FROG Republic F-84 Thunderjet

Tri-ang/Frog (NZ)
Lines Bros. (N.Z.) Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand (to Feb. 1969);
Tri-ang Pedigree (N.Z.) Ltd. PO Box 14-146, Panmure, Auckland 6, New Zealand (from Feb. 1969)
Period; 1967?-1972?

In February 1969 the company name was changed and subsequent new kit releases had a new style of box with new artwork for some kits. Decals were standard Frog.

In 1971 the company was dis-associated with Britain and certain product ranges dropped. This included plastic kits which were soon discontinued.

The ultimate fate of the moulds has not been conclusively established. They are said to have been sold to another NZ toy manufacturer in 1977, but no details are known. Rumour has it that they were bought by Lincoln Industries Ltd. and shipped to Lincoln in Hong Kong, but that they were lost or destroyed while en route. This is unconfirmed, however.

Tri-ang Pedigree did, for all practical purposes, cease to exist in 1978 and all their records have been destroyed.

"New" Style

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
Stovepipe and barrel

The next items in Heller's pre-Christmas tour de force feature two neglected — from the plastic kit standpoint — examples of first generation jet fighter development, the stovepipe-like Republic F-84G Thunderjet and the barrel-like Saab 29E; kits that are fully to the very high standard now being set by this French company and offering many desirable features, not least of which being excellent surface detailing.

The F-84G Thunderjet was offered many years ago by Frog, but the Saab 29 appears as an injection-moulded kit for the first time — both have appeared as vac-forms at one time or another. The F-84G kit consists of 50 component parts which make up into a very satisfactory model indeed, Heller offering underwing drop tanks as well as wingtip tanks and the decal sheet offering colourful markings for examples flown by the Armee de l'Air and Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret. The companion Saab 29 kit consists of 40 parts in all, these including an alternative lower nose section enabling the model to be completed as a reconnaissance S 29C, the decal sheet offering the markings for an example of this version operating in the Congo on behalf of the United Nations in 1961, as well as for a J 29E operated by F 4 of Flygvapnet. These kits, like most of the others included in this Heller bevy are priced at 85p in the UK.
F J HENDERSON

Air International 1978-12, Vol.15, No.6