Plankwing

I bought two of the "new" Squadron/Encore F-84F reprise of the HobbyBoss F-84F 48th scale kit. I bought them because they "enhanced" the kit with some resin additions and a new decal sheet. The box are showed the Belgian F-84F air demo "052" in the scheme for years 1964-1964. I have already built the HB kit "Straight from the Box" for my build review that appeared in SAMI March 2014. Though the HB kit is the best available F-84F kit in 48th scale, that is a "just barely" true statement as the ancient Monogram kit is behind only because of raised detail and a "too slim" aft fuselage. The Kineti

Been there, done that a few years ago. Just IMHO, set the Heller on the shelf and get the just-released Tanmodel 2201 RF-84F kit. For an easy-start-returning-to-the-hobby build, leave the cameras and mounts out (but include the bulkheads), put some weight in the nose, and do a "from the box" build. Even with substituting Monogram parts into the Heller, the Tanmodel RF is a silk purse in comparison!

I bought the Attic 48th resin kit. Absolutely awful. Not even close to accurate, gigantic waste of money. FWIW, the only part that is of any use at all is the canopy, which, by the way, I sent to Erik Bultz over three years ago for him to use as a reference on his project. His project has not come to fruition, and, despite several request to him to return my canopy, he has not complied and does not communicate in any way. Caveat emptor.

So, over three years since your last post, and now coming up on two years and four months since my last post/complaint, Erik. Where is the progress? Where is my canopy? I entered into the agreement with you in good faith and I have to conclude you are neither honest or reliable.

Sheesh! Has it been that long?! I guess so! "What happened?" Lots of other things! And there it is, right on my workbench awaiting my further attention. Too many projects, not enough sense!

Some progress, part way through adding decals.

Building this F-84F using the Hobby Boss 48th kit as a "basic upgrade" to the kit. I've "fixed" the various bits that needed correction. Used a couple of round files to reshape the "bulges" on both sides of the fairing between cockpit and tail. Filed the aft top of the fin to correct the shape. Replaced the cockpit bits with AMS Resin parts. Replaced the aft end of the tailpipe with AMS Resin corrected part. Replaced the poorly done nose gear well and intake spliter parts with Kinetic parts (and including the ball bearing weight). Covered incorrect refueling door on starboard wing wi

Some progress on the TF-84G build. The Tamiya wing tanks are incorrect (tank too large, fin too small) so I substituted the tanks from the Revell kit. Painting commenced, Insignia White and Insignia Blue. Scheme is based on the Flying Training Wing schemes on the T-6A Texans.

Thanks for the photo and info. I have received a couple other photos from other sources, but none yet are closeup enough for me to confirm shape and other details of the smoke generator. However, one photo that showed up (actually, a better photo of one I already had in my stash) revealed some color details that I had gotten wrong. Every little bit helps!

I presume you mean Gliding Bob? I thought I'd already checked with him and he had no info, but maybe my Halfheimers has kicked in.

18th January 2014 --- Added my build of this Belgian F-84F demo as a continuation of this topic. What is the equipment aft ventral ahead of the drogue chute housing? This is F-84F Belgian FU-52 in Demo livery 1966. I think it is a smoke generator but cannot find any other info than what is evident in these three photos (combined into one graphic). I am building a model of this using the new Hobby Boss 48th scale kit and would like to add the "whatever this is" to the build. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Brian, very helpful info on the decals. I don't claim to have researched decals that thoroughly. Thanks for letting me know my web site was helpful. I had to take the site down because it was generating so much bandwidth that it got to expensive for me to afford. If I can ever get it back online, I will provide the news on this and other forums.

The shape of the intake on the HB kit is correct. The only kit with incorrect intake is the Kinetic/Italeri. I'm curious why you feel the decals "all wanting" as I've gotten every decal sheet I could find for F-84F including some in 72nd scale for reference (though I build only 48th). Certainly, there are some from years past that are not as complete as some of the newer ones, or like Heller where the data decals are heavy handed. My take on most of the aftermarket decals is that they are quite good. In scale, the minor differences of some decals from "real" are no more detracting to me than