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F-84
Thunderjet Accessories and Decals
Reviewed by Brett Green
Meteor Productions now carry a wider range of "in-house" product lines. In addition to Cutting Edge Modelworks and Decals, Meteor now also produces Tekniks and Yellowhammer. The newly acquired brands continue to expand under Meteor. In fact, a number of recent releases have been complimentary between labels. A good example of this clever strategy is a batch of releases for the superb new 1/48 scale Tamiya F-84G Thunderjet.
Cutting Edge F-84E/G Cockpit Super Detail Set This set supplies twenty resin replacement parts for Tamiya's Thunderjet cockpit and fuselage. Four of the parts, the seat, rudder pedals and the tub, are moulded in a medium grey resin (a new, tougher formula) and the remainder in a more familiar creamy yellow. There are no pinholes or flaws on any of the parts.
The inclusion of a slotted speed brake and inserts for the auxilliary air intake doors also makes the conversion to the earlier F-84E a simple matter. Instructions are excellent. For those of us too impatient to actually read the construction notes, clearly captioned diagrams are provided. Its worth reading the notes though, as they supply lots of helpful hints, tips and background. As always, care should be taken removing the resin parts from their casting blocks This is a terrific cockpit detail set and conversion, worthy of the wonderful Tamiya kit.
Tekniks F-84G Landing Gear As the name implies, this set contains replacement gear legs for the Thunderjet. A replacement front wheel well is also supplied. This addresses one annoying problem with the Tamiya kit, namely the seam down the middle of the kit forward wheel well. No seam here! In fact, the resin wheel bay is appropriately fitted out with wiring, sidewall structural and rivet detail, plus moulded gear-door actuators. The legs themselves are brass castings. They are a work of art. The brass finish highlights any flaws - if there were any. My samples displayed only the tiniest hint of seam-lines. I am sure that, left alone, they would disappear under a coat of paint. The detail is equally as good as the casting. Hydraulic lines are moulded on, main gear legs are perforated in the appropriate places and the forward gear includes a moulded-on landing light. Instructions are not supplied, but assembly is pretty self-explanatory. These parts are so pretty it really will be a shame to paint them! A real treat.
Cutting Edge F-84 Thunderjet Decals
One of the aircraft features pinup artwork. A second set of pinup artwork is supplied just in case references surface showing the picture on the port side of the aircraft! CED 48108 is a German based USAF bird with a blue and white striped tail. Two schemes for the same aircraft are supplied. In addition to the tail markings, the subject aircraft features various flying tigers and Command stripes. As an F-84E, this one takes advantage of the abovementioned Cutting Edge conversion. The pilot of this aircraft, Brigadier General Robert L. Scott Jr., USAF retired, assisted in the production of this set. Finally, CED 48109 supplies all the remaining markings required for a truly complete Thunderjet. Markings include stars and bars, large USAF stencils (correctly depicted in Blue), canopy framing and stencils right down to the tiniest detailed lettering. Even the smallest stencils are sharp and readable under a powerful magnifying glass. The technical drawings include not only stencil placement information, but also instructions on correcting kit panel lines and pointing out areas of the aircraft that were painted with aluminium lacquer! Registration on my samples were perfect in all cases. Buzz numbers and large "USAF" markings have been thoughtfully printed separately to minimise excess carrier film. Templates are supplied to assist accurate alignment and spacing.
Conclusion A combination of these decals and products will create a truly spectacular model. Curse you, Meteor Productions - now I'll have to go out and buy a swag of Thunderjets! All highly recommended. Thanks to David Klaus of Meteor Productions for the review samples Review Copyright © 1999 by Brett
Green
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Detail is
brilliant. The one-piece cockpit tub is alive with buttons, switches, dials, quadrants and
cables. Even the seat rails are moulded as part of this integral unit. The bang seat is
moulded with a seat cushion and harness in place - my preferred option. The replacement
instrument panel features extensive detail on its back surface with further instructions
to add hoses, tubing and electrical wiring. I particularly like the busy canopy equipment
shelf. This piece will be showcased nicely under the canopy. Three styles of gunsight and
four styles of gunsight control panels are supplied. 
CED 48106
is a colourful decal set featuring three Korean War MiG-killing Thunderjets. Full-colour
illustrations and marking notes leave little to the imagination. The colour renderings are
more than simple side views and the natural metal effect is very impressive.