Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Aeromaster Decals' 1/48 scale Thunderjet Fighter Bombers of the Forgotten War
will be available online from Squadron.com

Eagle Strike Productions continue their coverage of Korean War aircraft with this sheet that provides markings for two Republic F-84 Thunderjets. 

F-84G 51-10353, of the 310th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 58th Fighter Bomber Wing.  The markings depict it as it appeared in 1952.  The machine is in overall natural metal finish with an olive drab anti-glare panel on the top of the fuselage and a grey fin cap.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Complete Squadron/Group markings consisting of:

A yellow nose ring incorporating a rearward facing chevron - with a thin black outline - supplied as a two-part decal.

Black outlined arrows for the wing tanks.

Black edged diagonal stripes for the fin and rudder.  This is a one-piece decal that incorporates U.S. AIR FORCE titles and the aircraft serial number.

A yellow rectangle for the forward facing nose gear door.

• A large red and black dragon that incorporates the FS-337 'buzz number' for both sides of the fuselage.  This is a one-piece decal so care and patience will be required to apply it.

'Hoosier Hotshot' F-84E-25 52-536, flown by Lieutenant Donald James of the 8th Bomb Squadron, 49th Fighter Bomber Wing.  The machine is also in overall natural metal finish with an olive drab anti-glare panel on the top of the fuselage and a grey fin cap.  The supplied markings comprise: 

• Complete Squadron/Group markings consisting of:

A yellow nose ring that incorporates the Squadron's black sheep on a white circle back ground- supplied as a two-part decal (left and right hand sides) incorporating the squadron insignia.

Black and yellow chevrons for the wing tanks.

Black and yellow edged diagonal stripes that cover the entire fin and rudder.  This marking is a two-piece decal that incorporates the aircraft serial number.

• U.S. AIR FORCE titles (in red).
• FS-536-C 'buzz number'.
• The name 'Hoosier Hotshot' in yellow with a thin black outline.
• A yellow rectangle for the forward facing nose gear door.
• A black rectangle with the pilot's and ground crew's names in yellow.

Common markings include: 

• USAF titles for the wings.  The lower surface one is segmented to fit around and on the wheel well and undercarriage door.
• National insignia.  These are supplied with the red 'bar' separate.

There is a great colour photo of this machine on the top of page 108 of the Osprey Frontline Colour Number 3 – F-84 Thunderjet Units Over Korea. 

A very complete set of stencil data is supplied on a separate, smaller sheet.  

These placement guide advises that these are designed for the Tamiya F-84G kit and that the Revell F-84E fit has a good stencil data sheet (which it has!) and does not need duplication.  The placement guide also advises that: 

"Combining F84G and E A/C in one sheet presents some problems.  The kit tail surfaces and wheel wells do not match!  However, the Revell F84E has a very usable set of stencils and a broken down USAF overlapping the right lower wheel well.  We urge you to use the parts from the Revell decal sheet for the F-84E kit and the provided stencils, USAF and insignia from our set for the Tamiya F84G kit" 

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf and the same comments apply to any Cartograf decals – they are not as easy to use as Microscale decals but do achieve the same results just as long as you are patient and use plenty of settling agent.  They have a gloss finish and a minimum of carrier film.  Everything is sharply printed and in perfect register. 

The placement guide is a full-colour two-sided affair that shows left-hand side profiles and top views of each aircraft as well as separate drawings for stencil data placement. 

The decal sheets and placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

Unusual for Eagle Strike, no references are offered on the placement guide. 

This is an excellent sheet from Eagle Strike.  It provides complete markings for two aircraft.  Complete markings means you don't have to risk masking a natural metal finish! 

Recommended. 

Footnote: 

If you are looking for guidance on building both the Revell and Tamiya kits as well as complete information on the F-84, visit the excellent Thunderjet website at:

http://www.f84thunderjet.com/

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.
 

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2004 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 10 February, 2004
Last updated 10 February, 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page