Dutch Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 So, I was wondering, what is the best value kit for a 1/48 T-38 Talon: Sword / Trumpeter / Wolpack? K/r, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andrew.deboer Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Wolfpack is the most highly-regarded in what I’ve read. The Trumpeter kit has a weird length issue in the fuselage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Dutch said: So, I was wondering, what is the best value kit for a 1/48 T-38 Talon: Sword / Trumpeter / Wolpack? K/r, Dutch Hey Dutch, Its no contest.... Wolfpack! HTH, Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gator52 Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 I've only built the Wolfpack kit, and it was a nice build. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 (edited) I have, but have yet to build, several of the Wolfpack kits, and they look great! After reading a number of build reviews it would seem that they are relatively trouble free builds. I have built two of the Sword kits, and they weren't too bad either. The main thing with them is the "hump" right in front of the windscreen. The kit has it, but its not on the T-38. Its only on the F-5B. The kits wheels are also for an F-5B and completely inaccurate for a T-38. I have never had the Trumpeter T-38, but have read several build articles, and I don't know.... the shape of the nose and canopy just looks off to me. The choice is yours Dutch, but for me, there is no contest as to which one to buy ;0) Fred. Edited July 28, 2020 by f5guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Right guys! Thanks. Wolfpack it is! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillS Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 Wolfpack plus Hypersonic wheels. The late style wheels came along around the mid to late 80s I think. Solid or spoked nose wheels are both appropriate for all periods. Pre 1977 ejection seats don’t have the drogue chute container headrest if you're doing a jet from earlier times. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 Thanks Bill. I will depict a Companion trainer from the early-mid nineties. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 To F5guy.. I crewed T-38's at Williams AFB many moons ago. There is a distinct hump in front of the windscreen. It was also on the F-5B. The Wolfpack kit is about as authentic a T-38 kit can be. Just FYI... All Wolfpack T-38 kits have the AT parts in the box. They just ignored the parts in the instructions. Look carefully and you'll find them. (Even in the new 'C' release. Which can be made into an 'A' if you want...) Hope this helps. Via Con Dios DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 Thanks Det1460. Via Con Dios, brother! Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff M Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 I have built all 3. In the end they look like T-38s. If you require more detail then you will like the wolfpack kit better. The trumpeter kit has dimension problems from reading about it i did not measure it. Main difference to me is the panel lines. Geoff M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share Posted July 29, 2020 Thanks Geoff, I appreciate your wisdom and insight. K/r, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 I give another vote for the Wolfpack kit. I've built 4 of them. I was ordering the kit from South Korea. I was getting the one with South Korean markings cheap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 One more vote for the Wolfpack kit. It was a fun build. As previously mentioned, you’ll need Hypersonic’s wheels to replace the kit’s F-5 wheels. Resin seats are a nice upgrade, too. I found the fit of the canopies to be a little tricky when having them opened. If memory serves, the kit is missing the clear windscreen on the back-seater’s instrument panel. Easily fixed with some clear plastic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pookie Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Trumpeter made the canopy wrong. They used the cheat line as the start of the canopy instead of the start of the glass. Their kits have the chopped look with a very shallow canopy. it's a a very noticeable difference if you build it with the canopy down. Edited August 12, 2020 by pookie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 Trumpeter squashed the canopy again! Think Vigilante, Corsair II........ One thing they're good at. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted August 1, 2020 Author Share Posted August 1, 2020 (edited) So, looking around the web, I can find plenty of options for both Trumpeter and Wolfpack. The cheapest option is Trumpy kit at $23 + $5-10 shipping depending on how many other kits I purchase. Cheapest WP kit is ~$43 with shipping. I am wary of trying to purchase another kit from S. Korea vie eBay, as the last two times my Academy F-4B/N has been canceled. I am still leaning towards the WP kit, especially after the last two comments. Thanks for all the help. K/r, Dutch Edited August 1, 2020 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 Try SprueBros for the Wolfpack kit. Got a few from them at $31.00. Get the cheapest one (they're all the same...) and Caracal and others have outstanding decals for these acft. The only fit problem is very minor and an easy fix. The students (front) instrument panel mounts too high. I found by cutting down the sides of the panel and the center where it mounts to the floor worked for me. Trial and error. Cut a little... then fit. Repeat as necessary. Doesn't take long... Hope this helps. DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 On 8/1/2020 at 8:35 PM, DET1460 said: Try SprueBros for the Wolfpack kit. Got a few from them at $31.00. Get the cheapest one (they're all the same...) and Caracal and others have outstanding decals for these acft. The only fit problem is very minor and an easy fix. The students (front) instrument panel mounts too high. I found by cutting down the sides of the panel and the center where it mounts to the floor worked for me. Trial and error. Cut a little... then fit. Repeat as necessary. Doesn't take long... Hope this helps. DET1460 I did just that! It arrived last week Friday. Pretty impressive kit. Thanks for all the help. K/r, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DET1460 Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 My pleasure, Dutch. Can't say enough bad about the Trumpy kit. Looks like a Reno air racer! Enjoy the Wolfpack 38. You'll like the results. DET1460 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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