Guys, I doubt there is a more beautifull Thunderchief than the Skyblazers schemes.
Point is: Backdating. I think I have most books published on the Thud in English language (squadron walkaround, squadron in action old&new, detail&scale, roll call thud, WOF, … ) and to be fair, I think there is not that much difference between B’s C’s & D’s. However humbleness says I may be wrong.
Please tell me, what do I need to backdate it? Anyone alredy made that analysis?
Thank you!
There would be a lot of scratchbuilding involved. The most noticable difference between the B and the D (the C model was a paper project and not built) is in the fin. There were a lot of stability problems with the early thuds and one of the solutions was to enlarge the fin. Not just the rudder, but the whole thing. There were some other differences, but I think that was mostly in the avionics. I’m doing this from memory, so I hope I’m right!!
Most noticible difference is the nose - B, small radome vs. D, big radome and different location of the gun. There were modifications and updates to the B over time, like cooling scoops and the tail hook.
The F-105B was shorter than later models. It had the smaller radome housing the radar ranging for the gunsite and round analog instruments in the cockpit. The F-105D was longer with a bigger radome housing the dopler radar used for weapons delivery and air to air intercept. It had the tape analog instruments and the vertical fin and rudder was increased in cord.
A lot of scratchbuilding would be involved to make the “D” into a “B”.
I don’t know all the differences between Thud B and D, but I do know the early models had the det cord in the canopy (For those new to this, some planes – T-33’s, Harriers, a few others – have explosive cord molded into the canopy and this blows open the lid so crew can eject right through it, instead of added time of jettisoning canopy). Also, and correct me, please, Thud experts: the obvious radar/radome difference is between the B’s early, simple gun-laying radar (like F-86 and F-100) and D model Thud’s advanced multi-role bombing and defensive systems radar all rolled into one dish.
Now, a question about that det cord: How can one reproduce it in scale or, since it’s molded in on better models, how do you depict it? As is? Or very, very careful, outside-my -ability painting? What coior?