TOPIC: Semi-Profile Republic F-84 Thunderstreak

A new recruit to our Merry Band of Rocketeers, Simon, served in the RAF in Germany. Simon rather fancied a Thunderstreak to match the 'gate guardian' he remembers from the Luftwaffe airbase. Mike Stuart features a proper 'stick 'n' tisue Thunderstreak on his wonderful website:
www.ffscale.co.uk/f84_app1.htm .

so putting together a template for our own simpler profile model was comparatively easy.



my A4 template, derived from the internate image on the left and Mike's F-84 in Luftwaffe livery, is shown on the right.

My prototype went together without problems:



We printed off left and right templates on heat transfer paper, ironed the partss on to 1.5 mm lalsaand Simon was able to put together a model for TSP L-2:



Simon with his Thunderstreak. It glided very well.

Whilst Simon was building his Luftwaffe Thunderstreak, I came across this enticing illustration on the Internet:



and decided to make a more colourful Thunderstreak with a rounded fuselage and wings of aerofoil-shaped 2 mm balsa.



My template, which sorta matches the 4-view on the left.
Building and shaping the fuselage was fun after all my time away from the building board:



Parts were given a couple of coats of dope and then sprayed with siver before applying the printed tissue with Deluxe 'Sand 'n' Seal:



I was hoping the 'grey tissue over siver' would result in a realistic aluminium finish. Not too sure it has been successful!



and seemed to fit together Ok - always a consideration with a new model!



Next step: accurate assembly!

I was quite pleased with the model, apart, that is, at 25 grams without TSP L-2 motor, it was a bit heavier than I wanted.





I hope I've done justice to the llustration that inspired me.

(my model in a similar pose is shown on the right).

And it flies as good as it looks! We shall see.

Please ask if you would like any of my A4 templates (Luftwaffe or USAF) so you can make your own F-84 Thunderstreak.

Very colourful, I love it.

After putting this quite sophisticated model together, I thought a simpler design, like the old Veron Quickys would be a good idea. It would be easier to build, lighter and look as good in the air.





Above, the Veron Thunderjet. To produce this templateScans of genuine parts were manipulated to printer-friendly A4 size in 'Paint Shop pro' and the pixels cleaned up by Rob Smith.

Below, my analogous template for the Thunderstreak, after it had also been given a 'wash and brush up' by CAD-maestro Rob Smith



This version, built of 1.5 mm balsa sheet, went together quickly and is an attractive model. It's lighter than the others, even with the genuine Jetex motor.







Please ask if you would like templates.

Someone's been busy. They all look great, what's the wing span?

You state "applying the printed tissue with Deluxe 'Sand 'n' Seal". I have not used this product, do you brush thru the tissue and does it not affect the ink jet print?