Scale Plastic & Rail

1:32 F-84G Thunderjet from HobbyBoss

1:32 F-84G Thunderjet
HobbyBoss
Catalogue # 83208
Available from Creative Models for £45.99

The genesis of the Republic F-84G Thunderjet was borne out of the United States Army Air Force's requirement to firmly enter itself into the new world of jet aviation. As this official requirement for a turbojet powered aircraft was drafted in 1944, Europe was already heavily underway in both design and deployment on both Allied and Axis sides. Germany was starting to drip-feed it's Me 262 jet fighter to front-line units, and the Gloster Meteor entered service around this time too. As these machines were operational, the forerunner to the F-84G, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, was wreaking havoc in the skies over Europe. Unlike contemporary designs such as Bell Air Corporation's P-59 Airacomet, and Lockheed's P-80 Shooting Star, which both used centrifugal flaw gas turbine engines, Republic's aircraft used an axial-flow unit. This enabled a sleeker and more aerodynamic airframe to be designed, with a single intake incorporated within the nose. The F-84 Thunderjet first flew in 1946, and entered service in 1947. Whilst the P-59 was built in only small numbers, the F-84 went on to serve alongside the equally successful F-80 (P-80).

The F-84 entered service as a fighter-bomber and despite several problems with both structure and the engine causing a near-cancellation of the project, successive variants corrected these issues and the service programme was maintained. The subject of this kit, the 'G' variant was the most successful and numerically superior of the type, with its characteristic reinforced canopy to counter failures on the previous 'E' model. The F-84G's claims to fame are being the first fighter aircraft capable of being refuelled in flight, and also in carrying a nuclear bomb. The F-84 was operated by a number of European NATO countries, as well as Taiwan, China and Iran. F-84's were replaced in the mid-1960's by the F-100 Super Sabre.

This video has French audio

HobbyBoss kits tend to be packaged in attractive and robust boxes, and this is no exception. An artwork showing an F-84G at dusk, sat on a wet runway is quite evocative. The box sides illustrate the two schemes present with this kit. One problem that can plague a reviewer is when there is so much plastic inside a box that it can be difficult to get everything to fit back in. This is one of those kits! No hassles if you intend to build, but this was going to be a kit that I needed to take note of what order I replaced the sprues.

The HobbyBoss F-84G has ELEVEN sprues moulded in medium-grey plastic, with most of these being individually bagged with the exception of the duplicate weapons sprues. One sprue carrying the most delicate parts is entirely wrapped in foam for protection, before being bagged. TWO clear sprues are included; each being wrapped in protective foam. The clear parts are placed in a side compartment along with some metal parts and the set of rubber tyres.

With all the sprues out in front of me, I could pretty much see that this was quite a sizable aircraft. Minus rudder, and ignoring the inch or so compartment, the fuselage halves almost span the full width of the box. These parts are quite impressive to see, with some excellent surface detail such as reasonably fine panel lines and access ports. The wing root stands a little proud from the fuselage 'metal', and even though it's not by too far, I can't say for sure if that is correct. The exterior is indeed riveted, and some images I have of close-ups of the exterior cockpit area so show rivets quite clearly. If you want to lessen them, just spray a coat of Mr Surfacer and rub the exterior back to plastic again. The large avionics access panels are separate parts but no avionics parts included to detail these areas. If you wish to create your own, or go with possible aftermarket, then you don't need to cut these open. Other than that, just glue into place. Forward of the cockpit, the gun bay access door is a separate part so that the detailed bay can be displayed. The rudder is moulded as a separate part also. Overall, first impressions are very good, and the fuselage looks impressive.

A fully detailed cockpit tub is included, built up from around 25 to 30 parts, depending upon whether you choose to install either the late or early pilot seats. The console and instrument panel is a little simplified, but the instruments are recessed, with a full set of decals to place within them. This is something that I wish more manufacturers would do instead of moulding raised instrument detail. You will need to cut the instruments out individually from the decal sheet, or perhaps use some from the excellent Airscale 'Early Jet's set.

The wing parts are moulded onto one sprue, including the alternate wingtip parts and ailerons. Each wing is supplied in halves, and the detail again is very good, with crisply defined panel lines and ports. Wheel wells are inserts that the modeller builds up. These are adequate but could do with a little extra plumbing and wiring add the detail already within. The supplied parts do give an excellent basis to work from.

For detail junkies, the forward hatch in front of the canopy can be removed, and within is the weapons bay, complete with four 20mm cannon and ammunition chutes and avionics. Again, I would perhaps add a little extra detail in here, such as wiring and leads, but that is not to decry what is supplied, as it is very good. The cannon barrels will need drilling out at the end, and the cannon breeches are constructed from halves. HobbyBoss supply two pre-shaped zinc-alloy parts which sit directly below the gun bay in order to give weight to the nose, and prevent building a tail-sitter.

The forward wheel well is constructed from 6 parts and is superbly detailed, whilst the jet tail pipe is built up from two tube halves, detailed within, with an impellor fan facing inwards. I don't know if this can actually be seen or not though.

HobbyBoss have supplied both a set of plastic undercarriage legs, and a zinc-alloy set. The plastic ones actually look very good, and the metal ones, which are extremely rigid, also exhibit good detail. I would probably use the metal ones as they would provide a little weight forward of the centre of gravity. Some moulding tags will need to be cut from these, and a little clean-up is required. The wheels themselves are moulded from rubber, and despite not being weighted, they do look very good, and I would have no qualms about use them. Seam lines are negligible and a lick with a sander would remove anything unwanted.

An option is provided to install regular wingtips instead of the tip-tanks, but why would you want to do that? That would be like building a tank without tracks! Still, the option is there. A pair of under-wing fuel tanks with integral pylons is included too.

The stabiliser and elevators are moulded as separate parts, as is the rudder, plus the belly airbrake can be positioned either open or closed.

If you like to load-out your models, then you won't be disappointed with the FOUR sprues or ordinance to help you with this. Seven types of rocket and bomb are included, as well as a pair of solid fuel rocket boosters to fit below the fuselage. A load-out drawing is supplied on the instructions too. I wish HobbyBoss made some reference of the instructions as to the name of these weapons, to aid those a little ignorant of the facts, and to help with reference.

Generally speaking, the moulding of the grey parts is excellent. There is very little to no flash anywhere, and no real issue with ejector pin marks. Seam lines are minimal and sinkage is non-existent.

There are two clear sprues in this kit. One of them contains the forward windscreen, gun-sight reflector and various lights. The other simply contains the main retracting canopy with its reinforcing straps. The frame lining on these is excellent, and clarity very, very good.  Moulding is perfect, with no flash or flaw.

Instructions are printed over twelve pages, with 15 constructional sequences. Drawings are simple black and white lined, with all options clearly labelled. Colour references are used throughout construction, and given in Mr Hobby codes, although the main, glossy colour scheme sheet gives codes for Mr Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol. The schemes sheet itself is beautifully produced, with clear marking and stencil placement.

Three decal sheets are included. Apart from U.S. national markings, the first one includes the stencils and cockpit decals. One sheet contains various insignia, flashes and squadron codes, whilst the last one includes wing, wingtip pattern and national markings for the French scheme. All decals are reasonably thin and printed in perfect register.

The two schemes offered are:

• F-84G-6RE, French Air Force, 51-9894, 1952
• F-84G "Four Queens", 58th FBG, Summer 1951

 

So what do we think?
Whilst a little extra detail could be added here and there, this is still an excellent release of the wonderful F-84G. For a reasonable price, you get a whole box stacked with plastic, and two superb schemes to choose from. I would have perhaps liked to have seen some photo etch for such things as the seatbelts, which aren't included in this kit, but again, it's no deal breaker.

Highly recommended

Our sincere thanks to Creative Models for the review sample used here. To purchase this directly, click THIS link.

James H