31
From: Rutherford, NJ 07070
Registered: Apr 2010

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From: Slatington, PA U.S.A.
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Posts: 2159
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 05-01-2012 12:02 PM               

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Well, I did do some further checking. I see that one of the companies in Japan that does the aircraft pre-paints did an F-5A and Dragon did a model kit of an F-5F (the two seater). So, if one had both and some modeling skill, it should be possible to graft the F-5F's canopy onto the F-5A after modifications are made of course to give it two cockpits (the nose length between F-5As and Bs are close with the front cockpit sitting in front of the normal single seat position). Then it would be a matter of carving off additional lumps and bumps to get it the rest of the way to a T-38. It would not be easy, but it is possible.

Many years ago, Arii also did a 1/144 F-5A, but it is NOT a good kit as it is oversized and the detail doesn't match what one might expect these days. Only other T-38 in a size close to that which I can remember was a Bachmann Mini Planes T-38 from the 1970s painted in Thunderbirds colors (I had one when I was a kid). Scale of that was about 1/130 or so and it was a nice little replica.

Posts: 2159
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 05-01-2012 12:40 PM               

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Okay, I finally found a T-38 at about the size you are looking for. There is a company called Hogan Wings that is doing them in 1/200 scale (length about 2.75" long). They haven't done a NASA T-38 yet, but they have done standard USAF trainers, aggressor versions and a couple others. So I think it is only a matter of time before a NASA one is done.

Only thing is, these little buggers are expensive for their size as checking the prices online, I see them range in price from $30 to $35. But, Flying Mule carries them and I know a lot of cS members use them for their Dragon spacecraft diecasts.

Heck, in 1/200, that would be the perfect size to compliment a Hasegawa 1/200 747 SCA with Shuttle model (provided NASA markings in that scale are done for the T-38). I still want to see a kit done or something in 1/144