(Download a higher resolution image by clicking on any picture
below.) 
All the parts of
the RF-84K are on a single sprue tree.
The kit includes
the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin as a bonus.
Somebody in the cottage industry should come up with a trapeze
kit for the Minicraft 1/144-scale B-29 Superfortress.
First I painted the interiors of the cockpits and the seats with
Testors Model Master Interior Green (FS 34161). At this scale the
precise shade isn't important.
I
assembled the primary subassemblies; fuselage, wings and external
fuel tanks. I built the RF-84K with its landing gear retracted
for display on the trapeze of the GRB-36D. I carved out the
mating holes in the main landing gear bays to make the main
landing gear doors lie flatter. It was still necessary to carve
the doors down slightly to make them match the contours of the
lower wings. There is no nose landing gear door included in the
kit for building the model gear up. The nose gear hole is easily
filled in.
After
filling and sanding, I glued the wings to the fuselage.
I filled the gas between the wings
and fuselage. I masked the canopy and glued it into place.
I sprayed the entire airplane flat black. I
sprayed the fuel tanks, horizontal stabilizers and the nose probe
with Testors Model Master Metalizer Magnesium.
I masked over the anti-glare panels and wing walkways and spray painted the airplane gloss white. I painted the top of the jet intakes and the inboard section of the flaps Orchard Supply Hardware No. 652 Bright Red. Despite the inclusion of red decals in the kit for the underside of the jet inlets, they were not painted red.
After masking the red areas, I sprayed another coat of gloss white to provide an even backing for a coat of Testors Model Master Metalizer Buffing Aluminum.
I modeled my RF-84K after 52-7258, which was
used for performance evaluation tests with GRB-36D, 49-2694 at
Edwards Air Force Base. Air Force Captain Mel Apt made the only
hook-on at Edwards on March 23, 1956. There were no external
tanks or stores on the RF-84K during the hook-on, so I left the
tanks off my model. Air Force Photo B-161916AC via National
Archive.
The nearly finished models of Republic RF-84K Thunderflash,
52-7258 and McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, 46-524. After I took these
pictures, I added red turbine warning stripes to the sides and
bottom of the fuselage of the RF-84K. There are several suitable
red stripes provided on the decal sheet. I also printed and
applied the proper tail and buzz numbers.
Wait until the model is complete before gluing the horizontal stabilizers in place. Mine break off nearly every time I handle the model.
Part 3:
Completed GRB-36D, 49-2694 and RF-84K, 52-7258
Main page of Hobbycraft FICON review
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You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring historic Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites.
A dozen Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites from 1952 to 1956:
Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic F-84E Thunderjet 49-2115 at Forth Worth, Texas and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic YRF-84F Thunderstreak 49-2430 at Fort Worth, Texas and Dayton, Ohio
Convair GRB-36D 49-2962 and Republic RBF-84F Thunderflash 52-7266 over Washington State
Convair GRB-36D 49-2694 and Republic RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7258 at Edwards Air Force Base, California
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