The model is packaged in a huge box, with the parts laid out in 16 trees of light gray plastic, 2 trees of clear plastic, 1 tree of black vinyl, 1 photo etched, 2 film sheets for instruments, “TwoBoB’s” decal sheets and a bag for of 3 different sized steel pins.

 I chose to complete this model following the illustrated directions, but a warning; I always trial fit the parts before gluing. Started out building some of the major subassemblies, like the cockpit, with little or no improvement since the model had to be completed before Christmas.

  The cockpit main parts all fit well and the level of detail is acceptable in this scale except for the lack of detail on the canopies. The 5 piece ejection seats are nice but look a little under scale. They have just enough detail to look busy, but definitely need more detail after you see what the actual seats look like. The instrument panels are made up of a back panel with a film with instrument faces and a front panel with very nice raised details. The panels can stand thinning as the faces of the instruments look like they are sitting in tunnels. Be careful when installing the front panel, it sits about 1/16^th to high, shaved the base so the panel would fit better. The cockpit was painted and colors picked out using Bert Kinzey’s F-105 book as a guide. After a few washes with oil paint, followed by light dry brushing, I was satisfied that the interior looked well used I moved on to the next area.

  I decided that the super detailed 20mm Gatling gun, the refueling probe, bomb bay and most of the engine detail would be not be seen. This kit was being built as a gift, would be handled regularly and the detail would be wasted, or damaged. So these construction steps where skipped and the parts cosigned to the parts bin.  

 The J-75 engine is a complete model in itself. The engine assembled well but the after- burning section is covered with a mass of ejector pin marks on the inside of can. These can be seen when the engine is viewed from behind and will need addressing with putty and files, or replaced with an after market item when available. Trumpeter engineered the aft fuselage to come apart, so most of the detail parts can be seen. I joined the aft section together, left off most of the detail parts and the buried the J-75. Too bad though, the J-75 is massive, would look great on a scratch built engine change cart.

  The front landing gear was assembled, the parts fit great and seams cleaned up. I used Andrea Aero Colors U.S. interior green for the bay and Monogram Promodeler aluminum for the gear. The wheel hub shaft was replaced with a cut down steel pin. This was done to allow painting the gear with out the wheel hub and tire. 

 The subassemblies were then installed in the fuselage and care must be taken with this step as the parts fit loose in the locking boxes. This allows some of the parts to be misaligned once assembled. The fuselage was glued together using Testor’s tube cement on the locating pins and Tenex liquid glue run down the seams to finish welding the parts together. I then added a ¼” bolt and nuts to the area that the gun bay was in the nose so the model would not tail sit. I was impressed by the fact that given the length of the major seams, I only had to dress them down with an X-Acto blade to finish.

  The wings, elevators and tail fin where assembled, but with out the movable slats, flaps and rudder. These parts can be built using the photo etched hinges and steel pivot pins. But I was afraid the parts would be damaged, since the wings are a natural pick up point. All the parts blended into their recesses except the port leading edge slat. I had to adjust this open to meet the recess in the wing with out a major seam. I think I damaged this while the glue was setting as I used way to big a clamp to hold it together.

  The landing gear really needs help. I drilled and pinned the gear so it would not break off. The gear will not support the weight of the model due to it be near scale thickness.  I painted the well hubs and then mounted the vinyl tires. Coated the gear with acrylic varnish and then applied oil washes to the gear to give it depth. There are no details on the inside of the main gear covers and these should be dressed up or replaced. The gear bays have moderate detail with the retraction cylinders, wing spar and the auxiliary engine intake present. Note, even with the pins installed, the model sways on its gear every time it is bumped or touched. Not much can be done with it except scratch build new gear out of metal.

  The radar bay is completely detailed but the nose cone would not fit flush when closed. So off comes the detail parts and the nose cone is cemented closed. This is the only part of the kit that needed putty to contour to the rest of the fuselage.

  The model provides a lot of weapon options. There are 5 full trees of nothing but Shrikes, Standard ARMs, Bullpups, MER’s, Mk-82 bombs, Mk-117 bombs, Napalm tanks, ECM pods, and center and wing fuel tanks. I used the center fuel tank with 2 Shrikes and 2 Standard ARM’s, as this model will be configured as an “Anti-SAM-Site” strike bird. These parts went together beautifully with not a single seam to fill or scrape.

  The wings, tail fin, elevators and aft fuselage where glued together and set aside to dry. The engine intakes have large seams in the front half, but really can’t be seen. There is no detail present that represents the variable-geometry ducts. Seam-Less Suckers could make a replacement kit, like they did for the Tamiya Phantom’s. I had started the kit just before Thanksgiving and so far every thing went together well. I dressed all the seams and the model is now ready for paint.

 The kit was ready for painting in just a week. I first preshaded the model and then applied the Southeast Asia camo using Gunzie acrylics. All colors where sprayed very thin with a Badger airbrush using a CO2 bottle for air supply. The model was sealed with Testor's Metalizer Sealer to prep the model for the kit decals. The “TwoBobs” kit decals are one of the high points as they lay down with little or no problems. The options provide decals to represent aircraft from the 561^st TFS and the 17^th WWS from the 388^th TFW, based at Korat Air Base, Thailand, and there is a whole sheet just devoted to the markings for the weapons.

  All decals where set using Micro Sol and the model wiped down to remove all residues when the decals had dried. To protect the thin finish I then sprayed acrylic satin floor varnish and allow drying for 24 hours before I started weathering. I weather using a combination of pastels, over spraying with original colors and heavy washes. Then I simulate chips in the paint using a Prisma Color silver pencil and lock the whole finish with a light coat of Testor's Dullcote. The masking is removed and the doors, aerials, racks and missiles are installed and any touch ups done.

 The kit supplies all of the little antennas, formation lights and navigation lights. These parts and the canopies were installed using Elmer’s wood glue. I find that this glue dries relatively clear and with a flat finish. Be careful of the pitot tube. I broke it off 3 times all ready.

  The model is basically done at this point but needs something to show it off. I built a base using a scrap piece of 3/4" by 12" pinewood and trimmed it with picture frame moulding. I simulated the concrete runway pad using colored matt board from Hobby Lobby. Laid out the pattern and weathered the surface using oil washes and pastels.

I then finished off the model by printing out some "Remove Before Flight" tags on my computer and adding these to points on the model using fuse wire.  .

 I enjoyed this “Quick Build” very much. It gave me a chance to see what Trumpeter is able to produce. It looks like there’s a new kid on the block and he is definitely a player.

Walk Around F105 Thunderchief, #23, by Ken Neubeck, Squadron/Signal Publications

 F-105 Thundercief, by Bert Kinzey, Detail & Scale, Vol.8

 Thundercief, by Richard Caruana, Scale Aviation Modeler International, Vol.5, Issue 8

 Requiem for a Heavyweight, by Blake Morrison, Internet article

January 2004

Emilio Diaz

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