Kit: No. 60745
Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Tamiya, distributed by Tamiya America, 2 Orion, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4200.
Price: $12.50
Comments: Injection molded, 72 parts, decals.
Pros: Excellent detail, excellent fit, full cockpit interior, good decals, optional bombs, underwing tanks, and RATO bottles.
Cons: Decals translucent, gun bay interior must be left out if cover is closed, canopy reinforcements engraved on outside.
Aside from having an illustrious career in the U.S Air Force and an outstanding combat record in the skies over Korea, Republic's F-84 Thunderjet holds two significant firsts in aviation history. It was the first fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and it pioneered aerial refueling for fighters.
Tamiya's F-84G delivers the high level of fit and detail that modelers desire. It's molded in flash-free gray and crystal-clear parts with excellent detail and fine recessed panel lines. The eight-page, 12-step instructions include four-view plans for decal placement for both marking options.
Assembly was simple and straightforward without fit problems or need of filler. The cockpit is one of the nicest I have ever built. The instrument panel and side consoles have raised detail, which I highlighted by dry-brushing instead of using the decals provided. The left side console includes a distinct throttle quadrant. The accurate ejection seat consists of four parts and was a pleasure to assemble. Tamiya includes a decal for the seatbelt and harness.
Painting notes are included in every step of the instructions, but are keyed to Tamiya acrylics only. Fortunately, a list of those colors is provided so you can make substitutions.
Like its 1/48 scale big brother, Tamiya's little Thunderjet features a detailed gun bay, but unlike the larger kit, you must leave the detail out if you want to pose the bay cover closed. The assembly that includes the nose-gear bay has space for weight to hold the nose down, but I wasn't sure it was enough. Since I closed the gun bay, I substituted weight for the gun detail part. Tamiya also includes a clear peg to stick under the rear fuselage if you don't use weight in the nose.
A couple of other differences from the 1/48 scale kit are the lack of separate flaps and refueling probes for the tip tanks, and tip tanks molded onto the wing. This is not a big problem, as every photo I've seen of late-model Thunderjets shows the tip tanks in place. Tamiya provides the tiny clear noses for the tip tanks that housed the navigation lights. The substantial inboard weapon/fuel tank pylons are molded into the bottom half of each wing.
Attaching the wings to the fuselage is aided by spars that go all the way through the fuselage and meet the opposite wing. This ensures sturdy construction and produces the correct dihedral. Above all, the fit of the wing to fuselage needed no filler and only a little sanding.
Since assembly was so quick, most of my time was dedicated to prepping, painting, and decaling. I buffed out scratches and blemishes with polishing sticks and Blue Magic polishing compound. The silver paint job is a combination of SnJ Spray Metal and Testor Metalizer.
I was impressed with the decals. They look thick on the sheet, but once applied, they are as thin as aftermarket alternatives. However, the light colors are translucent. They reacted well to Solvaset. Some of the decals are large, and moving them around on the model can cause them to fold on themselves, so work carefully. Optional markings include F-84Gs assigned to the Strategic Air Command's 508th Strategic Fighter Wing, and I chose the alternate from the 58th Fighter Bomber Wing during the Korean War.
After the decals dried for 24 hours, I oversprayed with Future floor polish, then masked and added the flat olive drab antiglare panel. Use caution with the landing gear; the struts are thin and, along with the gear doors, are easily damaged.
I added the pair of 1,000-pound bombs, which even have the yellow nose and tail rings provided as decals. I also added the twin RATO (Rocket Assisted Take-Off) bottles to the bottom of the fuselage. You can pose the canopy open or closed. The reinforcement strips in the canopyare molded to the outside, but after careful painting and a coat of Future, you won't notice it.
I spent less than 15 hours on my little F-84. It measures accurately according to Burt Kinzey's F-84 Thunderjet Detail & Scale. Another useful reference is Korea: The Air War 1950-1953 by Jack C. Nicholls and Warren E. Thompson.
The excellent fit will make it easy for beginners to assemble, and the level of detail and accuracy will make experienced modelers happy. Now, how about some aftermarket decals?
- David P. Anderson