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RF-84F Detail Set (European)

AMS Resin 1/48 RF-84F Detail Set (European) First Look

By Michael Benolkin

Date of Review June 2007 Manufacturer AMS Resin
Subject RF-84F Detail Set (European) Scale 1/48
Kit Number 48009 Media Resin
Pros Fine details to update the interior of the Heller/FM 1/48 RF-84F kit. Now includes resin intake inserts. Cons
Skill Level Intermediate MSRP (USD) $29.00

First Look

AMS Resin is a new company with an interesting product line. They've created not one, but NINE different cockpit configurations for the 1/48 F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash kits. There are three different configurations targeted at three different kits. The starting line-up is listed at the end of this review.

AMS Resin presents the RF-84F cockpit in its late service life configuration with the Martin Baker ejection seat used in the updated European aircraft. This set included a new cockpit tub, forward cockpit bulkhead with rudder pedal wells, instrument panel, control stick, MB ejection seat, rear tank housing, instrument panel cover/gun sight, tailpipe (ejector in Republic-speak), and nosewheel well.

Take a look at those images, there are some beautifully cast parts in this set and you can see details down on those side consoles as well as everywhere else. There is some really nice engineering done to render these sets!

Some of you will recall the first set we looked at ( 48001 here) and I had assumed incorrectly that the cockpit tub would have essentially the same details and only the shape would change to accommodate the different kits. Wrong! Look at the rear bulkhead and side consoles in that first set and then look at this one. Incredible detail!

RF-84F Detail Set (European)
RF-84F Detail Set (European)

That instrument panel is definitely completely different as well as this set is targeted for the Heller RF-84F (reviewed here). I dropped the tailpipe and cockpit tub into the kit fuselage and they're drop-in fits alright. I am going to be giving this project a test-build here soon.

The instrument faces are deep with needles cast into place to make painting and detailing easy. Paint the instruments black, the needles white (yellowed white actually), fill the instruments with Future, and you're all set.

The Martin-Baker ejection seat is the most visible differences between the US-operated Thunderflashes and the upgraded aircraft flown by NATO air forces. While nearly everyone operated the Thunderflash with the stock ejection seat provided by the US, many NATO nations upgraded the ejection seat during one of the aircraft's service upgrades to provide the pilot much better low-altitude ejection survivability. The seat in this kit reflects the early Martin Baker single rung headrest handle which would be replaced later by the twin rung handles that became a signature for Martin Baker seats.

This set now includes a set of seamless resin intake inserts for the RF-84 so you won't have to look inside that styrene wing any longer. Nice!

Despite the fact that AMS resin is providing you with a completely new super-detailed cockpit, a very nice nosegear well up inside that intake splitter, a new nosegear strut, and even a new exhaust tailpipe, each of these sets is only selling for $24.95 plus S&H. Contact AMS Resin directly for shipping costs to whereever you are (especially since US Postal Rates have gone up).

If you have one of the Revell/Monogram 1/48 F-84Fs, the Heller or Fonderie Miniature (FM) F-84Fs, or even one of Heller's classic RF-84Fs, AMS Resin has a detail set tailor made for you.

AMS Resin also noted that there are some subtle differences in fit between the Monogram and Kinetic kits, so they've engineered some special parts for the Kinetic kit. While the Monogram and Kinetic cockpits share the same part numbers, be sure to tell them which kit you're building.

Recommended for experienced modelers!

My sincere thanks to AMS Resin for this review sample!

Set # Subject Target Kit Price (USD)
48002 F-84F Early blocks, prior to block 55 with G type seat Monogram/Revell/Kinetic $29.00
48004 F-84F Late Blocks, with AMI seat Monogram/Revell/Kinetic $29.00
48006 F-84F European version with MB ejection seat Monogram/Revell/Kinetic $29.00
48001 F-84F Early blocks, prior to block 55 with G type seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00
48003 F-84F Late Blocks, with AMI seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00
48005 F-84F European version with MB ejection seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00
48007 RF-84F Early blocks, prior to block 55 with G type seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00
48008 RF-84F Late Blocks, with AMI seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00
48009 RF-84F European version with MB ejection seat Heller/Fonderie $29.00