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Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Kinetic, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y
Item No. Kinetic Model Kits Item No. K48113 - Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Contents and Media: 84 light grey plastic pieces; seven clear pieces decals for two aircraft; instructions; plan views for paint and decals.
Scale 1/48
Price: USD$21.99 plus shipping available online from Lucky Model
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Recessed surface textures; gun bay may be posed open; shape looks right; higher quality plastic compared to the original release.
Disadvantages: USAF and U.S. AIR FORCE lettering is presented in black on the decal sheet but they should be Insignia Blue; the shape and design of the national markings are not correct.
Recommendation:

Recommended.

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Background

 

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber.  While an evolutionary development of the straight wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-34F was a new design with the RF-84F Thunderflash as a reconnaissance version.

Evolved from the straight wing F-84, the F-84F prototype first flew in June 1950.  Deliveries began in 1954 with most of the aircraft going to the Tactical Air Command as a ground support fighter bomber.  Republic built 2,212 F-84Fs while General Motors fabricated 599 more.  Of these 1301 were delivered to NATO air forces.  Production of the RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance version totalled 715 aircraft, including 386 for allied countries. 
Throughout the late 1950s, the USAF replaced its F-84Fs with supersonic F-00 Super Sabres and the F-84Fs went to Air National Guard Units.

 

 

FirstLook

 

The first release of the kit was reviewed by Michael Knowles in 2007. You can see Michael's review by following this link.

 

 

The kit sprues are the same so I will not go into detail about the contents of this re-release, but it is noticeable that this latest release is moulded in a much better quality of plastic.

 

 

Markings are new for this boxing too.

 

Markings

The kit contains two aircraft schemes as follows:

  1. Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 19484 of the 614th FBS, 401st FBW based at England Air Force Base in Louisiana in 1957.  This aircraft is finished in overall Airframe Aluminium with a Marine Blue nose and Duck Green tail fin tip.  The tail has black and white checkers on it.

  2. Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 6578 flown by Col William Dunham of the 12th SFW based at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas in 1957.  This aircraft is finished in overall Airframe Aluminium with a red, yellow and blue striped nose and blue stripe with stars and shield just under the cockpit.

Decals are by Cartograph and are nicely printed and in register.

There are a few issues with the decal sheet. The USAF and U.S. AIR FORCE lettering is presented in black on the decal sheet but they should be Insignia Blue.

Also, the shape and design of the national markings are not correct. A trip to the spares box or after market decals might be adviseable.

 

 

Artwork is designed by 104Graphs.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Kinetic's 1/48 scale F-84F Thunderstreak is a welcome re-release with new decals

Thanks to Lucky Model for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Mick Evans
Page Created 6 December, 2022
Last updated 6 December, 2022

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