BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) I'm looking for some ideas on where to get T-38 decals for the 1/48 Sword kit. I was in USAF pilot training in the late '80's and want to replicate the birds at Laughlin AFB (white paint scheme). The Sword kit I have is the T-bird version which doesn't reflect my flying skills at all. I know they made a training bird variety at one time, but haven't had any luck locating decals. I'd be happy to arrange a trade or special order if I have to. The kit will be sitting finished all in white with no decals until I get some. What a shame...please help!! Thanks! P Edited November 25, 2009 by BoroDad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jetdx Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) Sorry...I can't help you with your decal problem, but (as you can see on my signature, I am almost done with my 1:72 Sword T-38)how did you come up with a 1:48 T-38? Have you had the kit for a while? I think a 1:48 would have been easier than a 1:72. Many of the parts are quite small. Personally, I will never do a Sword model again. I wouldn't have done a Sword kit in the first place but it was the only T-38 I could find. Thx Edited November 21, 2009 by jetdx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I'm looking for some ideas on where to get T-38 decals for the 1/48 Sword kit. I was in USAF pilot training in the late '80's and want to replicate the birds at Laughlin AFB (white paint scheme). The Sword kit I have is the T-bird version which doesn't reflect my flying skills at all. I know they made a training bird variety at one time, but haven't had any luck locating decals. I'd be happy to arrange a trade or special order if I have to. The kit will be sitting finished all in white with no decals until I get some. What a shame...please help!! Thanks! P I have the white Sword kit that I used aftermarket decals on. You can have the decal sheet from that kit, they are unused. PM me for contact info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Sorry...I can't help you with your decal problem, but (as you can see on my signature, I am almost done with my 1:72 Sword T-38)how did you come up with a 1:48 T-38? Have you had the kit for a while? I think a 1:48 would have been easier than a 1:72. Many of the parts are quite small. Personally, I will never do a Sword model again. I wouldn't have done a Sword kit in the first place but it was the only T-38 I could find.Thx I found it in a hobby shop in Warren Michigan a few years ago and snagged it up. Kind of expensive, but as you say there aren't any others on the market that I'm aware of. I tried to put the old Revell or Monogram kit together but it was so poor in every respect it ended up in the trash can. The first kit I did after a 20 yr hiatus was the Monogram A-37 that I modified to resemble the T-37 I flew. Big project for the first time back, but it didn't turn out too bad. The Sword kit was disappointing overall. Cockpt tub, seats and wheel well detail is what sold me. I've had nothing but trouble with it though...fit issues, no locating pins (how do you get a 4 degree negative dihedral on the horizontal stabs??!), and windshields that I don't believe fit in the closed position (I couldn't get them to). This was my first short run kit and I will definitely take a break before the next one. It's been on my bench since the May timeframe. I have a few Accurate Miniature and Academy kits in the line up...hope they are easier. Bottomline -- I wanted a set of models that resembled the ones I flew and it fits that requirement. Certainly not an award winner or anything to put on a table in front of other modellers, but that's not why I built it. I'll try to post pix when I get it done. Sounds like your version is probably similar? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 I have the white Sword kit that I used aftermarket decals on. You can have the decal sheet from that kit, they are unused.PM me for contact info. Excellent! I sent you an email with my address...let me know if you don't get it. Just curious...what aftermarket set did you get and what did you think of the kit? I only saw the TwoBobs set that is no longer available...you must've been lucky enough to get one of those? Any chance you can post a picture? It's frustrating that the trainers don't have more mainstream production runs. I haven't seen any finished T-38s or T-37 conversions...too bad! cheers! P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GEH737 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Testors had a 1/48th scale release a number of years ago (the old Fujimi kit) that had markings for Laughlin AFB in it. You can find 'em on eBay from time to time. Hitch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ham Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Greetings guys, I feel your pain with trying to build the T-37 and T-38 in markings from your flying training base. I did what GEH737 suggested and bought the old Fujimi/Testors T-38 "white rocket" to get the Laughlin decals. Trying to fix up correct T-38 tires and wheels is a dilemna as well. The 1/48 scale Sword kit is based on an F-5B with the larger tires and wheels. Anyone want to share a project to get the Testors T-38 decals shrunk down to 1/72 to go on the equally difficult to build Sword 1/72 scale T-38A? regards, Ham Laughlin UPT class 84-04 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Excellent! I sent you an email with my address...let me know if you don't get it. Just curious...what aftermarket set did you get and what did you think of the kit? I only saw the TwoBobs set that is no longer available...you must've been lucky enough to get one of those? Any chance you can post a picture? It's frustrating that the trainers don't have more mainstream production runs. I haven't seen any finished T-38s or T-37 conversions...too bad!cheers! P I used a mix of decals from Superscale sheet 48-904 and custom decals of the Vance AFB. The decal portion I used was for the Randolph bird and still have the Whiteman and Holoman markings. All paint schemes are dark (Holoman gloss black and Whiteman Insignia blue & white). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Greetings guys,I feel your pain with trying to build the T-37 and T-38 in markings from your flying training base. I did what GEH737 suggested and bought the old Fujimi/Testors T-38 "white rocket" to get the Laughlin decals. Trying to fix up correct T-38 tires and wheels is a dilemna as well. The 1/48 scale Sword kit is based on an F-5B with the larger tires and wheels. Anyone want to share a project to get the Testors T-38 decals shrunk down to 1/72 to go on the equally difficult to build Sword 1/72 scale T-38A? regards, Ham Laughlin UPT class 84-04 Laughlin 88-05. Unfortunately, I only made it to solo T-38's...but I had fun and it was a dream getting that far. Our class painted a bear claw on the newly refinished Wizard aux airfield runway...took a little heat for that but it was cool rolling in on short final and seeing a tiger paw in the middle of the runway!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) I used a mix of decals from Superscale sheet 48-904 and custom decals of the Vance AFB. The decal portion I used was for the Randolph bird and still have the Whiteman and Holoman markings. All paint schemes are dark (Holoman gloss black and Whiteman Insignia blue & white).Very sweet...mine definitely won't compete with yours! I like the panda bear colors...I flew the pure white jets. You did a superb job!!! Edited November 25, 2009 by BoroDad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BoroDad Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Very sweet...mine definitely won't compete with yours! I like the panda bear colors...I flew the pure white jets. You did a superb job!!! What did you use for the panel shading? I wasn't going to try to do that, but yours looks great and I may change my mind! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 What did you use for the panel shading? I wasn't going to try to do that, but yours looks great and I may change my mind! I used The Detailer panel wash. Very user friendly. Make sure the lines are crisp or deep enough or you will rub off the wash. Sometimes I need to do a second spot application after decaling since the excess water with decaling can wash away the lines. Pro modeler wash is similar, just have not used that. I can get the detailer at the local hobby shop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jetdx Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 had nothing but trouble with it though...fit issues, no locating pins (how do you get a 4 degree negative dihedral on the horizontal stabs YES! The 1:48 has the same problems? It sounds as though you are talking about the 1:72 kit that I am about done with. The 4 degrees (is that what the instructions say?)...I just "eyeballed" them in place. The horizontals came off a couple of times before I thought about putting them on later. I have NEVER been so close to throwing an unfinished model in the garbage (I still might). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jetdx Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I used a mix of decals from Superscale sheet 48-904 and custom decals of the Vance AFB. The decal portion I used was for the Randolph bird and still have the Whiteman and Holoman markings. All paint schemes are dark (Holoman gloss black and Whiteman Insignia blue & white). After seeing those pics I wouldn't mind seeing mine getting smashed or falling...LOL NICE!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GEH737 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 HamLaughlin UPT class 84-04 Hey Ham - Laughlin 84-02 here I'd also like to get those decals scaled up to 1/32nd (I've got the Collect-Aire T-38, that I hope to never build because someone else comes out with one...) And I hope Two Mikes does some resin 1/48th wheels for the Sword kit... Hitch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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