AMS Resin 1/48
F-84F Detail Set (Early)

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 was kind enough to send this preview set designed for the Heller/FM kit and representing an early block cockpit. This preview set included a new cockpit tub, forward cockpit bulkhead with rudder pedal wells, instrument panel, control stick, ejection seat, rear tank housing, instrument panel cover/gun sight, intake splitter/nosewheel well, and nosegear strut. Not included in this sample set was the resin tailpipe (ejector in Republic-speak) and instructions.

Take a look at that first image, 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!

Of course I grabbed my Kinetic 1/48 F-84F which arrived a day after Kelly's review (look here) and started doing some dry-fitting to see what differences there were in parts shape between the Heller/FM and the Revell-Monogram/Kinetic kits.

First off, these parts are indeed tailored for the Heller/FM kits as the cockpit tub and splitter bulkead are too wide. No problem, I put my trusty Dremel to work, removed the casting blocks from the parts and slimmed down the width of the cockpit a little. Sure enough, it will fit with a little tweaking. You don't have to do this, you can order one tailored for whichever kit you're building.

After fiddling with the resin parts in the Kinetic fuselage, I dry-fit the cockpit together. Take a look at these shots below. The G-type ejection seat is very nicely done and includes molded-on seat belts, shoulder harnesses, and oxygen hose. The detailing on those side consoles is sharp enough to make detailing or even dry-brushing a snap.

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 fit of these parts is quite nice and I haven't used any cyano or other adhesive to hold things together for these shots. The parts literally snap together.

What is also very interesting is the retail price. 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!

You can order this or any of the cockpits in the series directly from AMS Resin http://mysite.verizon.net/resqt29j/

My sincere thanks to AMS Resin for this review sample!