Popular Post RidgeRunner Posted April 10, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) Hi all! Yes, in true London Bus tradition (you wait ages and then more than one come together.... see my F-100 recently) I have the latest product of the Crawley Down hangar ready for inspection. J As you can see, she is a F-84F Thunderstreak as she was when operated by the Turkish Air Force from Incirlik AB in the early 1970s. The Turkish Air force (THK) received around 300 Thunderstreaks from West Germany, France and the Netherlands. This one, 53-7086 (ex-WGAF), a F-84F-75-RE was one of the last built and arrived In Turkey after a major overhaul in West Germany. They were known as “F-84Q”s. The Turkish ‘streaks ended their careers with the 131st and 132nd squadrons (Filo) at Konya AB in 1974. There were replaced by the F-5. It is a point of note that “the F-84F had only very few air-to-air engagements. One of these was the shooting down of two Iraqi Il-28 Beagle by two Turkish Air Force F-84F Thunderstreaks when the Iraqi bombers crossed the Turkish border by mistake when bombing Iraqi Kurdish locations in August 1962.” My reference image was this: My model is based on the great (in my view) Airfix 1/72 kit. I added a few extra details, such as different tanks (450gals from a Voodoo), a Martin Baker seat, a small vent under the starboard wing root, and a different cockpit based around a spare F-86F resin one that I had in the spares box. It isn’t 100% accurate but close enough and certainly better than the kit parts. I also replaced the canopy hinge mechanism with a plasticard one and added a blanking plate that is a bit more refined. I then scribed her as best as my old hands could manage, leaving just the pierced speed brakes and wing brakes as raised items. I didn’t see how to cut these and have them looking acceptable. The paints are Humbrol enamels - 165 Grey, 163 Green with 11 Silver undersides, knowing the latter should be a silver-grey which I chose to do this way and then matted it. One of my compromises. The tanks are 191 Chrome silver (they certainly operated with these tanks although my image above doesn't show that). The red is 60 Scarlet. It is matt cote overall (except the tanks which are gloss coted). I weathered with Tamiya Weathering Powders D and Flory Dark Dirt. The national insignia came from the Tigerhead set. Because these aircraft were straight out of the German system they had WGAF stencils. I therefore used an AirDoc set (72-008) for this. The white numbering is from Techmod. Here she is: Umarım senden hoşlanırsın!!! Martin Updated images: Edited February 27, 2020 by RidgeRunner move from PB 81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 That looks really nice, you don't see these kits often build like this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Very nice work, really like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) Thanks chaps. I enjoyed build her. The Techmod and Tigerhead decals were particularly nice to work with. I'm not so impressed by the AirDoc. They were out of register here and there. For an expensive set I was disappointed. Now I can get on with my next F-100 Martin Edited April 10, 2017 by RidgeRunner more comments 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) My poor research maybe but I just noticed that some F-84Fs/RF-84Fs flew without the stone guard to the rear of the nosewheel. Was that normal practice? If so it will make my build of an RF- that much simpler if I can simply remove it Martin Edited April 11, 2017 by RidgeRunner typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Lovely job, really sweet looking F-84, Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Martin Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Nice different subject, colourful - great stuff. PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Very nice Martin! Don't see the F-84F very often at all. Great scribing and painting. Another I also have in the stash awaiting if my scribing skills ever improve Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Cracking finished model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Very neat paint finish. I forgot Airfix produced an F-84 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Can that really be the old Airfix kit? Cracking job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 You wont see many Airfix kit's of this era built and finished so well,excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 You are really too kind, chaps. My next task is a Danish Sled - I changed my mind rom Turkish - and then three F-104s followed by an RF-84fF, which will need some slimming treatment because the old Italeri is known to be wide around the canopy. I have a plan - one I've employed before. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 11, 2017 Author Share Posted April 11, 2017 19 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: My poor research maybe but I just noticed that F-84Fs/RF-84Fs flew without the stone guard to the rear of the nosewheel. Was that normal practice? If so it will make my build of an RF- that much simpler if I can simply remove it does anyone out there know? Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerrardandrews Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Superbly made model, and reminds me of a great time I had with the old 70s classic , great box art, if I recall correctly 😏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanC Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Yes, I have fond memories of that kit. I believe it was the first time I slopped Airfix G8 silver paint on anything. Your model is absolutely stunning Martin. Thanks for posting. But I really don't think any air force should adopt square national insignia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 11, 2017 Author Share Posted April 11, 2017 Thanks Ian. I disagree, though, I love the squares!!!! Then I'm all about not following the trend Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 14, 2017 Author Share Posted April 14, 2017 (edited) On 10 April 2017 at 9:33 PM, Darren Rhodes said: Very nice Martin! Don't see the F-84F very often at all. Great scribing and painting. Another I also have in the stash awaiting if my scribing skills ever improve Hi Darren, I'll admit to mine not being that great either. Certainly anything I have produced so far wouldn't win any competitions on that front. I learn, try and practice. Even airbrushing is a relatively new experience for me. When I built kits 35+ years ago I had no such thing and never considered scribing. Again, thanks sincerely. It was a labour of love. martin Edited April 14, 2017 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 Lovely model, I really like it. Even more striking as it's made from a kit that can hardly be considered state of the art... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi Giorgio! Thanks for that? :). You are right - it was a struggle for me as my old hands are not as nimble as they once were. I loved the Airfix 'Streak that I built when I was young and have built a couple more over the past two or three years, plus an Italeri RF. Aside from the '104 I think the 'Streak is my favourite jet fighter. ..... Ah, but then there is the Thud, the F-100, the ........ My list goes on all the best, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Very nice. I like this a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Fantastic result ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi all, Just bringing my earlier question to the fore - about a number of F-84s operating without the nose wheel rear guard. Was that a regular thing? Thanks to to anyone who knows. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 RR, Sure as heck doesn't look like the Airfix kit- best Thunderstreak build I have seen in 1/72 scale! Can't wait to see what magic you work on the RF! I'm not worthy! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Logged on just to comment on this... Most excellent build there Martin, doubly so for being an ancient kit back from the dead-( I can vaguely remember that Airfix made an F-84...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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