Rolling Thunder - Airfix's old 1/72 F-105F Thunderchief

[stuart]

Hi All,

So I started this old Airfix F-105F kit a week or so ago, mainly as a nostalgia build as it's a kit I built as a kid and remember not being very happy with it. I seem to remember taking this in with a few other kits to a school show and tell thing and getting teased about it - so better luck 2nd time around.

It's been a fun build thus far, and as always when building a subject from Vietnam, I've spent a lot of time listening to 60's rock and thinking about those brave men that fought and died there. This kid from the middle of nowhere in England salutes you.

Here's the kit - ignore the awful nose profile.

Here's the cockpit...

The build was pretty easy and the fit was pretty good also - not bad for a kit from 1982. Look at those lovely raised panel lines!

Brush primed with Ultimate primer and an undercoat of Humbrol #64 to lighten the grey on the undersides.

Three coats into the light grey on the undersides - four tone SEA camo all the way. I've also starting painting the u/c bays - I'm assuming white as most US jets are.

Bit of music whilst painting...

Cheers All!

 

[cbaltrin]

Looks good so far, Stuart. You can have some fun with those old airfix jets! I have the air fix F111, A7 Corsair and F-14A in my stash, and I plan on building all three of them at some point…

[brandonk]

These are seriously cool looking birds. She looks great already and I can't wait to see more.

[stuart]

Thanks Gents!

@john, Airfix made quite a few jet kits back in the day, basic maybe, but generally good shape. All three of the kits you've got should be great builds.

[handiabled]

Following this one! Thuds look great in SEA camo

[406 Silverado]

Off to a great start on this Stuart and it's great to see you back at the bench brother. These tiny 1/72 scale builds are just so dang cool to watch come together. With the amount of work and attention to detail that you put into them, sometimes I have to wonder if they're really 1/48 scale. lol

[stuart]

Thanks Gents!

@joe - lol! I agree but I don't think there's much detail in this one. Some of the 1/72 kits though, WOW!

[kyledehart5]

Well I just love old kits so I’m all in on this one!! You’re off to a quick and brilliant start!

[Steve Zuleski]

Lookin real good, Stuart! The Thud!

[stuart]

Thanks Gents!

[stuart]

Sept 6, 2024 6:12:04 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Well I just love old kits so I’m all in on this one!! You’re off to a quick and brilliant start!

Me too! It can be a lot of fun to see what you can do with them. 

[TJ]

I remember this style ofs boxart from the early 80's. Bought quite a few on my trip to England in '83

[stuart]

Sept 7, 2024 5:21:06 GMT -5 TJ said:

I remember this style ofs boxart from the early 80's. Bought quite a few on my trip to England in '83

Yeah I used to build a few of them back in the day, they were kind of my era. 

Made a bit of progress on the SEA Camo - I've finished blocking in the first coat. I've got a few more coats, some work on the canopy framing and a LOT of tidying up to do in my future. Pleased with how it's coming along though as I've always had a bit of mental block about this scheme - bit off a bugger when you like building US jets lol! 




Cheers! 

[406 Silverado]

Looks like you pulled that scheme off without a hitch at all Stuart!! It's always a good feeling when the color coat goes on and this looks great so far buddy!!

[cbaltrin]

Sept 11, 2024 16:28:49 GMT -5 stuart said:

Sept 7, 2024 5:21:06 GMT -5 TJ said:

I remember this style ofs boxart from the early 80's. Bought quite a few on my trip to England in '83

Yeah I used to build a few of them back in the day, they were kind of my era. 

Made a bit of progress on the SEA Camo - I've finished blocking in the first coat. I've got a few more coats, some work on the canopy framing and a LOT of tidying up to do in my future. Pleased with how it's coming along though as I've always had a bit of mental block about this scheme - bit off a bugger when you like building US jets lol! 




Cheers! 

Looks great Stuart - Love those SEA Tac schemes!

[benb]

Looking good!

Ben

[kyledehart5]

Lovely work. I really like how the paint work is looking.

[bakster]

Nice paintwork indeed.

[spook]

I like your taste in music !
It fits the build !
Build is looking really good !

[stuart]

Thanks Gents! 

I'm still slowly getting the paint sorted - not far off now! 

[handiabled]

Great looking SEA camo paint work Stuart!