|
|
|
_ |
|
1/48 Monogram F-105F "Thud" |
|
by Henry Juarez |
|
-------------------- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kit: As with all Monogram kits, this one suffers from raised detail throughout. However, it's still a pretty good kit in my opinion. This would be my second attempt at re-scribing an entire model. Having practiced on a Monogram A-37B, I gained significant confidence to tackle some of the most complex lines I have ever seen. I had planned on doing something different, just to give it extra character. So I set out and purchased Blackbox's cockpit detail set, Legend's Gun Bay/refueling set, and Cobra Company's weapons set. The cockpit set is not without it's problems. Not to mention it's lack of assembly instructions. I began by scribing the entire model, which took about three months to complete. That's only because I would scribe for about an hour and then take a break, usually several days before a went at it again. This may seem tedious, but the results are worth the care and patience. Once I completed the scribing, I painted and installed the detail sets, before assembling the fuselage halves. After the kit was assembled, I sprayed a primer coat to check for flaws.
I then added small details, like the lens for the strike camera, just forward of the front landing gear. Made from iridescent confetti, the type you buy at party supply stores. I removed the molded in landing light and replaced them with MPV lenses, as well as brake lines, made from Magic Sculp. The exhaust pedals were detailed by the addition of rivets, rather than raised panel lines. Painting and Decals: The model was painted in the SEA scheme typical of that era. The colors chosen for this project were from Tamiya and Model Master. Colors used were; Desert Tan(XF-59), Field Green(XF-65), Dark Green(XF-61). The lower portion of the plane was painted with Camouflage Gray(1733). From the beginning, I chose to depict this particular aircraft with the markings for "Jinkin' Josie" of the 357th TFS based out of Takhli AB, Thailand in 1967. Cutting Edge produced a series of F-105 nose art sheets.
However, the decal sheet only provides the modeler with the nose art, tail code, stars and bars, and ejection warning. So I decided to make my own sheet of warning and data stencils, as well as placards, using my Alps printer. These decals were then placed throughout the model, in such places as the pylons, weapons, landing gear struts, and fuselage.
The model was
finished and weathered in the usual way, with oils, pastels and drybrushing.
All in all, it was not a difficult task of re-scribing as one might think.
All that is needed is practice and patience. In the meantime, I've
already started on the D model (single seat version). Hopefully I'll have
it done by years end. Well, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed the
model.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Photos and text © by Henry Juarez
|
|
