Plankwing
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Posts posted by Plankwing
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Yea, I'll say! First thing I noticed was the birdcage canopy. This is what Joe Baugher's site has to say about this one-of-a-kind F-84.
49-2430 Republic YF-84F Thunderstreak
Originally on F-84E contract as YF-96A. Later modified as YRF-84F parasite fighter in combination with GRB-36F.
I recall reading that when Republic redesigned the F-84 with a swept-wing, the USAF wanted to redesignate it as the F-96, but couldn't get funding for a "new" aircraft, so they just added a new letter to the F-84 series. That's the way I remember it anyway. If anyone knows for sure, please let us know.
Mark
History sez it was a USAF political decision related to getting funding for aircraft because of the Korean conflict. North American was also affected as the Sabre Dog was originally the YF-95A. 49-2430 progressed through a series of designations, originally did not have the fiberglass-tape canopy braces, originally called Thunderjet, then Thunderstreak. It was the Thunderstreak prototype, then later, modified to test AV for FICON (as it now exists) that lead the way to the RF-84K Thunderflash. Probably for some misguided promo by ... who knows ..., the second YF-84F SN 51-1344 with deepened fuselage was, for an unknown period, falsely designated as FS-430-A, with 92430 on the tail as SN 49-2430. The photo at the link below was supplied to me by Raymond Puffer, USAF Flight Test Center.
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Hey Erik,
I'd like an update on Have Blue progress. I don't have your private email so I can't contact you directly.
If project is stalled, I'd like to have my canopy returned.
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Summer Homes
You know, those out houses ... some'er fer men and some'er fer wimin!
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My best wishes to you. Not the easiest thing to endure in life, but advances in medical practice have made open heart relatively routine. My wife worked surgery for open heart/heart transplant for over 20 years so I've gotten some "news" over the years of the advances. Also, one transplant she worked was an unusual procedure and needed to be photographed. The staff photographers were not available so the lead surgeon called me in (my wife managed to convince him I could to the deed without creating a second medical emergency) and I spent eight hours in the room photographing the pertinent steps of the procedure. Amazing to see the donor heart start beating again during re-warm (patient privacy prohibits me from posting any of the photos). My brother had quad bypass and it didn't seem to bother him much during recovery and he lived a full and active life for another nine years before he expired from an unrelated illness (lung cancer from second-hand smoke; he never smoked but his workplace did not ban smoking until after he retired - the small-town medical staff kept telling him he had pleurisy, the cancer wasn't diagnosed until three days before he went to his rest).
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Squadron had metal set in their catalog recently. You might check their web site.
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RF-84F-46-RE 53-7654 Luftwaffe EB+368. This was a serious bash using Heller/Fonderie 48th, Monogram F-84F, AMS Resin detail set, my PE speed brake/wing fence set, and scratch built camera installation.
rf-84f-46-re-53-7654-r2136.jpg
rf-84f-46-re-53-7654-a2173.jpg
M-12/D-21 bash using Testors 48th SR-71 and YF-12 with Eagles Talon vac drone. Build was modeled after the AV in the Museum at Boeing Field in Seattle. Washington. The cockpit/drone controller area is quite different from any of the other Blackbirds so took some time to get the contours revised.
m-21-d21-lo-60-6940-a1819.jpg
m-21-d21-lo-60-6940-a1826.jpg
Heller 48th RF being built as RF-84K-17-RE 52-7265 FICON which is resident at Planes of Fame in Chino, California. Photo shows my PE speed brakes and wing fences set installed. It won't get completed for this group build because of too many other irons ... er, planes ... on the bench.
rf-84k-17-re-52-7265-a2297.jpg
Based on the rules for this group build, I won't claim eligibility for anything as both of the completed builds were done some time ago and the other won't get completed in time. Photos posted for whatever interest they may have.
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Just got the "new" release Chematic/Gomix F-84 Thunderjet 48th scale. It is from Poland, Polish instructions. But, and here is the fun part ... TaDa ... it is tagged "The Testors Corporation" on the internal bag. Yup, it is the Hawk/Testors F-84D all over again, but with decals for F-84G-16-RE 51-10460 FS-460. I suspect this must be one of the kits from a batch Testors apparently produced and bulk-packed, some of which showed up on eBay recently as a box of (if I remember correctly) 40 kits. Excellent box art* and, though minimal, the decals are well printed. Amazingly, considering how ancient the mold is, there is little flash. So, Chematic/Gomix must have arranged with Testors to mfr the kits then did their own instructions, box art, and packaging. Kinda sorta reverse of Italeri snagging the Kinetic 'Streak kit. So, caveat emptor ... it looks similar to a Thunderjet ... accuracy wanting ... it's a "B" not a "G" ... etc. Best I can say is in its favor is that it is an easy build for a beginning modeler who would like to test a single-pulse-jet firecracker engine ... or not.
*The box art is dated 2003. Hmmm. When did this kit hit the market? I first saw it only three or four weeks ago. Am I behind the times, or did they take seven or so years to get from box art to kit release?
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Erik, thanks for the update. (I see you are also "on the forum" right now; cool!) Of course, I'm "afterburner on" waiting for the Have Blue.
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I'll catch up ... sooner or later!
My build is of RF-84F-46-RE 53-7654 Luftwaffe EB+368. This was a serious bash using 48th scale Heller and Fonderie RF-84Fs, Monogram F-84F, AMS Resin detail set, my PE speed brake/wing fence set, scribed panel lines, and scratch built camera installation. Build did, in fact, use one each Heller and Fonderie because the Fonderie fuselage was so warped I could not get the halves to line up so I went to my stash and used the fuselage from a Heller kit.
The cameras were made with RenShape, brass tubing, and clear formation lenses from the parts box. I matched the colors as best I could determine from color photos of cameras. The decals are from various sheets, the Sqd decal is PhotoShop and Epson inkjet on clear decal. The vertical tail on both Heller (RF-) and Monogram (F-) are neither short- or long-tail. I patched the Monogram tail onto the HelFon tail to model the correct long-tail as on the RF. The cockpit and spine on the HelFon fuselage is a bit large for the scale so I spliced in the cockpit and spine from the Monogram F. Being anal, the only "missing" correction is that no correct RF main wheels are available so I had to condescend to use the F wheels and gear from the Monogram kit.
For those who have not checked out the AMS Resin sets, Harold makes three sets for the RF, the main difference being the EJ seats. This RF had the MB seat which is represented by the "Euro" set by Harold. The set includes the entire cockpit (with correct RF instrument panels) and seat, ejector (tailpipe), and "sugar scoop" intakes.
As mentioned, the speed brakes and wing fences are from my PE set (which I had made specifically to build this model). The first batch sold out very quickly, I will have another batch made if I get five "committed to buy" requests. I've gotten three requests so far ... two to go ...
I am currently progressing toward getting my "old" F-84 web site back online and, presuming success, will make it known when that happens. When that is up and running, I'll post links to photos of my RF-84F model (since that seems to be the only way to have photos appear in this forum).
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Erik, what is the progress on Have Blue? I presume you received the canopy I sent.
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Erik, I got your message, could not reply, says your mailbox is full. I will get the canopy into the mail to you Tuesday.
Mingwin, as for the Attic kit, referencing is as "crap" is insulting to crap. It may resemble Have Blue, but nothing except the canopy area is 1/48th and it varies from there to 1/56th. Wing sweep is wrong, castings are pitted and the two fuselage halves are big blobs of resin that the resin gear provided could not support. And that's the good news. IMHO, the only usable part of the kit is the canopy. Unfortunately for my pocketbook, the Attic kit is not the only "gotta have" kit I've bought that is so bad that the best use would be the joy of tossing it into the big swirl.
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I have most of the 48th scale geometry in Master Cam, also have the junk-which-poses-as-a-kit from Attic and it is not 48th scale. Interestingly, according to my measurements, the vac canopy from the Attic kit is exactly the right size for 48th scale and it seems to me to be the only useful part from the kit. You want it? I can mail it.
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Here is a better drawing of the cameras (the other one clearly "copied" from this one). There was a curved window for the vertical camera. There was also a window for the viewfinder that had a door to cover it when not being used. The "scope" was not a radar (if anyone thought it so) but was the display for the viewfinder.
Camera stations:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...tations-800.jpg
And camera options:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...ections-800.jpg
Another photo of instrument panel:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...anel-01-800.jpg
My HelFonMon 48th bash camera installation in progress:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...h-a1951-800.jpg
My HelFonMon 48th bash camera installation finished model:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...h-a2149-800.jpg
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Two photos of my Battle of Britain 48th scale FW-200 C-3 F8+BL, one at the show, one on my workbench.
I used Model Master enamels for the RLM 72/73 camo scheme and the color difference is almost nil.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...9-550d-800x.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/Pl...80-40d-800x.jpg
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Just an FWIW comment: Seems to me the best starting point would be to contact the seller before resorting to a forum. I recently had an issue with a new and obviously unopened kit from a major mfr that was absent the decals. I contacted the (online) hobby shop and they took care of getting the decals from the mfr for me. On the other hand, hopefully the responses to this matter confirm their integrity for others who may have questions.
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Love those F-84s, great job on both!
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Getti Tonanti decals in 48th are found on Microscale sheet 48112. Can't find any? I have an extra ...
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Each has good and bad points. The fuselage on the RevMonProMod is closer to correct than the Tamiya, and the tail shape is correct in profile but the Tamiya is not. The wings on the Tamiya are closer to correct than the RMPM but the tanks on the Tamiya are too big where the RMPM tanks measure nearly perfectly (dimensions provided to me by a friend who took a tape to the "E" at Dayton).
I have two gripes with RMPM; the nose gear is very flimsy (have not experienced any problems with the main gear but the Tamiya main gear is more-better so to speak), and the fuselage aft of the canopy has a difficult-to-define incorrect shape which causes the canopy to kick up in back that is not correct when posed open. The Tamiya canopy "levels" correctly when posed open.
I have built nine Plankwings (so far) of both Tamiya and RMPM kits, going so far as to severely kit-bash my "ultimate" Plankwing by combining the two kits best parts and adding numerous resin and PE aftermarket details. I should add that three of them were bashed/backdated to "D" version.
The short conclusion is that both kits can be built from the box to represent the Plankwing with no regrets, and any added resin, PE, or aftermarket decals just add to these already good kits. Now if we could get state of the art F-84F and RF-84F kits in 48th scale ... since Kinetic blew it ...
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There is a difference in the "G" block numbers. Suck-in doors commenced on F-84G Block 20; earlier blocks, such as Block 5, did not have the suck-in doors, so were like the "E" that did not have them. And, yes, there was the Rece version of the F-84G, but not an official production item from Republic. They were field modified by adding cameras either under fuselage centerline or to the nose of Fletcher tanks or both. RF-84G is not an official USAF or Republic designation, just so-called because that is what they became in practice with the mods.
There were two versions of the fuselage camera installation, Yugoslavia and NATO. They were used by Yugoslavia, Denmark, France, and Norway. Thus, there are several options for modeling the RF-84G.
The Hi-Decal sheet mentioned above and the Model Art items available have all the skinny on the mods and some specific SerNos that had the mods. Model Art has both decals and resin parts for the RF-84G conversion. Decals are item MA002, Resin conversion as item MA004, just bought those about two months ago, have had the Hi-Decal 48017 set since they became available.
Which kit to use (speaking of 48th scale)? The Tamiya kit has the suck-in doors molded into the fuselage, thus suitable for Block 20 and later. The RevMonProMod "G" kit (variously boxed) is molded with that portion of the fuselage left open with the option of using parts furnished for either with or without the suck-in doors. Now, the caveat ... some of the early-block "G" were modified by adding the suck-in doors to a few pre-20-block series that had not yet left Republic assembly. Thus, the modeler is advised to check any photos available of the specific aircraft being modeled.
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Well, looks like I'm the last one to get the word that this Italeri 2682 F-84F is a the Kinetic kit in a purty box with really purty decals. "New tools"? HA!
I bought the kit, got it today (Tuesday, 28th). Somebody needs to make a correct resin nose for this kit. That one item would help salvage this bust-up kit.
I'm not of a mind to excuse the lack of due diligence on the part of Kinetic as they just had to rip off Monogram and Tamiya instead of doing their own research.
Were they just plain too lazy to put the time into making it right? Cost of tooling? Doesn't cost any more to do it right rather than do it incorrectly. It wasn't a good kit with Kinetic brand on it, so why did Italeri put the word out that it was "new tools" then condescend to place their brand on it? My view is it is just plain inexcusable for Italeri to conclude this was a kit worthy of their brand. Yeah, the decal sheet is great. However, the price/value intersection does not make it worth the cost to get the kit for the decals. The lemon-shaped intake is "up-front-notice" that this kit is a lemon in the Kinetic box and it is still a lemon in the Italeri box.
So how is this kit any better than Monogram/Revell? Here's the comparison:
Monogram/Revell - Reasonably decent kit especially for the era it was tooled. Aft ventral profile too slim, tail between short and long versions. Raised but minimal panel lines. Not state of the art, but builds well from-the-box.
Kinetic/Italeri - Generally, a rip-off of Mongram/Revell with the same profile and tail issues. With minor exceptions, the "rip-off" includes all the cockpit and gear. Trench-sized engraved panel lines. Some added panel lines as on "Flash" but not on "Streak." "Bonus" is added weapons bay, a rip-off of Tamiya Thunderjet kit. The BIG KILLER for this kit is the MIS-SHAPEN intake. GACK! IF the intake was not so glaringly inaccurate, one could wink at the other issues and call the kit and "improved" Monogram/Revell.
In short, it is no better, in fact, it is worse. So why buy it when the Monogram/Revell is much less out-of-pocket cost?
As my dad used to say, "Just between you and me and the gatepost ..." Don't waste your money on this kit. If you want to build a "Streak" from the box, get the Monogram/Revell. If you want to super detail a "Streak" use the Monogram/Revell and Harold's AMS resin (and there are a couple quite good PE frets available) for the build.
My opinion? Italeri deserves a reward for issuing this monstrosity, as in, reward them by declining to purchase this travesty of a kit.
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I have 20 sets. 10 Bucks US including shipping within US by USPS first class. If outside
US, I will need your address to determine mailing cost to your location.
Email me at f84thunderjet@yahoo.com for address and payment info, and PayPal is one
option for payment if you have a PayPal account.
Photo is dry fit of parts on port wing.
Bruce.
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Modeling a G series does not always require the missing kit's parts suck-in doors.
Suck-in doors were not added to F-84G until block 20, Serial 51-1227 and after.
However, some earlier G series were retrofitted with the suck-in doors.
For purposes, of "accuracy," check photos -- presuming some are available -- of
the G series you wish to model to determine whether it was block 20 or later or,
if earlier block, had the suck-in doors retrofitted.
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VERY nice! AND, great to see a lady showing off her modeling skills.
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Very nice, but how could you possibly mess up that left nose gear door! HaHa! Been there, done that -- to the point of having to repaint the whole model. I just got the Aeromaster 48-728 decal sheet a couple weeks ago. Their decals are as good as decals get these days, and the ILL ANG livery looks great on your model. Good work.
Revell?Monogram F-84G Thunderjet
in Jet Modeling
Posted · Edited by Plankwing
I have that kit, decals look fine to me. And, check this link on this forum.
http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=232548&st=0&p=2217280&hl=thunderjet&fromsearch=1entry2217280