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F-105 Thunderchief MiG Kill

Printscale Decals, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Printscale Decals Item No. 72-096 F-105 Thunderchief MiG Kill

Scale:

1/72

Contents & Media:

Decals for ten subjects with colour-printed painting & markings guide.

Price:

Available on-line from :

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Review Type:

First Look.

Advantages:

Attractive subjects, good print registration.

Disadvantages:

Reputation for fragility (although unconfirmed by personal use or testing).

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

Conclusion:

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing a selection of markings for Thunderchiefs with MiG kills. However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.


Reviewed by Mark Davies


HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

F i r s t L o o k

 

It sometimes seems remarkable that Thunderchiefs employed as bombers and radar suppressers managed to down nimble MiGs during the Vietnam War, but a number certainly did. This sheet provides markings for ten such aircraft.

The decals come in a zip-lock plastic bag with a colour printed and folded A-4 sheet, that is the colours and markings guide. This provides a single colour profile of each subject, and in some cases, a very small colour photo of the subject. Colour call-outs include FS-numbers. A quarter of the sheet is dedicated to a four-view stencil placement and camo-pattern guide.   

 

 

The decals look to be very nicely printed, with excellent registration. Opacity is hard to judge without testing, but I have no reason to doubt these, as colour density looks good. National insignia for one machine are included. Depending on your inclination and tastes in nose art, I am sure some will be pleased to see the inclusion of “Cherry Girl”; surely one of the more entertaining aircraft for KC-135 refuelling-boom operators to top up.

 

 

The set covers the following options:

  • F-105 D-20-RE Thunderchief JJ (61-0132) 34th TES, 388th . Korat RTAB August 1967.

  • F-105D-25-RE, 61-0069, was credited with a MIG-17 kill on April 28, 1967. This photograph of the aircraft was taken in October 1983, after the aircraft had been restored for display. Notice the enticing art work on the upper portion of the nose. Unfortunately, the art has since been removed.

  • F-105D-10-RE Thunderchief "Memphis Belle ll" No. RU (60-0504), 357th TES, 355th TFW. Takhli RTAB 1970.

  • F-105D 61-0159 “Have Gun Will Travel” taxying out at Richmond on 29 July 1978.

  • F-105D, 62-4284, assigned to the 465th TFS, AFRES, was photographed at Dobbins AFB, Geogia, on June 7, 1975. This aircraft was credited with three MIG-17 kills. Two kills were made on March 10, and one on October 27, 1967.

  • F-105G, 63-8320. Three small red stars are painted under the armament data box under the front cockpit. The WW tail code was horizontal and painted white.

  • F-105D-20-RE 61-0159 Honeypot 11/HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL of the 354th TFS/355th TFW, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, May 1967.

  • F-105D 59-1743 “Hanoi Express” is seen here on the ramp at Richmond on 29 July 1978.

  • F-105Ds known to have been assigned to 1949th TFS September 1975/May 1980 named “Yankee Dood it” in 1978 and “Keep’em Flyin” in May 1980, to MASDC as Fk062 arrived 24 September 1981.

  • F-105Ds known to have been assigned to 1949th TFS Jan 75/May80-named “Ye old war horse” in 1978/May 1980, to MASDC as Fk045, arrived 17 June 1981. 

 

Reportedly Variable Performance

I have no personal experience of using Print Scale’s decals, but I have recently read on HyperScale’s Plane Talking comments that suggest their performance varies from acceptable to poor; with the main problem being their fragility. A coat of Future or proprietary decal strengthening product apparently helped with this problem.

To balance this, I have recently had verbal reports from a couple of modellers that their Print Scale decals worked perfectly.

Print Scale prints some attractive subjects, but their reputation is less than stellar; with supporters and detractors about even in my limited experience of the brand. I wonder if it’s case of the product having changed for the better, as the verbal accounts I received were using recent purchases.

(Editor's Note - I have just bought a set of Printscale Blenheim decals, and they performed perfectly. They were robust and laid down over a dark grey, semi-matte surface without any problem)

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is a nicely printed set of decals providing a selection of markings for Thunderchiefs with MiG kills. However, Print Scale’s reputation means that I would proceed with caution, and test any Print Scale decals you purchases with a subject you do not plan to use from the sheet, before committing to finish your model in one of schemes offered.

Thanks to Printscale Decals for the review sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 25 July, 2014
Last updated 25 July, 2014

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