I build this kit
O.O.B. with some slight changes. Beginning with the cockpit, using Squadron Walk
Around as reference, I assemble and spray Gunze 317 (FS 36231) cockpit gray the
instruments black. I deviate here a bit by replacing the both cockpit radar
scope, using clear plastic over spray with clear orange and punch it out with
Waldron punch.
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The engine and
M60 vulcan cannon was assembled before I put the fuselage together. Some
filler and sanding thereafter. From reference pictures, there are latches
at the side of the cockpit when the canopy is left opened. Here, I removed
some plastic slightly and add the latch later. |
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I've some problem getting the
wing's control surfaces to work, therefore I glued it to up position. I operate
the trailing edge flaps during sanding and spray painting to over come some
difficult corners, was left at up position after everything was done and was
spared from being glued. The tail plane, various scoops and air intakes are then
put together.
Due to the shear
size of the Thud, the fuselage and the wings were spray
painted separately. Gunze 303,309,310 and 311 were used. The
kit's paint reference do not match up with the Walk Around paint
reference, therefore alot of cross checking was involved during spray
painting. I masked and spray black on various antennae. The tail tip was
masked and sprayed gray. The whole model was coated with Future, decal and
sealed with another coat of Future. Panel lines and details were
highlighted with a Raw umber wash. Gunze flat coat was sprayed over
the next day. The exhaust was sprayed with silver and blend with clear
blue and smoke. |
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After fitting the
Thud's undercarriage, it was left over night for drying. (I've heard of
some reports of it's weak undercarriage). The next day, it gave way
seconds after it was left on its weight breaking some of it's parts. I've
replaced all the undercarriage linkages using K&S (M52) brass rods. As for
parts I1 and I2, I sandwiched a 0.5mm brass sheet with 2 plastic sheet matching
the thickness of the original part.
The base of the undercarriage was also widen with plastic sheet. Finally it
stood on its own weight.
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I could not
resist to further add on some details to the radar dish and radome as in
the F105 Walk Around. |
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Lastly the canopy
latches.
I choose to arm it up with AGM-45 , M-117 bombs and drop tanks. Even
though there's no reference whether there's such a configuration to the Thud.
The whole project
took me about 21/2 months to complete.
Leslie
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