Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Cutting Edge Modelworks CED48179 provides decals for three F-105D Thunderchiefs to adorn the Monogram 1/48 scale kits that we all have stashed away. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

First up is the well known F-105D-31 RE 62-4364, “Pussy Galore II” flown by Captain Vic Vizcarra of the 354^th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), 354^th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) out of the Royal Thai Air Force Base, Takhli, Thailand in October of 1966.  

Paint finish is the standard South East Asian (SEA) scheme of tan (FS 30219), light green (FS 34102) and dark green (FS 34079) over light grey (FS 36622).  Markings are pretty restrained and consist purely of small full colour national insignia, white radio call numbers and small black USAFs for the vertical stabilizer.   What made “Pussy Galore II” famous of course was the full colour pin up style girl that was painted on her nose.  She was placed so that her – um – private parts were situated on the in-flight refuelling receptacle door. When the aircraft was fuelled by a tanker in flight and the re-fuelling boom extended and made contact it appeared that – er, um -well you can guess the rest!

Shameless hussy that she is, Cutting Edge has at least made an attempt to preserve what dignity she has left by supplying her as a two-part decal. 

Next is F-105D-25-RE 61-0163 flown by Captain Dwight Bowles of the 562^nd TFS, 23^rd TFW, also based at Takhli in 1965. 

This jet is finished in the overall aluminium lacquer finish with dark green antiglare and spine (The instruction sheet states that it is FS 34092 but other references I looked at stated that it was Olive Drab.) that Thuds wore before they repainted in the SEA camouflage scheme..  Markings consist of a red and white shark-mouth (thoughtfully supplied as two separate decals to ease placement), red and white “eyes”, larger full-coloured national insignia, red turbine warning stripe, Tactical Air Command insignia for the fin (supplied with a white shadow to the lightning bolt rather than a red one), black U.S. AIR FORCE for the fuselage, larger USAFs for the wings (top right and bottom left), black radio call numbers, also for the fin, red outline boxes for the in-flight refuelling door (boom type refuelling) on the top of the fuselage and the refuelling probe (drogue type) door on the side of the fuselage. 

Rounding out the sheet is F-105D-25-RE 61-0163 “Memphis Belle II” flown by Major Buddy Jones of the 357^th TFS, 355^th TFW, based at Takhli in 1968 and now preserved in the US Air Force Museum.   

“Memphis Belle” is also finished in the SEA scheme.  Her markings are fairly typical of Thuds for the era.  White RU unit identification and black and white radio call numbers for the fin and small full colour national insignia, yellow band around the nose, yellow canopy rails (you will have to paint them yourself) with the pilot’s name in red, yellow air intake “shoulders” with “Memphis Belle” painted on them in red, two campaign ribbons (Unit Citations?), and the “Belle” herself in a blue bathing suit just as she was painted on the first “Memphis Belle” – a B-17. 

As per the vast majority of Cutting Edge sheets, stencil data is very limited (data blocks, rescue information and ejector seat triangles).  If you are a Thud fan and you are keen on stencil data it can be found on some of the earlier Microscale/Superscale sheets. 

Speaking of Microscale, although not stated on the sheet it looks like it has been printed by them.  Everything is sharp, clear and in perfect register. 

Decal placement is guided by an A-4 sized full-colour sheet that shows left hand side profiles of each aircraft and top views of the silver aircraft and a generic SEA finished one.  A further close-up of the nose of “Pussy Galore II” is also provided so as you can get her placed correctly.   

A further sheet of notes is also provided.  This sheet is crammed full of information on each of the aircraft depicted on the sheet.  It gives the full story of “Pussy Galore II” and corrects some of the wrongly held beliefs surrounding this aircraft.  The sheet also explains the story of “OPERATION LOOK ALIKE” and the paint finish of the silver painted Thuds.   Finally, and the real strength of the sheet from a modellers perspective – it explains how to convert a Monogram F-105D/F so that it correctly depicts an early silver painted machine. 

If those words are not enough for you, Modelling Madness has an excellent article by Roger Jackson on how to perform the conversion.  You can find it by following the link 

http://m2reviews.cnsi.net/reviews/viet/jackson105.htm 

In summary, this is a good package that is well researched well printed and well presented. 

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the review samples..

Review Copyright © 2001 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 15 October, 2002
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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