Airfix Model World – September 2019

I

t’s the turn of Republic’s F-105D

Thunderchief, nicknamed ‘Thud’

to cavort for the camera. This

pair of airframes is from the 9th

Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS),

49th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW),

based at Spangdahlem, West

Germany in 1964, as they bank

was shot down by ground fire on

May 30, 1968 – the pilot ejected

and was rescued. The lead F-105D

(61-0074) was subsequently

assigned to the 23rd TFW and was

one of just 30 Thuds modified

to the ‘Thunderstick II’ precision

navigation/bombing standard.

over the countryside. Both are in

natural metal schemes, while the

second airframe (60-0511), has

black anti-glare sections on the

leading edge of the wing pylons

and forward half of the drop

tanks. It was later deployed to

Vietnam with the 469th TFS but

While neither airframe can be

constructed straight from the

box, there are several 1/72, 1/48

and 1/32 F-105D kits available,

and Revell even has a 1/48

Thunderstick II (the modified spine

would need scratch-building

in the other scales).

130 Airfi x Model World

*UK scheduled on sale date. Please note that overseas deliveries are likely to occur after this date.

AIRFIX MODEL WORLD ISSUE 107

ON SALE SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

*

ARCHIVE TREASURES

F-105D THUNDERCHIEF