F-105 Thud Help Please - Which Kit ?

[Tiger331]

I'm after a little help, please since I am not an expert on the F-105 Thunderchief. Right now I have examples of the 1:72 Trumpeter kit and the 1:48 Hobby Boss version. Both look very nice in the box but I am still wary of accuracy issues with kits from these two companies. As an RAF enthusiast, I have been disappointed with certain aspects of the Trumpeter Lightning kits and Hobby Boss's Tornados (to name but two) so I have every reason to be cautious about just how good these F-105 kits are. I can only make the one (the perennial problem of time and space) but would hate to make the wrong decision and opt for the less accurate of the two kits. Anyone got any ideas on which I should opt for ?. Any advice from USAF experts gratefully received. Incidentally, I looking to do one of the ANG/AFRES machines in wrap around camo from the early 80s, so if one of the kits is better suited to the later period that could also be a consideration.

I remember walking past them on the flightline at Nellis during Red Flag, towards the end of their service....great looking aircraft.

Thanks

Tiger331

[Iain Ogilvie]

Same company - different brands - based upon same CAD data (I would expect!).

Can't specifically comment as I don't have either - just the 1:32 versions.

I stongly suspect that they share similar quirks (just like the 1:72 and 1:32 Lightnings).

IIRC on the 1:32 Thuds the nose could do with a little reshape, canopy a little out in cross section, cockpit/coaming not quite fitting, fin on the two seaters and a few other bits and bobs. But overall I think it's quite a nice kit

Others with more expertise on the two scales you've mentioned will, I'm sure, be along shortly

Iain

[sinistervampire319]

Here are some posts from ARC.

Featuring a replacement nose from Dmold.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=192248

A review.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=165602

A build.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=165235

I personally would go with the 1/48 scale one.

Alan

[Julien]

Best thud shape wise I think is the monogram one!

Julien

[sinistervampire319]

Best thud shape wise I think is the monogram one!

Julien

Still need to address the nose though.

Dmold also makes a replacement for the Monogram one too.

[Gary C]

Incidentally, I looking to do one of the ANG/AFRES machines in wrap around camo from the early 80s, so if one of the kits is better suited to the later period that could also be a consideration.

The 72nd ones are rather too rivet heavy for the scale. If you're not tied to a version then I'd avoid the F-105G, Hobbyboss/Trump didn't include the broader chord, taller fin and just used the stock D fin instead...given the choice I'd go with the 48th scale D. The good news is the Hobbyboss (and Monogram for that matter) kits are best suited to later era Thuds. They've both got the post Vietnam era strength plates already moulded on the aft fuselage and wings and include the engine cooling scoops. You may need to delete the strike camera, check your references, they were common on Vietnam jets but an awful lot of the guard aircraft seem to have had them removed. You'll need to find a pic of your subject to be sure. You might want to replace the pit as the consoles don't meet the fuselage sides, fill the peculiar indentations on the tyres (no idea what they were trying to depict) and as has been mentioned D-Mold do a corrected nose if you want to fix the skinnyness.