hsr Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 This is the Sword !/72 North American Saberliner. I have to say first off that this kit was a huge disappointment. I have built some of their early kits like the T-34C, and T38C that were pretty bad and some of their newer kits like their FJ series and TBM-3W which were pretty good. Based on that I figured this kit would be pretty good. It wasn't. While the fuselage halves fit well that was only until I tried to add the interior parts what did not fit at all and took a lot of trimming. The transparencies, especially the triangular side windows were also bad and getting the windscreen to blend in with the nose gave me fits. Wing to fuselage fit also left huge gaps. The instructions had very vague placements. The decals were OK, but they had the classic problems I have had with all Sword decals; they stuck like glue to the first thing they touched and tended to want to roll up into a ball when I tried to move them. I found if I manage to slide a wet brush under them they would free up, if they didn't roll up first. Also the the instruction placements for the stencils seemed to be for the T-39D Navy version. It came with a very complete set of stencils, but I did not have the patience to fight with then, and most pictures I have seen of the T-39 show it to have a minimum of visible stencils, so I left most of them off. Finally most pictures I have seen of the T-39 on the ground have the front slats and air brakes extended and the main gear door closed. None of those were an option with this kit without major surgery. I used all AK Real Colors for the painting, They all covered really well and had a nice egg shell finish (despite the black labeling itself as flat). But they are impossible to touch up with a brush. In the end it was a tough fight, but I am happy with how it cam out. Next up in a Bell TH-13T using the Italeri OH-13S kit. Enjoy. 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Your model looks great! I've had my eyes on this kit albeit the Navy version. I may have to rethink it! Calvin's dad would probably say that this kit would be a characterbuilding excercise, but I'm 60 (!) so my character's been build a long time ago! Cheers Hans J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod bettencourt Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 What a cool subject, thanks for sharing. Rod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djos Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Something different, and very nice, Thanks for sharing Regards Djordje 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherhawk27263 Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Very nicely done!! I just recently rewatched the movie "Goldfinger" and this reminds me of the ending of the movie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 7 minutes ago, Pantherhawk27263 said: I just recently rewatched the movie "Goldfinger" and this reminds me of the ending of the movie. Is that where someone gets sucked out the window? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 6 hours ago, HansReggelsen said: Calvin's dad would probably say that this kit would be a characterbuilding excercise, but I'm 60 (!) so my character's been build a long time ago! I have 8 more Sword kits in the queue, some new and some old, and at 69 there is only so much character I can build. 🏗️ Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Great job on crossing the finish line here with such handsome results! It's a beaut, despite all the travails. 10 hours ago, Pantherhawk27263 said: Very nicely done!! I just recently rewatched the movie "Goldfinger" and this reminds me of the ending of the movie. I agree! Except Goldfinger was sucked out of a much bigger Lockheed JetStar. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Despite the problems a great looking build ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejay53 Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 I’m trying to build this now. I’ve only built one other sword kit before. I worked thru the issues with blending the canopy to the fuselage and getting engine mounts onto (into) the fuselage. I am now trying to match the wings to the fuselage. It’s like playing “whack a mole”!…..get one side set and the other end pops out. It appears that the front of the one piece lower wing is wider than the fuselage. Could be a lot of sanding to blend. Then there is the issue of getting the tail planes mounted. I'm almost ready to put it back on the shelf for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 14 minutes ago, Bejay53 said: almost ready to put it back on the shelf for awhile. I feel your pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 I am so sorry to hear what a poor kit this is, but you have managed to make a very nice model, nonetheless. I have the Sword kit and Caracal decals, so at least I can dodge the poor Sword decal bullet. Disappointing to hear that one of their more recent releases isn't up to the standards set by some of their other kits. You get bonus points for persevering. I wish kit makers would engineer their releases to allow deflected control surfaces, gear doors, or speedbrakes, etc. that are normally deployed/drooped after shutdown. I know a good modeler is expected to be able to modify a kit, to reflect this, but it's not that much more difficult to engineer...if Special Hobby can engineer deployed slats on a tiny 1/72 Bf-109E... Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Very nice build! Sounds like the kit challenged you all the way, but your skill & tenacity paid off. Well done! 👏👏👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 I agree fully with kapam. The end result is excellent. I would like to add, that Sword models are very reasonable priced. But it is not Tamya. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 A good effort on what sounds like a pig of a kit to build. The undercarriage leg covers look as they would scrape along the ground. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 HI again. I just scanned in some old print images to my pc and came across pics I took on an old Kodak Instamatic 126 casette film camera, Its of the same T-39 Not a brilliant image but one can just make out the gear door..... I think. anyway here it is: You can just make out the '2' from the serial number on the tail. Also clear is the drooped salt spoken about. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ad-4N Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 Great job on a tough kit. I built their T2V SeaStar and yes, Tamiya they ain't. But I tend to cut them slack since they make the weird ()*)((*&&*^&^ kits I like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 15, 2023 Share Posted November 15, 2023 1 hour ago, Paul J said: HI again. I just scanned in some old print images to my pc and came across pics I took on an old Kodak Instamatic 126 casette film camera, Its of the same T-39 Not a brilliant image but one can just make out the gear door..... I think. anyway here it is: You can just make out the '2' from the serial number on the tail. Also clear is the drooped salt spoken about. PS The pic was taken at IAT Greenham Common 1974. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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