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1/48 Tamiya - F84G Thunderjet
By Bradley D. Chun IPMS #33945
Copyrighted 1998
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Manufacturer: Tamiya Plastic Model Co.
Address:2 Orion
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Kit No. 61060
Scale: 1/48th
In the middle of 1944, when the Lockheed XP-80 was performing its low-level test flights,
a design team from Republic, formerly Seversky, started working on a single seat, single
jet fighter plane. Republic’s chief designer was Alexander Kartveli, creator of
famous airplanes such as the P-35, P-43, P-47, etc. On February 28, 1946, the first
prototype of a new fighter, with the designation XP-84, took to the air from Muroc AFB.
Propulsion came from a General Electric TG-180/J-35 axial flow jet engine. The small
diameter of the J-35 engine allowed for a very aerodynamic design of the airplane. A speed
record of 611 mph was achieved in September 1946.
The one version built, with over 3,025 airframes produced, was the F-84G. the Thunderjet
was built to specifications and requirements set forth by the Tactical Air Command
(TAC)
in November 1950. At that time, TAC was looking for a fighter-bomber with the capability
to carry nuclear weapons.
With an increased payload, connected with a higher gross weight, the F-84G needed a more
powerful engine. A J-35-A-29 which was able to provide 2,450 kg of static thrust. Like the
F-84E, the F-84G could shorten the take-off distance with the installation of two JATO
rockets. With the help of a KB-29 tanker, the range of the F-84G was extended
tremendously. An autopilot was also available for long distance flights.
Reconnaissance Thunderjets, designated as RF-84Es and RF-84Gs, were also put into service.
These reconnaissance planes had there cameras mounted in special pods below the fuselage,
and not in the tip-tanks.
Some other very interesting experiments were also carried out on the F-84 airframe. There
was the EF-84G, that was mounted to the bed of a flatbed truck, and when coupled with the
TM-61 Matador and JATO, it had a ZERO-take-off. Also of notice, is the MX-1018 Tip-Tow.
This incorporated two slightly modified EF-84Ds, and were connected, wing-tip to wing-tip,
to a ETB-29A as parasite fighters.
In the Korean War, the Thunderjets, were at a disadvantage when compared to the F-86 Sabre
and MiG-15, which were already considered second Jet-generation with swept back wings.
Nevertheless, the F-84, of all versions, would end up being the backbone of the active air
attack units, and prove to be quite successful participants in different air operations.
Over 86,400 combat sorties were recorded, and, 50,400 tons of bombs and 55,560 tons of
napalm were carried. Even though 335 F-84s were lost, 135 were combat related, and 9
aerial victories were scored. F-84 would end up being the main participant in the biggest
air operation during the Korean War. On May 15, 1953, 59 aircraft participated in the air
attack to destroy the dam at Tokson, and three days later, 90 aircraft took part in the
air attack to destroy the dam near Chuson.
The F-84 was not only used by the USAF, almost 2,00 F-84s were released to be used by
other NATO Allied Forces, such as France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark,
Norway, Greece, Turkey, and Portugal. Iran, Taiwan, and Yugoslavia would also find the
F-84 in their Air Forces. The Portuguese AF would be the last to use the F-84 in front
line service, in the early-1970’s, to suppress the rebels attacking its colonies.
The jets of the 1950s have long been overlooked by the major manufacturers. As far as I
knew, there was only one kit of the F-84E/G (straight wing), and that was produced
1/48thscale(?) kit by Hawk a long time ago. I built the kit, and was one of my favorites,
until it was destroyed w/ an M-80. And then along comes Battle-Ax,with their 1/48thscale
injected and resin kit, and Karo-As with their 1/48thscale vacuform and resin kit. Neither
kit was without their fit/detail problems, and modelers were hoping for a new kit to come
along. I, along with the rest of the world, wanted an all new tool F-84E/G straight wing.
In 1998, Revellogramannounces two releases of the F-84, an F-84E, and an F-84G. One to be
released under the ProModelerlabel, and the other to be released under the normal
Revellogramlabel. Tamiyathen shocks the 1/48thscale 1950s jet enthusiasts by announcing
the pending release of their own F-84G Thunderjet. After seeing the built-up display model
at the 1998 IPMS Nationals, I knew the wait would be worth it. (Hurry, hurry, hurry.)
The day had finally arrived when I went to my local hobby shop, and there was the
Tamiya1/48thscale Republic F-84G Thunderjet. The boxtop shows an F-84G, FS-271, of the
508thFSW, Turner AFB, 1956 in flight. After breaking the cellophane seal, and opening the
box, you’ll find an instruction booklet, 2 bags of parts, containing 2 sprues each, a
ball bearing, and 3 decal sheets.
The instruction booklet is laid out in typical Tamiyafashion. Its a 10 page fold-out
booklet containing a brief history of the model, paint/color chart, the typical modeler
warnings, 14 step assembly process, including painting details, and painting and decaling
section.
There are 2 bags that contain the parts required to build the F-84G. There are 3 sprues of
gray injected molded parts that includes all of the parts, plus the optional wingtips,
fuel tanks, 500 lbs. bombs, boarding ladder, and RATO bottles. There is no flash what so
ever to be found on this kit. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen any flash on a
Tamiyakit. The clear parts are also bagged separately and are included in one of the 2
bags. The wing tip lights have a mold seam in them and could use a little polishing to
remove them. As with the TamiyaF-117 kit, there are a few ejector pin marks placed in
areas that will have details obliterated when they are cleaned up, and will need
replacing. Panel line details are of the typical Tamiyarecessed variety. A *" ball
bearing is included to "weight" the nose area under the cockpit, so the
Thunderjet won’t be a tail sitter. A clear rod, reminiscent of Monogram1/48thscale
aircraft models, is also included if the modeler wishes not to install the ball bearing.
Tamiyahas included a decal for the instrument panel as the instruments are engraved, but
contain no detail themselves. The parts are broken down in the typical left/right fuselage
halves, upper and lower wings.
Three colorful markings are included in this kit. The first option is the colorful
red/blue/yellow striped tail, "Four Queens", aircraft FS-454, 58thFBS, Taegu
1952 (as seen on the cover of the SquadronF-84 Thunderjet in-action book), the second is
the yellow and black striped tail of aircraft FS-460, 8thFBS, Taegu, 1952, and the last is
the blue and white arrow nose of aircraft FS-271, 508thSFW, Turner AFB, 1956. The
multi-colored tail decals are printed without the registration problems. This is
surprising due to the number of colors that require alignment on the decal sheet. A full
set of stencils is also included, as are the typical Tamiya seat belt decals. The decals
appear on the thick side, and this modeler wonders how they will handle setting solutions
and curves.
There are over 84 injection molded gray parts, and 11 clear parts. The modeler has the
choice of opened or closed gun bay, canopy, airbrake, raised or lowered flaps, optional
bomb or fuel tank load, and wingtanks or wingtips. One can now hope that if the sales of
the F-84G Thunderjet and F4D Skyray are really good, that Tamiyawill produce more 1950-era
jets, like a F-86D Sabre, F9F Panther, or Banshee. Preliminary reports, from modelers who
have already built the F-84G Thunderjet, say that the kit requires little or no putty
during construction, and assembly is pretty straightforward. I can’t wait to see what
the aftermarket decal manufacturers have instore for the Thunderjet. I can’t wait to
get started on my Thunderjet, and will regulate my Karo-Asvacuform kit to the closet. Nah,
I’ll build it sometime in the future also. It is, after all, a vacuform kit!
Brad