F105D Thunderchief silver finish in 1/72

[rossm]

I'm sure there was a Thunderchief post some time ago but I cannot find it by searching so I'm starting a new one.....

I want to build the Trumpeter 1/72 F-105D as easily as possible so a silver finish beckons. As far as I can tell this means removing or leaving off the strike camera under the nose, the rear fuselage cooling intakes and the RHAW from the fin?

Then comes the problem that the sharkmouth on the kit decals just doesn't look like the ones on photos, firstly these's a piece missing, then it's made to fit round the strike camera which shouldn't be there and finally the white area doesn't look big enough. Are there any aftermarket decals that would suit ? Does anyone have any they would like to swap for a Microscale F105F/G sheet ?

Update - no longer going for the silver finish - removing the strengthening plates around the rear fuselage intakes without b****ring up the surface detail seems unlikely. Have gone for the Two Bob's wraparound sheet,

Thanks to anyone who looked,

Ross

Edited April 1, 2011 by rossm

[Starfighter]

Probably a bit late now, but you CAN build your F-105 in the overall silver finish if you wish, without removing the rear intakes. In 1962 the USAF began "Project Lookalike" in which all F-105D's were brought up to a common standard.

It was at this time that the cooling intakes were added to the rear fuselage and the aircraft were painted in an acrylic aluminium (Silver) finish. If you need any more info then PM me and I'll see what I can dig out . . .HTH.

[rossm]

Probably a bit late now, but you CAN build your F-105 in the overall silver finish if you wish, without removing the rear intakes. In 1962 the USAF began "Project Lookalike" in which all F-105D's were brought up to a common standard.

It was at this time that the cooling intakes were added to the rear fuselage and the aircraft were painted in an acrylic aluminium (Silver) finish. If you need any more info then PM me and I'll see what I can dig out . . .HTH.

I thought Project Lookalike would have meant that silver lacquer and rear intakes coincided but I've been through my Thud references and can only find one silver F-105F (in 1966) with rear intakes. I can pretty much guarantee plenty of silver lacquer Thuds without rear intakes, including some in Vietnam alongside camouflaged examples with the intakes. So it's a puzzle to me but one I no longer need to solve,

Thanks anyway,

Ross

Edited April 3, 2011 by rossm