T-38 Talon - Most accurate 1:48 kit ?

[Tiger331]

Hi Folks

Just like the No. 17 Bus......you wait an age and then two new kits come along at the same time !. I have both the Trumpeter and the Wolfpack T-38A Talon kits in my stash but now understand that they both have accuracy issues ?.

Before I embark on one of my next projects it would be helpful to know what the consensus of opinion is. I am not a rivet counter and fall into the bracket of 'If it looks 90% right its good enough' but if there are any obvious shape/dimension issues it would be helpful to know up front. I have to say the recently completed Wolfpack kit in NASA markings posted on this website looks the part though. My Trumpeter kit looks a bit 'fatter' at the front end.

Thanks for your help

Mark

[Stephen]

Wolfpack. The Trumpeter kit is too long.

Stephen

[Tiger331]

Wolfpack. The Trumpeter kit is too long.

Stephen

Stephen,

Thanks for the heads up……On the basis of this, I did a little more research on the internet and also gave the two kits a going over with the Mk.1 Eyeball again. The Wolfpack kit seems to come off best with only minor issues raised and no serious ones about shape/dimensions so I'm going to stick to my original plan.

Thanks again,

Mark

[gingerbob]

Here's how the two fuselages compare: (Trumpeter above/starboard, Wolfpack below/port)

Going by someone else's measurements, the Wolfpack kit length seems pretty darn close. (Note that both have similar "tailpipe" parts that go on the back.) I also agree that the Trumpeter kit gives an impression of a "fatter" front end. Part of this, I think, is the way the canopies meet the fuselage. The wing also is generally bigger than the Wolfpack, though I haven't done any rigorous checking.

Personally I'd skip the Trumpeter- I only got one so that I could compare the two myself. I hope to get a Kinetic (?) F-5B soon to add that to the comparison.

bob

Edited June 16, 2014 by gingerbob

[Jennings Heilig]

In addition to being too long, Trumpeter **totally** hosed up the shape of the canopy.

Wolfpack is far and away the best choice.

[Stephen]

Stephen,

Thanks for the heads up……On the basis of this, I did a little more research on the internet and also gave the two kits a going over with the Mk.1 Eyeball again. The Wolfpack kit seems to come off best with only minor issues raised and no serious ones about shape/dimensions so I'm going to stick to my original plan.

Thanks again,

Mark

Mark,

You're welcome.

Stephen