I saw over on Britmodeller that there was news of a new tool (!!!) SR-71 coming from Revell Germany. No definite concrete info yet. Anyone have additional information on this? I Googled “2020 Spielwarrenmesse photos” but got no hits. Could it be a lame-o 1/72 Monogram kit with fresh decals? 1/48 Italeri rebox? An all new 1/48 kit? A new 1/127.5 snap-tite kit with lights, sound, pots of tempera paint, and flame stickers? [:P]
It is surprising that such a cool looking and famous aircraft has not gotten the 21st century tooling treatment. Well, Hypersonic Models is supposed to be working on a new 1/48 kit. They just released a plastic kit of the engine start cart, and it looks very nice.
I was going to suggest to Zoukei Mura that a new 1/48 or 1/32 SR-71 would be bananas. I’m sure if they did it, they would allow the outer wing panels to be displayed open to reveal the engines like the real deal.
I have no business wanting a new tool SR-71 in 1/48 scale, but if one does come down the line it will be epic!
Watched the video just other day from the model show in Nurnburg (sorry is thats incorrect spelling) but they show cased all of Revells new kits, and they did show the box for the new tool SR-71, but I dont think its going to release this year.
It is unfortunate that simply because the 1/72 Monogram kit is an older product that you refer to it as “lame-o”… It is the ONLY SR-71 replica created withn the ndirect assistance of the office of Ben Rich and used accurate scale four-view, inboard profile, and loft line drawings provided by “The Skunk Works”… The D-21 was found at MASDC in 1976 when access was gained through a neighboring air museum… that data was the first release of any data on the D-21 and the replica and Mx. stand was based upon an example stored in the MASDC facility. The 1/144th Academy kit is a direct KO of the Moiogram kit… No other kit mfg has had access to actual data supplied by Lockheed…Proof of these statements?? i was the one who measured the D-21 in 1977 and worked with Ben Rich and his staff… if you have actual Lockheed data to support the claim “Lame-o”, bring it forward… B. Johnson 5/20
I am sorry you took that personally, and I make it my policy not to slight anyone on the forum. You obviously take great pride in your research, but to ask me to produce Lockheed documents is both unreasonable and not relevant to my remarks.
The Monogram kit is the best representation of the SR-71 out there right now, but it came out when I was in school and now I am getting old. Such a famous and extraordinary design deserves a 21st century treatment. All of the current kits have flat blanking plates behind the intake shock cones and nonexistent afterburner tunnels. Most have raised panel lines. My Monogram kit has mold damage on the wing corrugations. Each kit of the SR-71 has its own set of shortcomings, all of which could be addressed in a modern kit. 1/48 scale is kind of big, so if some manufacturer would step up and do a A-11/YF-12/SR-71 family in 1/72 I would be over the moon. Or at least cruising at 70,000 feet.
Hopefully they’ll keep with the concept of the interior details in the Monogram 1/72 kit. It was actually fairly well done for that scale. I recently bought an old Monogram kit off of Ebay (after really being unimpressed by the Academy one before it) and have gotten as far as detailing the cockpit and flight crew. It came out really nice, but I think I’ll hold off on finishing the build until after I see what the 1/48 Revell ends up looking like. Have the Testor’s kit, but just looking it over it looks like it would be a project that would push me beyond my limits of patience. At least it seems to be made of slightly harder plastic than what you can typically expect from something where Italeri has been involved…HATE that rubbery stuff they use. Definitely excited about what Revell will come up with. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by their bang for the buck.
I’m hoping the interior details are similar, and better due to larger scale, to the old Monogram kit.
Gota love Monogram for providing two seated crew figures. 1/72 figs in full pressure suits are not exactly thick on the ground. The X-15 had a nice standing figure.
