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1/72 Hasegawa Northrop T-38A Talon (F-5B) DONE.


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And here she is in her Classic Japanese Kit box glory.. 😬

A good friend very kindly picked it up for me at last year's IPMS US Nationals.

 

52690517895_ab0ce7e6ea_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_Box by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

When I say boxing, I mean just four bits of cardboard that inhabit the same space. and loosely contain the parts and decals.

 

52689581747_90ec4b8c75_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_contents_2 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

When I say decals, I mean something that will definitely get replaced by aftermarket!

 

52689581727_4b02c7e209_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_decals by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

According to Scalemates, this kit was released as recently as 2018 in a Nasa T-38 scheme. I know it's not 100% accurate as a Talon but the plan is to update it where I can and finish as a NASA bird - I've always liked the simple scheme and finish.

 

Thanks for looking and good luck with your builds!

Cheers,

Dermot

 

 

 

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And if anyone out there has a copy of the November 1995 Finescale Modeler, I'd be very grateful of the T-38 article by Tom Black! Paul Boyer:popcorn:

 

Found a copy online, sorted thank you! 👍

Edited by Dermo245
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Some say 'classic', others say 'basic'...

 

To help improve the bare cockpit,  I'm going to pinch the cockpit from a later Italeri F-5F

 

52702204956_313b13eec8_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_1 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Donor kit (thanks again @murfv)

 

52701684757_f516003549_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_2 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Started cleaning up those pins.

 

52706519745_e600cd5358_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_3 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

And then working on the rear bulkhead - before

 

52706106971_ecbfdab47e_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_4 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

And after. Will fill the gap with plastic card/filler

 

52705582022_bdb2ce8d17_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_5 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Then on to removing the drag-chute housing at the base of the tail.

 

52706519740_88ff05f6fd_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_6 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

More later!
Thanks for looking.

Dermot

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  • 4 weeks later...

So getting on with this one again! I decided not to use the donor bits from the Italeri F-5F as would have been too much cutting to make them fit. So out with some plasticard and sprue to make a basic cockpit and seats.

 

52759537299_c94698cb88_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_7 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Will look fine and really just building this for fun.

 

52759537239_4340773c1f_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_8 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Next job was to fill the wing leading-edge slats and try to reprofile the intakes.

 

52759772828_3a709ba4dd_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_9 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

The red portion of the wing will be cut off.

 

52759537274_f3244f369e_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_10 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

And then blending the intakes as best as I can..

 

52759772843_b88a7a7228_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_11 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking and happy modelling.

Dermot

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks all and the wings are on - I've tried to have a go at some rescribiing here and there.

 

52787075207_f0ba2b946a_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_10 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

And filled in under the rudder where the brake chute housing used to be.

 

52787631226_873d64bcf9_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_11 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Next up was the single-piece canopy which I wanted to open up. Out with a razor saw and polishing pads

 

52787862229_d33e2e88d3_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_12 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Masked, primed and painted - happy with that!

 

52788028840_580511f99e_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_13 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

She's had a coat of primer and two light coats of Tamiya XF-2 . Now masked up for the black nose panel and the leading edges of the wings & the wingwalks.

 

52787075127_39c237e57e_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_14 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

52788028760_bed5aec2a5_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_15 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Happy with that!

 

52787075167_b0ab8d6bc7_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_16 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Another gloss coat and will be decals next. 

All the best and happy modelling.

 

Cheers,

Dermot

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On 20/03/2023 at 11:49, Dermo245 said:

Next job was to fill the wing leading-edge slats and try to reprofile the intakes.

Both types of intakes can be found on NASA T-38s.

https://archive.org/details/365745main_NASA_T-38_flyby_full

 

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8699683

Note that exhausts are different too.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=3841.msg59306#msg59306

 

https://www.qwant.com/?t=images&q=NASA+T-38

 

About NASA T-38s:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/flyout/t38flyout.html

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=3841.0

Edited by AV O
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This brings back memories of a model shop in Chester in the early 1970's - together with the Fuji trainer, the Sabre and the He 51 this in its original boxing was one of the first Hasegawa kits I ever saw under their own name having previously built some under the Frog branding. It is an elegant looking plane and to my mind the 2 seater looks a bit sleeker than the single seat version which Airfix offered as the "Freedom Fighter".

 

Pete

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10 hours ago, PeterB said:

This brings back memories of a model shop in Chester in the early 1970's - together with the Fuji trainer, the Sabre and the He 51 this in its original boxing was one of the first Hasegawa kits I ever saw under their own name having previously built some under the Frog branding. It is an elegant looking plane and to my mind the 2 seater looks a bit sleeker than the single seat version which Airfix offered as the "Freedom Fighter".

 

Pete

 

What a great story Peter, thank you! I think that original Fuji trainer is still available. I love the lines of the 2 seat Talon, just wish it was available in a more modern tooling - Sword kit is impossible to find.

Cheers,

Der

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So mug of tea in hand, it's onto the decals!

These are a second-hand Microscale sheet for F-5/T-38 and were kindly sent to me by a modeller 'Stateside.

 

52795235048_a13b110740_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_17 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Houston.......we have a problem. 😮

 

52795235028_42d10608b2_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_18 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

These are unusable. On to plan B.

 

Cheers,

Dermot

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Just caught up on your build. Nice work so far. Shame about the decals. What’s plan “B”?

 

Cheers, Allan

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4 hours ago, almac said:

Just caught up on your build. Nice work so far. Shame about the decals. What’s plan “B”?

 

Cheers, Allan

Thanks Allan.

I was looking at getting a replacement set printed by someone...but a fellow modeller has found some in his collection and are on their way right now.

Delighted with that!

 

Dermot

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Hi Dermo245,

 

Just an advice about your decals. 

 

Make a photocopy or a scan (or 2 or 3) of them before using them to save a trace.

Youl might be glad to have that...  just in case ! 

Stick it on a thin double face tape and cut with sharp scissors.

That makes an excellent mask.

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/28544-aerobatics-172/

 

See also the F-18 prototype at the bottom of this thread :

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/27926-airliners-md-90-1200th/

 

Regards.

AV O

Edited by AV O
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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you for all the suggestions and help with decals - all great advice for the future!

I got this set from a model club member who I contacted; as he found he had a spare set  Thanks very much Steve R, this build wouldn't have happened without you!

 

52815568890_f84c3b616d_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_19 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

They are going on lovely and great touch that VM included extra lengths of decals to help make up the side markings. The stencils are from my spares. and I've gone for #821 of Dryden Flight Research Center.

 

52814599832_7740a24914_b.jpgHasegawa_T_38_wip_20 by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Home stretch now, hope to finish in the next few days.

Cheers,

Dermot

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Posted (edited)

So with the canopy added, this Japanese classic is done!

 

52839685357_e21a9ae5b5_b.jpgHasegawa_T-38_Talon_NASA_done (1) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

52840445434_5535964aa6_b.jpgHasegawa_T-38_Talon_NASA_done (5) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

52839685232_acbc5c48d3_b.jpgHasegawa_T-38_Talon_NASA_done (6) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

She's not the most accurate T-38A Talon by a longshot...but I'm really happy how it turned out, especially the surgery on the one-piece canopy.

 

52840445514_5377bf07d9_b.jpgHasegawa_T-38_Talon_NASA_done (8) by Dermot Moriarty, on Flickr

 

Thanks for all your comments, encouragement, photos & reference links. And thanks to @JOCKNEY and @JeroenSfor leading this one which has been really enjoyable. Will post some more pics in the Gallery.

Take care and happy modelling.

Cheers,

Dermot

Edited by Dermo245
Fixing photo links
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  • Dermo245 changed the title to 1/72 Hasegawa Northrop T-38A Talon (F-5B) DONE.

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