spyplanes

midnightprowler

What Scale?

Just about all the Manufactures have put them out. Off the top of my head I only know of Testors kits that are on the market presently. The experts in this forum should be of more help. I might suggest using Ebay as a way see some of the new and old kits.
I just bought the Testors 1/48 YF-12 off of Ebay.

I prefer the Testors 1/48 U-2. There are several aftermarket updates for the Testors U-2. I am drawing a blank on them, at the moment. The model went together pretty easy and quick. It doe not have that much detail. Highly recommend the aftermarket updates.

Testors 1/48 SR-71 I have built this thing like 10 times. I always have trouble in the same area. The fuselage. The seam runs underneath and next to the chine. I end up sanding off to much detail. The red no step decal is a pain for me. It is rather flimsy and easily torn. Not much interior detail to this kit. I do not know of any after market upgrades.

Here is a list of books on the subject

Sled Driver by Brain Shul
The Untouchables by Brain Shul
Lockheed SR-71 by Paul Crickmore
Lockheed SR-71 New Edition by Paul Crickmore
Sky Spies by Anthony Thornborough
SR-71 Revealed by Richard Graham
Blackbird Rising by Donn Byrnes & Ken Hurley

Some websites

http://www.blackbirds.net/
http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/srlink~1.htm
http://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/index.htm
http://www.sr-71.org/
http://www.habu.org/
Hope this helps

There are 1/72 scale kits of the SR-71 by Academy, Monogram, and Italeri. In the December issue (comes out later this month), Paul Boyer has an article showing you how to take the Italeri SR-71 and their YF-12 kit and turn them into an A-12, the SR-71's predecessor built for the CIA.

I might add that there's also a Hasegawa kit of the SR-71. Not in the catalogue but still available at shows and on e-Bay, where I got mine two months ago. I built one over 20 years ago and it is a very fine kit.

Revell have had SR-71 (and YF-12) kits in their 1/72 range too. They recently came out (no more than 14 months ago) with a supposedly new SR-71 kit but it's got nothing over the Hasegawa nor the Italeri kits. Do not bother. Their earlier offerings are kind of museum pieces now.

Airfix and Italeri have (had) the U-2 in 1/72. Never seen the Italeri but the Airfix is a -C (I think) and is also a fine kit. There are (were) conversion kits and decals available to model just about any variant.

I got a 1/72 scale SR-71 made by a compay called, I think, 'Mini Hobby Models'
I had not heard of them before, but it looks quite good.
It has engraved pannel lines and what looks like removable engine parts.
I can't give too many details because as soon as I got them, my wife whisked
them away to be wrapped as Christmas presents ( for me! ).

I also got a 1/48 SU-27, again quite well detailed ( I think )

I've got the Monogram SR-71 in 1/72. I haven't built it yet, mainly because of all the filling that will need to be done. It does contain a nice D-21 drone though, and as far as I know , it's the only one available in 1/72, the D-21 that is. Does any one have any suggestions on filling those gaps around the corrugated bottom leading edge? They look like they're going to be a bear to do!!!!

Mini Hobby Models! I've got their Su-35/37 and Hind D, both in 1/48. Not bad kits at all, and very, very inexpensive.

Back to spyplanes: I thought Academy also had a small scale SR-71 (like around 1/320), but I just checked their catalogue and none was listed.

J-Hulk
The one I think youare refering to was by LS and it was done in 1/144. It wasn't really all that bad. Maybe Acadamy rereleased this one?

Hmmmm...could be!
Coulda swarn Academy did a li'l Blackbird somewhere along the line!

My wife has a minor in psychology. She says teh blackbird is the ultimate phallic symbol! I agree with her, that is one sexy ship. She loves the blackbird and wants me to build her one. I wish this one was available in 1/32!!! I did the Testors one a few years ago and got frustrated with it and consigned it to the partsbox, kinda wish I hadn't. I've got three of the Monogram 1/72s though, had passing thoughts of building the fleet. By the way, does any one make a conversion for the B model in 1/72? How about a conversion for the U-2CT in 1/72?

Roadkill, your wife says the SR-71 is the ultimate phallic symbol . . . and she loves the SR-71? Oh, you lucky, lucky guy!!

I think Italeri's 1/48 U-2R and TR-1 kits are still on the market.

I've seen some after market stuff for U-2s and I believe it came from Cutting Edge. Some of the sets included a conversion for making a two seat U-2 trainer and various external antennae arrangements.

Monogram had, many years ago, a WU-2D in 1/72

I build Monogram's desktop Snap-Tite SR-71 many years ago, I think it scaled out to 1/110 scale and was a fair representation all things considered.

The U-2Ct is the two seater. There were only two or three built (depending on your source) by converting regular C models. They were painted allover white. At the end of the program they were converted back to single seat D models. I've got a picture of 56-6953 that I took at Beale AFB in 1982. It was converted in 1985 and on retirement was sent to a museum in Bodo, Norway!

roadkill_275

I know the frustration of the Testors SR-71 kit. I feel this time I can master the kit. The last one I built decided it wanted to break its fishing line and drop to the floor like a brick. Right behind my chair. Perfect excuse to buy another kit. The wife loves the aircraft to. But not for the same reason as yours

She's always talking about men and their toys. She says she approves of my modeling because I aint chasing other women and it keeps me away from drink and other mind altering recreations. Besides she does Star Wars models. I was very fortunate to find her and I love her more every day!!! One of these days when I get my scanner working I'll post a picture of her and my other models. someone should do a survey of how many modelers have understanding mates!!

I too have an unfinished SR-71 that I picked up after a trip to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Some day the titanium paint job will go on.

I wonder if there is a pattern here.

I just picked up an Italeri U2R Senior Span from Italeri in 48th scale.
It's a rework of their earlier TR1A kit and looks nice

Academy did do a small scale SR-71,I think 1/320.Pretty ordinary but a habu for all us SR-freaks!By the way my wife bought me the 2004 NASM calender and on the cover (and inside) is an awsome colour photo of the front cockpit of their SR.
Cheers

As mentioned there were quiet a few U2 and SR-71 Kits available, multiple versions (trainer, drone included, etc).

I think one Company even had a 1/48 version of the SR-71(Italeri if memory serves), kits of those birds tend to pop up from time to time at my local LHS and I don't think that it should be hard to find themeither online or at a HS.

Just bought and started Special Hobby's 1/72 ER-2 (also TR-1, U-2R and -S). Not the best kit I've ever seen! Fit of the major parts is OK but there will still need a lot of milliput to give it an airworthy look! My main concern, now that I've put the fuselage together is that on the ground, the airbrakes appear to be always 'down', but the kit does not allow for this... Airfix old U-2C did! It's going to require either some delicate surgery or a 'taxying', powered up aircraft...

The plus things with this kit are the superb resin bits (cockpit details, exhaust pipe, intakes, tons of antennaes..), and the superb NASA decals. The engraving is very light, maybe too light..!