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

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 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 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 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!

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 European version of the F-84F. These aircraft were delivered from the US with the ejection seats originally installed in these aircraft, but as the NATO air forces operated the aircraft, better seat technology became available and a Martin-Baker zero-zero seat was retrofitted into many of the NATO Thunderstreaks and Thunderflashes. 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. 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!