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F-84F Thunderstreak & Mk.7 Atomic Bomb


Ghostbase

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Looks like my next project will be the ancient Monogram 1/48th Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. I have the newer Italeri (Kinetic) and HobbyBoss kits in the stash however the 1984 Monogram offering is still supposed to be the most accurate kit and it comes with the Mk.7 atomic bomb!

 

I would appreciate any help with the Mk.7 atomic bomb as follows:

 

1) Which pylon was it attached to on the F-84F? I think it was in the place of one of the fuel tanks on the fuselage, not on the outer wing pylon however any advice appreciated.

 

2) What colour was the Mk.7 painted? All I can find on the interweb is silver with a brown nose and yellow stripes. Were there training shapes and if so what colour were they?

 

3) I know that USAF Thunderstreaks based in the UK could carry the Mk.7 bomb. What about European operators - West Germany especially?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Michael

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Hi Michael,

 

Find  yourself the Schiffer book on the F-84F. That has lots of images that will help you. 

 

The "special weapon" was carried on a specialised pylon. I can get you some scans when I get to my PC on Monday if it  helps you. 

 

Martin

Edited by RidgeRunner
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13 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

Hi Michael,

 

Find  yourself the Schiffer book on the F-84F. That has lots of images that will help you. 

 

The "special weapon" was carried on a specialised pylon. I can get you some scans when I get to my PC on Monday if it  helps you. 

 

Martin

Thanks for the steer Martin, I have very little reference material on the F-84F. Helps to know that a specialised pylon was used, is just where was it located on the wing.

55 minutes ago, Hook said:

Does the first pic on this site help?: 

 

http://www.strategic-air-command.com/weapons/nuke-photos.htm

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

Thanks Andre, that confirms the colour scheme nicely.

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AFAIK the special weapon pylon was in place of the port inner fuel tank pylon, ( source F-84 In Action, Squadron/Signal publications). I believe the appropriate parts are in the Monogram boxing. The same source has a colour plate showing the training shape to be medium blue with two white bands, one in front of the forward sway brace, one aft of the rear brace. there is also a white line from the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock position halfway between the forward white band and the tip of the pylon.

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Yes. Port inner on a special pylon. 81st TFW at Bentwaters/Woodbridge operated the F-84F with the Mk 7 store. Colours were as you stated. Training rounds were all silver. Here is the pylon, and also an aircraft carrying the Mk7.

656b3cc3-194f-402d-814a-f5942e57f3f9.JPG

 

2e2367bb-4a6e-4192-a643-b3713670c496.jpg

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16 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

 

Find  yourself the Schiffer book on the F-84F. That has lots of images that will help you. 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPUBLIC-F84-A-Photo-Chronicle-Schiffer-Military-Aviation-History-Paperback/391887034685?epid=86489832&hash=item5b3e49993d:g:RF8AAOSwLVZV4t9a

 

its worth it. Also the If you can get this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aerofax-Minigraph-Magazine-15-Republic-F-84-Swept-Wing-Variants-Aircraft-Plane/110971220387?hash=item19d66671a3:m:mxbndaSXIoDov3vlit_mu4Q at a good price it is worth it.

 

Martin

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Here's one in Belgian markings with the Mk 7 pylon. It's obviously withdrawn, so whether it was ever mission capable in Belgian hands is another matter.

http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/post_ww2/Republic F-84F Thunderstreak/F84F FU145 Koksijde 21Aug65.jpg

 

Another shot with a loaded store. In this instance the store or fins have been rotated for ground clearance. Normally the Mk7 was loaded wit the fins in a 'Y' configuration.

973c73bf-0b63-4a4b-80b2-b732e2dc8197.jpg

 

And a drawing in W German markings. Notice the JATO pack.

http://village.photos/members/Frank-Bell/My-Photos/329056/0379-01-1-5

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22 hours ago, RidgeRunner said:

 

I checked both and to be honest there are few images of the pylon and bomb in these books. I was mistaken. There are still both excellent for the F-84, though!

 

Martin

 

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UK-based 92nd FBS with a Mk.7 shape (note fin orientation):

 

z (8)

 

And another 92nd FBS F-84F, but this time with a practice bomb dispenser on the nuke pylon (!)

 

z (6)

 

And then a few more 92nd FBS and a 77th FBS Thunderstreak with the pylon installed:

 

z (4)

 

z (3)

 

z (2)

 

z (5)

 

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On 11/25/2017 at 10:50 PM, Ghostbase said:

Looks like my next project will be the ancient Monogram 1/48th Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. I have the newer Italeri (Kinetic) and HobbyBoss kits in the stash however the 1984 Monogram offering is still supposed to be the most accurate kit and it comes with the Mk.7 atomic bomb!

 

3) I know that USAF Thunderstreaks based in the UK could carry the Mk.7 bomb. What about European operators - West Germany especially?

A snippet about Dutch Streaks: in the book 'Jachtvliegers' former 312 squadron pilot Steve Netto gives a six-page account of the Cuba crisis, during which he stood on nuclear alert with 4, 8 and then 12 Streaks. He reports several times that the weapon was a B28. Considering his very serious tone, I don't think he would remember that wrong. But I don't think I've ever seen a photo of an F-84F with a B28. I'm curious now! I would guess it had a different pylon than the Mk7 pylon.


Rob

Edited by Rob de Bie
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On 25-11-2017 at 10:50 PM, Ghostbase said:

3) I know that USAF Thunderstreaks based in the UK could carry the Mk.7 bomb. What about European operators - West Germany especially?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Michael

Yup, Staffel 1 of JaBoG 33 at Büchel starting training in 1958 for the nuclear strike role with the F-84F and the Mk.7 to be more prepared when the Starfighter would enter service from about 1960 onwards

2 hours ago, Rob de Bie said:

A snippet about Dutch Streaks: in the book 'Jachtvliegers' former 312 squadron pilot Steve Netto gives a six-page account of the Cuba crisis, during which he stood on nuclear alert with 4, 8 and then 12 Streaks. He reports several times that the weapon was a B28. Consdering his very serious tone, I don't think he remember that wrong. But I don't think I've ever seen a photo of an F-84F with a B28. I'm curious now! I would guess it had a different pylon than the Mk7 pylon.


Rob

Interesting. That would be a bit unusual. The pylon looks pretty much standard on this one, though: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0297/1446344-large.jpg

Also note the RATO bottles under fuselage.

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On ‎11‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 12:33 PM, Sabrejet said:

UK-based 92nd FBS with a Mk.7 shape (note fin orientation):

 

z (8)

 

And another 92nd FBS F-84F, but this time with a practice bomb dispenser on the nuke pylon (!)

 

z (6)

 

And then a few more 92nd FBS and a 77th FBS Thunderstreak with the pylon installed:

 

z (4)

 

z (3)

 

z (2)

 

z (5)

 

Jeez, Louise, SJ! Is there a 50's era weenie cooker you don't have a voluminous photo collection of? I'm gonna need a bigger hard drive! Regards,

Mike 

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On 11/26/2017 at 7:04 AM, bentwaters81tfw said:

Yes. Port inner on a special pylon. 81st TFW at Bentwaters/Woodbridge operated the F-84F with the Mk 7 store. Colours were as you stated. Training rounds were all silver. Here is the pylon, and also an aircraft carrying the Mk7.

656b3cc3-194f-402d-814a-f5942e57f3f9.JPG

 

2e2367bb-4a6e-4192-a643-b3713670c496.jpg

 

 

I gotta admit, I've never really have been interested in this a/c however after seeing these two photos I may start looking into, thanks! Fortunately I just came from my LHS and saw 2 of the Monogram 1/48 kits in the consignment pile lol

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12 hours ago, Creepy Pete said:

Interesting. That would be a bit unusual. The pylon looks pretty much standard on this one, though: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_0297/1446344-large.jpg

Also note the RATO bottles under fuselage.

The photo that you link to shows something that has always puzzled me, but it starts to make some sense now. The Volkel-based 311 and 312 nuclear strike squadron Streaks mostly flew with an asymmetric drop tank configuration, always leaving the left inboard pylon free, obviously for the nuke. But that empty pylon never was the type unique for the Mk7. So why would they do that?? But I'm starting to think now that the B28 was mounted under a 'standard' pylon, since it's a lot smaller than the Mk7. Or to be more specific, maybe a pylon that looked like the standard fuel tank pylon, but wired for the nuke.

 

Last night I went through 'Thunderstreaks en Thunderflashes in Nederland', but as usual it is very vague on the subject of nuclear weapons. 'Gestaag Gespannen' reports that 311 squadron became the first non-US strike squadron in 1960. The last 312 squadron F-84Fs left Volkel for Eindhoven in 1965. These aircraft departed in the 'Volkel' asymmetric fuel tank configuration. The book reports that the weapon used was the Mk7, it does not mention the B28.

 

I would guess the USAF used the Streak in the nuclear role up to roughly 1960, and other NATO countries only after 1960 since 311 was the first in 1960. That could explain the difference in the weapons used.

 

The search continues..

Rob

Edited by Rob de Bie
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  • 6 months later...

I have two additional questions on this subject:

 

1. Does the Monogram kit come with the apprioprate pylon for the Mark 7 nuclear weapon? I searched for sprue photos on Ebay, found a few, but they did not answer this question 100%

 

2. Does someone have the left-over parts for the weapon and the pylon (if present) ? I want to discuss this subject with a few Dutch Streak pilots, and a model would help greatly I think.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Rob

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I believe the seperate pylon is in the kit. I’ve built a few of these over the years(would love build a few more). Memory tells me that the drop tanks have the pylons molded on but the bomb and its unique pylon are seperate. 

 

Dennis

Edited by Corsairfoxfouruncle
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There were different boxings from Monogram. One has the pylon and store, the other comes with tanks and free fall HE bombs, so check which one it is before parting with coin.

 

You need kit no 85-5437.

The Heller kit does not come with a Mk7. or pylon

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17 minutes ago, bentwaters81tfw said:

There were different boxings from Monogram. One has the pylon and store, the other comes with tanks and free fall HE bombs, so check which one it is before parting with coin.

 

You need kit no 85-5437.

The Heller kit does not come with a Mk7. or pylon

I searched Ebay on 85-5437, and indeed that's the one. If I am to believe the Ebay sprue photos, this kit comes with just one inboard fuel tank, is that correct? And I'm still not sure of the pylon situation, the two inboard pylons look very similar, although they have different pins to attach the stores.

 

s-l1600.jpg

 

Rob

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That is the right kit. The pylons are quite different, and you get 3 tanks and one store. I checked my kits before posting. I have a particular interest in this aircraft, which I am not disclosing at this point.

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10 minutes ago, bentwaters81tfw said:

That is the right kit. The pylons are quite different, and you get 3 tanks and one store. I checked my kits before posting. I have a particular interest in this aircraft, which I am not disclosing at this point.

Thanks for the additional details! I now know exactly what to look for.

 

If you have this particular issue, one additional question: did you buy it locally? I mean to ask whether it was imported in Europe. If not, I better look for the parts in the USA.

 

Rob

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