The F-105 Thunderchief is represented in this display by the most numerously produced version of the aircraft, the F-105D.

This is the 1/144 scale ARII kit of the F-105D Thunderchief, kit number A233.

This model and the F-102 are later production moldings than the F-100 or F-101. As such, they are much nicer models. The moldings are accurate with engraved panel lines and good fit. The model builds into a very nice looking F-105D. The kit represents a later version of the F-105D with the modifications that included the afterburner cooling scoops on the fuselage sides and the ECM antennas on the tail top. I filed off these items as the aircraft I wanted to build predated the introduction of these. The only other modifications I made to the kit were to fill in the wheel wells, include the mounting tube inside the engine exhaust cone, and scratch build a new nose pitot.

I used all Testors Model Master enamel paints and metalizers. The model is finished in the overall painted aluminum finish that was standard for the aircraft during the early 1960s. To accomplish this finish, I painted the entire model in a single coat of aluminum metalizer. I choose metalizer for this finish because I have yet to find a silver paint that has a fine enough pigment grain to carry off the feel of the painted aluminum finish.

The markings are for an aircraft of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1962. The markings are not those of the Wing Commander as I had once thought. Instead, these are the markings worn by several aircraft from the Wing when they participated in a gunnery meet at Nellis AFB in Nevada. Most of the decals for this aircraft came off the SuperScale decal sheet #44-178 with the national insignia coming off of the SuperScale decal sheet #72-083. There are 80 decals on the aircraft counting both major and data markings.

As the Century Series display was being built in the style of a desktop model, I applied a final gloss finish with Floquil Crystal Coat and did no weathering to the model.

 

 

Links to All 1/144 Century Series Articles

 

Click on the thumbnails below to go to the full article

F-100 Super Sabre	F-101 Voodoo	F-102 Delta Dagger
F-104 Starfighter	F-105 Thunderchief	F-106 Delta Dart

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Models, Description and Images Copyright © 2001 by David AungstPage Created 21 February, 2001
Last Updated 04 June, 2007

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