Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Acree on October 20, 2016, 02:47:54 AM
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Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca received 31 surplus Republic F-84G Thunderjets in 1966, replacing F-51 Mustangs. In the early 1970s, the F-84s were heavily involved in counterinsurgency operations during the Guatemalan civil war. The FAG pilots found it extremely difficult to hit small rebel strongholds in the mountains, which required pinpoint accuracy and a significant punch. US MDAP (Mutual Defense Assistance Program) funds were allocated to give the F-84s a basic precision weapon capability upgrade. MDAP turned to Martin-Marietta who installed control and interface equipment for their AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. Each F-84 received a dorsal hump to house the AGM-12 interface equipment, cockpit control panels, and wiring to carry one AGM-12 on each inboard pylon. FAG crews nicknamed the upgraded Thunderjets "Toritos," and used them to some effect against rebels throughout the 1970s until they were replaced by Cessna A-37 Dragonflies from 1980. (FYI, this scenario is completely unrealistic as the US had embargoed weapons transfers to Guatemala during this time due to human rights violations- but it's a WHIF!).
The kit was a HobbyBoss Easy Assembly F-84G. Modifications were limited to installing the dorsal hump (a modified bomb half from the spares box), removing the air refueling probes, and replacing inboard tanks with AGM-12s from the Hasegawa weapons set. Decals are from an Aztec set for AT-6s. Hope you like it!
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Whoops accidentally posted this in the wrong place! DOH! Would a moderator please move this to the right child board? Thanks!
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Nice, i'm not a fan of the 84 but that looks good. :)
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That's one very sweet F-84! Looks a natural in those markings!
It's always a treat to see smaller air forces and the backstory sure makes it believable!
Brian da Basher
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Looks great. Nice work
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Looks really nice in those colors. How was the kit?
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I have to admit that I like the Easy Assembly kits. Relatively few parts, but nice engineering. The exterior detail is very nice (cockpits are basic, but exterior detail is nice - even wheel wells and speed brake have some nice detail). There are some obvious compromises to make the kit easy to assemble (like BIG tabs on the canopy). I feel as though the canopy on the F-84 sits up too high, but it's hard to judge for sure, since the F-84s canopy really was ginormous. The decal sheet on this particular kit (which I didn't use) has enough decal film to practically cover the entire airframe - multicolor stripes, etc. I have a feeling they would be difficult to get to lay down on complex curves, but they sure look nice. Overall, nice kit as long as you recognize what you are getting.
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Nice concept and good build :) I do like the F-84 and, as a Latin American Mustang replacement, it'd make a good counterinsurgency bird.
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Interesting to see F-84G in this updated COIN configuration. Has different character than a 1950s silver F-84. It works. :)
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Thanks, guys! I'll confess the camo was just my way of avoiding the NMF!
Chuck
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This looks interesting. I picked up a book last fall called The Arsenal of Democracy. It was published in 1977 and has photos and descriptions of all the American weapons on offer to our allies and others. The author was utterly convinced that, as NATO and others discarded their F-86 Sabres and F-84 Thunderjets/Thunderstreaks that they would be snapped up by various Central and South American countries that could not afford to buy more modern fighters. You have made this true, if only in an imaginary way.
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Lovely build Acree, and I agree - those HobbyBoss easy build kits are great solid bases for Whiffing.
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That's one very sweet F-84! Looks a natural in those markings!
It's always a treat to see smaller air forces and the backstory sure makes it believable!
Brian da Basher
Totally agree, superb simple whiff and back story. More please. :)
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Thanks, guys!