Hello, I’m new to this forum so bear with me. I am looking to build several versions of the SR-71 family in 1/48. The SR-71A, A-12, Drone carrier and YF-12A Interceptor. I have ordered the Testors 1/48 Blackbird so that parts done. I also have ordered the 1/48 GTD-21 Drone vacuform kit. I have read that the A-12 conversion from Kiwi is not available at this time and neither is the Testors 1/48 YF-12A Interceptor. Any Idea of where online I can find a source for them? I have been checking Ebay with no luck. I have read that some of the parts needed for the YF-12A are included in the Testors SR-71A kit. is this true and if so what if anything is missing? I have the Squdron/Signal book on the SR-71 by Lou Drendel so I have some referances to guide me now I just need the kits/conversions to get started. Any help from the readership would be greatly welcomed. Thanks in advance!
Welcome to the forums.
The YF-12A still pops up on ebay frequently so keep looking. Black Robin Resin now makes the A-12 conversion for the 1/72 and 1/48 planes. I have obtained a kit for the 1/48 plane and will post a review of it this fall. Email for Black Robin Resin is avert@xtra.co.nz .
The Testors 1/48 SR-71 kit does not contain anything to build the YF-12A but with work the SR-71 could be built from a YF-12A kit, as well as an A-12, with some serious mods to the front and rear of the airframe. Why anyone would want to build an SR-71 from a YF-12A kit is beyond me. The YF-12A kit can be hard to find but the SR kit is still being made, I think. Besides, there are tons of them on ebay.
I plan to obtain another SR-71A kit for the A-12 conversion and I’ll build my YF-12A kit OOB. Well, as a YF-12A anyway, probably not totally OOB.
There are a couple of really sharp Habu guys that are members here that may be along to help you. One of which is Yardbird78. He’s a real good guy, offers good info and as a former Habu ground crew member, he really knows his stuff about this amazing plane. I look forward to seeing progress on your project.
Thanks for the info. I have e-mailed Black Robin about their A-12 Conversion set. The SR-71A is on order and I should have it soon. Same for the GTD-21 drone. I will use a 2nd SR kit for the A-12 but before I buy it I wanted to make sure that I could get my hands on a conversion set. I will continue to check ebay for the YF-12A. For the drone carrier I think that I need a 2nd A-12 set. That is the one that will be the most challenging but with my references I think that I can make something passable to all but the rivet counters.
hk- Thanks for that tip on the Black Robin Resin, I plan to order one of those A-12 conversions kits ASAP. [tup]
Well in the Testors 1/48 BlackBird, but it requires modifications. The noise of the A-12/M-12 isn’t as wide, and the tail peice on the SR is cut flush for th A-12. Thats what the Testors booklet says.
Ordered the Black Robin conversion. Thanks hk! Also picked up a great referance book by James Goodall an the SR-71 family. Still looking for the 1/48 YF-12A.
Keep watching for that YF-12A. I looked for a few months, bid on a couple but kept getting outbid. I finally found two on ebay at the same time. I bid high on one, determined to get it but if not, I still had enough time to bid on the second one. Fortunately, I won the first one, cost me $50 with shipping. For some goofy reason the second one went for $70 plus shipping. Go figure.
I keep bidding on another SR-71 but keep losing. I’d like the kit for the A-12 conversion. Maybe I’ll get serious about it soon and nail one down.
halloween, there is another accessory out there you may be interested in. Cutting Edge made a burner can set for the 48th kit that was awesome but when the company went OOB the sets evaporated. Last set I saw on ebay was over $120, IIRC. I have a source out of country that basically pirated the CE set and made their own. They even include the CE printed instruction but white out the logo and photocopy them. I may be able to hook you up with the maker if you decide you want a set.
And just in case you have been looking at them, take my advice and stay away from the True Details SR-71 resin cockpit and wheel set. They are absolutely useless and there is nothing good about them from the fit to the detail. A casual effort with a few pieces from the spares box and some scrap bits and pieces will yield a much better looking and fitting result in the cockpit. The resin wheels are an identical copy of the kit wheels and being such, are incorrect in detail and size. Using them is a complete waste of time and effort. The only face saving the wheel set can do is be a base for reshaping and grinding into something that actually resembles the prototype.
OK, now you have my attention! I really want one of those burner sets. [:P]
There is a set of those Cutting Edge burner cans/exhaust nozzles on ebay at this address. I don’t know anything about the seller and have never dealt with him.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180394490914&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
This photo shows the side profiles of the 4 major variants of the Blackbird. The photo of the M-21 has been reversed. You are actually looking at the right side of the aircraft.
The Aerofax book, “Lockheed’s SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ Family” by James Goodall and Jay Miller has some good photos of the top of each family member. The M-21 drone carrier had the identical airframe as the A-12. Lockheed took two A-12 airframes while still on the assembly line and made them M-12s by modifing the camera bay into the second cockpit and adding the hardware necessary to mount and launch the drone. The YF-12 was the same as the A-12 from the point where the leading edge of the wing met the fuselage on back. The fuselage forward of that point was totally different, especially the nose. The SR-71 more closely resembled the A-12, but with a longer, wider nose chine and an extended fuselage aft of the wing trailing edge.
If you have any specific questions, let know and I will try to answer them for you.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Thanks Yardbird. I just bought the book that you mentioned by Mr Goodall. Exelent! Thanks for the heads up on the tru details set hk. I will steer clear of it. With what I have ordered so far I should be able to build everything but the YF-12A. I will keep checking Ebay for that one. This is going to be fun!
Well, there is a listing on ebay now for the kit that I have been wating for the Testors 1/48 YF-12A. This auction includes the cutting edge resin afterburner set and the starting price is $85. with a buy it now of $125. The afterburner set is nice but for the price I can do without it. I guess that I will just have to wait for something more reasonable. If it had a buy it now of $85 for just the YF-12A I might think about it although several friends told me that the going price on ebay for this kit is in the $40-$60 range. I’ll have to think about this one! I wish that I could find even a parts kit that I could kitbash with the SR-71. IF I spent $125 on this my wife would make my life hell! Oh well! Patience is a virtue!
Okay…Okay…I’ll part with my Testors YF-12A. How’s a price better $60 and $90 sound. I’m sure your wife will be thrilled:-)
I’m in N.C. Don’t know what shipping will be.
PM sent Leftie
Actually, for $125 that’s a good deal. I may have to think about that one.
The first time that I saw one of those Cutting Edge burner can sets on ebay after Meteor went out of business, it sold for something like $400. Since then, several more have sold in the range of $100 to $200. I don’t think that any of them have sold for less than $100.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Okay…Halloween 32 opted out. I still have my YF-12A kit for sale for $90 delivered in the USA.
I’m in N.C.
Just thought I would give you a head’s up that FSM really frowns on listing items for sale here, as outlined in the Forum rules…
5. Advertisements. If you would like to advertise a product that your commercial company manufactures, or if you are an individual private seller, you can buy a classified ad in the magazine or an ad on the Web site. This includes all buying, selling, and trading. Any posts that appear to be an advertisement or transaction will be deleted.
FSM forum guidelines
Sorry about that folks…Just trying to help. Thanks for the correction.
GOT IT! Wow, this has been interesting! Well I bought the one listed on ebay for the buy it now of $125. The reason I could do this and still sleep in the house is that my fellow modeling buddy, a former F-106 pilot from the New Jersey National Guard has agreed to buy the Cutting edge afterburner set from me for $75! My cost after this arrangement is $50 plus shipping! I was going to wait and bid when the auction was ending to get it cheaper but like Don said the resin afterburner set goes for over $100 everytime he sees one! And if I waited I may get out bid and not get my YF-12A at all! Thats about the normal going price of this kit on ebay so its a win win for both of us! My friend is a fellow Habu fan. He is the one who got me back into building aircraft. He has several 1/48 Blackbirds that are nothing short of stunning! Thanks again for the offer Leftie. I Know that you were trying to help and I apprreciate it. I was unaware that this was a no no as well.
And on top of that, it’s NOT a good deal. I got mine off of ebay for $50 including shipping. You wern’t doing anyone any favors.