The Mighty Thud

[dmminiatures]

Didn't know why but it took me thirty years before I could actually build a proper Thud in 1/48 scale.



Way back when I was a boy, I saw this really mean aircraft in a scale modeling magazine. I never knew its name only that the jet had a strange looking intakes.



When a fellow modeler offered me his stash of the 1/48 scale Revell version of the Thund, I knew I had to have it immediately. It was a childhood dream that eventually came into reality after 30 years.



One of my speed builds. It was an OOTB and took me about 100 hours to complete the model. The only thing 'major' that I had to fix was the dying decals. The one from the box has maxed out its usefulness and I had to find a replacement. So I bought the fantastic Aero Master decal from our local store and the rest was history.



Cheers,
Monty

[Cherrylock]

cool looking polsh glider, like the weathering

[nathant]

Absolutely beautiful, Monty. When I was a kid I went to a public library used book sale. One of the books I bought was "Thud Ridge" and I've loved the 105 ever since. I too don't know why I've never built one. I guess I kinda hope someone does a good modern tooling. I am absolutely biased against these old kits...isn't always fair, but I don't feel I can do them justice.

You've got a real winner here. Really proves it's all in the skill of the builder and not the age of the kit. Some of the best SEA camo I've ever seen.

Just read Thud Ridge. Pretty insightful. That guy lived through quite alot. As far as modern tooling?? Hobbyboss is as modern as it gets...Just cracked open that kit the other day and its gotta be one of Hobbyboss's best 1/48 tooling. Just too bad they short-dic..ed us on the ordinance.

...and great work Monty. Nice weathering job on the bombs.

[CallSignOWL]

very nicely done!

[LyleW]

Monty,
Treat to see this. Great a/c. This build does it justice, that is for sure. Great weathering.

[mostrich]

(...) Really proves it's all in the skill of the builder and not the age of the kit. Some of the best SEA camo I've ever seen.

Very well done, Monty!

[AIRFIXER]

[...]
You've got a real winner here. Really proves it's all in the skill of the builder and not the age of the kit. Some of the best SEA camo I've ever seen.

I'll second that.
This kit has just been waiting for you.

[nathant]

I completely forgot about the HB kit. What's the story on the "accuracy" with that one. I'm not "that guy" but most their kits get kicked in the mud, and I don't recall hearing anything about that one.

Well, despite what most folks say, the nose is 99.00% properly shaped, so I don't care about that. The cockpit is a bit outa wack, with the instrument panel being too tall, but most folks go am anyway. The tail has a bit too much slant to it on the leading edge, but again, so little I don't worry about it. The kit is basically meant to be a post-Vietnam Thud, so there are strengthening plates on the bottom wing and aft fuselage that need to be removed, along with a few other small bits to be added or removed depending on whether or not you want to build a Vietnam war machine. The landing gear is a bit fragile but so was the gear on the real machine. The ordinance also reflects a pre-war or post war machine, with Hobbyboss not giving you a centerline pylon and MER, and no ALQ-87 pod and AIM 9B for the outer pylons. Shape and detail wise its a no-brainer. I'll be posting it up here when I get started.