Post by peach38336 on Jan 10, 2014 13:19:01 GMT
Following on from my two Skyraiders (see my post in the "Hints and Tips/Paint" section) I've decided to put together one or two examples of another favourite of mine, the Republic F-84F/RF-84F Thunderstreak/Flash. Sadly this is not a machine that is covered much at all in either 1/72 or 1/48 despite being the cornerstone of NATO's air defences for many many years. It is an attractive aircraft and deserves more recognition.
I acquired a couple of Airfix 1/72 F-84F examples plus one of the Italeri offerings. Both are old mouldings but despite this they fit reasonably well and any modeller with skill could produce a good example or two. I'm not one of these but nevertheless I'm taking on the challenge.
What I want to say as a kick off to this thread is that many reviews indicate that the Italeri is the better kit. If you are tempted to try a 'Streak then go for the Airfix one. The Italeri (Revell) falls down in so many areas - the forward fuselage is too wide and consequently the canopies look wrong, the wheel set (main and nose) are wrong, there is no (virtually) cockpit detail, the raised panel lines would be better used to keep in sheep as they are extremely heavy - and there's more!
So,the Italeri kit has been relegated to the spares pile. However, I have acquired a Italeri RF-84F which does suffer from the same deficiencies but will end up helping me put together a 'Flash from the Airfix kit.
I'm already under construction and I will use the fantastic Icarus decal set to produce two Greek examples. One, the 'Flash, will represent the only 'Flash that I ever saw in the air - '37682' in 1982. The 'Streak will be from the era of natural metal finishes.
I'll update you (if anyone is interested) and post some images overtime.
Martin
I acquired a couple of Airfix 1/72 F-84F examples plus one of the Italeri offerings. Both are old mouldings but despite this they fit reasonably well and any modeller with skill could produce a good example or two. I'm not one of these but nevertheless I'm taking on the challenge.
What I want to say as a kick off to this thread is that many reviews indicate that the Italeri is the better kit. If you are tempted to try a 'Streak then go for the Airfix one. The Italeri (Revell) falls down in so many areas - the forward fuselage is too wide and consequently the canopies look wrong, the wheel set (main and nose) are wrong, there is no (virtually) cockpit detail, the raised panel lines would be better used to keep in sheep as they are extremely heavy - and there's more!
So,the Italeri kit has been relegated to the spares pile. However, I have acquired a Italeri RF-84F which does suffer from the same deficiencies but will end up helping me put together a 'Flash from the Airfix kit.
I'm already under construction and I will use the fantastic Icarus decal set to produce two Greek examples. One, the 'Flash, will represent the only 'Flash that I ever saw in the air - '37682' in 1982. The 'Streak will be from the era of natural metal finishes.
I'll update you (if anyone is interested) and post some images overtime.
Martin