Book Review of
Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Scale Plans No. 68
Illustrator: Dariusz Karnas
MMP/Mushroom Model Publications
ISBN: 978-83-66549-19-7
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $11.99
ISBN: 978-83-66549-19-7
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $11.99
HISTORY:
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was an American supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War. It was the only American aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates.
It was originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft; a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.
As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a rotary cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The single-engine F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.
During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the primary aircraft delivering heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated SEAD platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles.
Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.
When the Thunderchief entered service it was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg). It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude.
The F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb. (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter-bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
First flight: 22 October 1955
Introduction to service: 27 May 1958
Retired: 25 February 1984
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: 1955–1964
Number built: 833
THE BOOK:
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) is based in Enfland. All their books are printed in English by their associate Stratus Publications based in Sandomierz, Poland Stratus also does their own line of books in both English and Polish.
Although called a “Book” this is actually a folder holding 3 line-drawing blue prints that are folded twice to tit the cover and telescope out to be 11 ¾” x 22 ¼” format.
The front and rear cover art shows a yellow line-drawing of a Ju-87 Stuka on a dark green background.
In the center there is a color photo of a “Thunderchief” in flight that is overall bare metal with a black nose. It has U.S. Air Force over FH-173 on the sides of its nose and serial no. 81173 on the sides of its rudder.
The first blue print line drawing has 1/48th scale side views of a F-105D-31-RE and illustrations of the bulkheads inside its fuselage.
The reverse side has 2 more 1/48th scale side views of the F-105D-31-RE. One is shown carrying a AGM-12 “Bullpup” missile and the other is carrying two 400 liters fuel tanks. A head-on view is also shown.
The face side of the second blue-print line-drawing shows 1/48th scale illustrations of the top and bottom of a F-105D-31-RE.
The reverse side shows 2 more 1/48th scale side views of the F-105D-31-RE. One is showing it carrying M117 bombs (340 kg). The other side view shows it carrying Mk 82 bombs (227 kg). There is a head-on and a tail-on view also and illustrations of the AGM-45 missile, the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” short range air-to-air missile and the AGM-12 and AGM-78 missiles.
The face side of the third blue-print line drawings shows 1/48TH scale side views, top and bottom views of a F-105F showing the AN/APR 25/26 and the TACAN AN/ARN 62 sensor under its nose and the 62 sensor under the nose of a F-105F-1 RE.
The reverse side shows 1/48th scale line drawings of the F-105F’s top and bottom.
This is a neat book about the “Thunderchief”. Modelers planning on building one will be very interested in these line-drawings, as well as aviation historians.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of MMP Books for this review sample. All MMP titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was an American supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War. It was the only American aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates.
It was originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft; a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.
As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a rotary cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The single-engine F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.
During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the primary aircraft delivering heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated SEAD platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles.
Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.
When the Thunderchief entered service it was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg). It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude.
The F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb. (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter-bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
First flight: 22 October 1955
Introduction to service: 27 May 1958
Retired: 25 February 1984
Primary user: United States Air Force
Produced: 1955–1964
Number built: 833
THE BOOK:
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) is based in Enfland. All their books are printed in English by their associate Stratus Publications based in Sandomierz, Poland Stratus also does their own line of books in both English and Polish.
Although called a “Book” this is actually a folder holding 3 line-drawing blue prints that are folded twice to tit the cover and telescope out to be 11 ¾” x 22 ¼” format.
The front and rear cover art shows a yellow line-drawing of a Ju-87 Stuka on a dark green background.
In the center there is a color photo of a “Thunderchief” in flight that is overall bare metal with a black nose. It has U.S. Air Force over FH-173 on the sides of its nose and serial no. 81173 on the sides of its rudder.
The first blue print line drawing has 1/48th scale side views of a F-105D-31-RE and illustrations of the bulkheads inside its fuselage.
The reverse side has 2 more 1/48th scale side views of the F-105D-31-RE. One is shown carrying a AGM-12 “Bullpup” missile and the other is carrying two 400 liters fuel tanks. A head-on view is also shown.
The face side of the second blue-print line-drawing shows 1/48th scale illustrations of the top and bottom of a F-105D-31-RE.
The reverse side shows 2 more 1/48th scale side views of the F-105D-31-RE. One is showing it carrying M117 bombs (340 kg). The other side view shows it carrying Mk 82 bombs (227 kg). There is a head-on and a tail-on view also and illustrations of the AGM-45 missile, the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” short range air-to-air missile and the AGM-12 and AGM-78 missiles.
The face side of the third blue-print line drawings shows 1/48TH scale side views, top and bottom views of a F-105F showing the AN/APR 25/26 and the TACAN AN/ARN 62 sensor under its nose and the 62 sensor under the nose of a F-105F-1 RE.
The reverse side shows 1/48th scale line drawings of the F-105F’s top and bottom.
This is a neat book about the “Thunderchief”. Modelers planning on building one will be very interested in these line-drawings, as well as aviation historians.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of MMP Books for this review sample. All MMP titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.