I started this 1/48 Monogram F-105D about a year ago, but then let it sit for about 6 months. I started back at it last week. This kit is designed for a D model after the camouflage was put on and several other structural mods were completed. Those mods had to be removed from the kit. Lot’s of filing and sanding. I spent most of the last 2 days building bombs, putting in fuses, fuse arming wires and painting those blasted yellow stripes. The weapons load out on this bird is going to be 16 of the MK-117, 750 pounders Six on the center line MER, 4 on each inboard MER (the 2 inside stations are empty due to interference with the landing gear) and 1 on each outboard station. The range on the full scale bird with this configuration would be about the length of the runway.
I still have to install the seat, canopy, nose cone, open gun bay covers and the ordnance. The bang things need a coat of flat clear also.
The left bomb in the first photo shows the arming wire in the fuse but not attached to the mounting lug. The one on the right has that done.
The other two photos show the current status of the project.
Hey Darwin… that’s looking good, man! [:)] Got your hands full with all that ordinance, but that’s going to make it look right, thanks for sharing your progress!! [:)]
Darwin, that’s a Thud after my own heart. I always liked the schemes before the SEA camo was added. And the old leftover WW II 750 pounders seem to be made for the Thud. I wonder why you seemed to see them on the 105 more than other types, like the F-4, A-4, A-6 and A-7. They always seemed to be armed with the modern Mk. 82’s and up. I wonder if there was a reason why the Thud carried the bulk of these old bombs with the modern tail feathers.
TOM
In Nam, I saw lots of the MK.117’s and even the MK.118’s loaded on the F-4D. On one occasion, when going after a bridge, my aircraft was loaded with four of the old style 3,000 pound bombs. Two with box fins loaded on the inboard pylons and two with long fins on the outboard pylons. There were plenty in the AF inventory. The navy gave up their inventory so the AF could use them.
The Navy used the more modern MK.80 series of bombs due to taking up less space for strorage on the carrier. You will also notice the Navy aircraft never carried CBU’s or Napalm. They carried conventional iron, rockets and even the MK-20’s. Land based Marine aircraft did. Ever wonder why?
Very good looking Thud Darwin. Something different than the SEA camo. You are correct as to the short range carrying such a load. Though I have seen them dressed that way for static display.
Thanks for the kind remarks. The book, F-105 Thunderchief, Wing & Squadron Histories, page 85, has a picture of this particular Thud + wingman with this paint scheme, in flight, “enroute to a target in South Viet Nam.” Usually the Thud carried 6 bombs on the centerline MER and 1 on each outboard station as a maximum load. The underwing fuel tanks were a necessity for Route Pack 6 missions. I have seen in real life and photos of F-4’s carrying 3 Mk-117s on the small inboard pylons or 6 on a centerline MER. I guess the Navy had their operational safety and storage space reasons for not using them.
All of the F-105’s that were sent to SEA in 1964 and 1965 had already been through project Look Alike, which gave them an overall silver laquer paint job. Even with that, they started developing the “mottled” appearance fairly soon in the harsh, tropical environment. I used Model Master Buff Aluminum for the overall paint and highlighted certain panels with Testor’s brush on silver.
The F-4 could only carry five MK. 117’s on the centerline. The bottom aft station on the MER had to be empty as the bomb would drag during take off rotation. Six MK. 82’s or MK. 83’s could be carried though. The inboard pylons could carry three when a TER was used.
