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Chris Sakowski
27 articles

Tamiya 1/48 F-84G Thunderbirds

March 11, 2013 · in Aviation · · 4 · 2.2K

I built this straight from the box except I used Airway Graphix decals. This kit is in the markings of USAF Thunderbirds S/N 51-16720 Thunderbird 3 Right Wing piloted by Capt C.A. "Buck" Patillo. (1953–1954). Was a great build, parts fit like a glove, with no problems at all.. Unfortunatly this one had an accident. My 4yo grandson learned how to open my display case and broke the landing gear off of 3 planes... This was one of the victims.. But thanks to Super Gel glue, It has since been repaired and my display case has been moved to a protective environment...My bedroom. The scallops on the wing tanks were interesting. The Airway Graphix sheet advises to paint half red and half blue, then they give you a decal for the white portion with the scallops. The decals were just right as the blue and red did not bleed through the white.

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4 responses

  1. Very nice job, Chris...I notice the flag block on one side and the Thunderbird logo on the other, but nowhere do I see any "3" - I guess they didn't start putting the numbers on until later, huh?

  2. They didn't start putting the numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) on until F-100D after transition from the short lived F-105B. Before that they just had the aircraft serial number.

  3. I'm likely the only person here who saw them fly the plankwing F-84s (also saw them in the F-84F the next year). !955 - Saw the Thunderbirds in F-84Gs and the Blue Angels in F9F-5s.

    Too bad Airways Graphics is no longer around since their decals are absolutely the best for these markings. Yours looks very realistic.

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