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 presents the F-84F cockpit in its early service life configuration with the G-type ejection seat used in the early block aircraft aircraft. This set included a new cockpit tub, forward cockpit bulkhead with rudder pedal wells, instrument panel, control stick, G-type ejection seat, rear tank housing, instrument panel cover/gun sight, tailpipe (ejector in Republic-speak), and nosewheel well.

Take a look at that 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!

Some of you will recall the first set we looked at (48001 here) and while many of the details are here as well, this set has been tailored to fit the Revell-Monogram kit, especially the re-shaped fairing around the tailpipe (ejector).

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.

This set represents the early version of the F-84F. These aircraft were delivered with the early type of ejection seat that is beautifully cast with seatbelts, harnesses, and oxygen hoses. The detailing on this resin seat is nicely done too.

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).

AMS Resin continues to tweak their designs. They initially thought that the parts designed for the Monogram kit would also work with the Kinetic kit, and to a certain extent that was true. They have discovered that the top of the intake splitter/nosegear well needed some adjustment to accommodate the gun tray provided in the Kinetic kit. In fact, even the splitter intake for the Revell-Monogram kit has been redesigned to accept a gun tray should you opt to open the gun hood on that kit.

To order one of the sets for the Kinetic kit, use the existing Monogram part numbers for the version of the cockpit you'd like (early, late, or European) and let them know that you're using this set in the Kinetic kit. They'll take care of the rest.

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!