1:48 F-84F

The Thunderstreak, the swept branch of one family

On the F-84F type Republic started from the straight-winged Thunderjet, but the change was far deeper than the shared number suggests. A new swept wing, new tail surfaces and a British Sapphire engine built under license meant that only a minority of parts of the original design was kept. The machine entered service in the middle of the 1950s and became the backbone of the strike forces of several European air forces, because the United States handed it over to its allies on a large scale. The reconnaissance branch carried cameras in the nose and intakes moved into the wing roots, which told it from the fighter version at first glance.

What the package is for

The cockpit of the Thunderstreak has a fixed windscreen and a sliding rear section with several straight frames. It is the straight edges that are treacherous, because the eye notices even slight waviness on them. The cut pieces hold the edge where it should be and after spraying come away together with the paint.

• it watches the edge of the paint on the fixed windscreen and on the sliding part of the cockpit
• separate material for the outer and separate for the inner view
• usable under a metal look and under the later camouflages
• the kit itself is not in the package

A practical tip

A natural metal finish is a frequent choice on this aircraft and under it every unevenness beneath the edge of a mask stands out. The base therefore deserves careful smoothing before the mask is laid on. Polished paint also holds an adhesive layer less well, so it is sensible to press the edges down again after applying them.