Special Hobby SH72505 1/72 Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 'Reborn Luftwaffe'

The F-84F Thunderstreak swept-wing jet fighter was a development of the Republic F-84G straight-wing aircraft. Using a swept wing along with a more powerful jet engine improved the performance to that of the F-86 Sabre. Initially, the F-84F experienced several troubles with its power units, maneuverability, as well as with corrosion. Later, after the outbreak of the Berlin Crisis and the subsequent need to bolster NATO forces, the F-84F jets started equipping many NATO air forces, including those of Germany and France, whereas earlier these planes were mainly used by the USAF and US Guard units. The first combat deployment the F-84F saw was during the Suez Crisis, and the only air victories gained by the type were achieved by Turkish machines engaging Iraqi Il-28 bombers violating Turkish airspace.

The German Luftwaffe acquired 450 Thunderstreaks and operated the aircraft within NATO between 1957 and 1966 when the remaining airframes were sold to Greece and Turkey. Two of the German jets crashed due to loss of orientation over Czechoslovak territory; their pilots managed to eject in time. Each of the SH72505 model kits contains a tiny piece of those two wrecked airframes along with a certificate. The decal sheet caters for the markings of four Luftwaffe machines, one of which was the one that crashed in Czechoslovakia.

- A truly excellent model, very easy to assemble
- Large decal sheet containing all the servicing stencils
- Interesting camouflage schemes