Vietnam era ECM pods

[Stuart]

Hi Gents - I've a question for the collective.

I've just started playing around building an F-105F. Whilst reading up doing some research, I found a comment in my warpaint book mentioning that both the F-105D's and F-105F's in country were modified to carry an ECM pod and a Sidewinder on the outer plyons. However I couldn't find a reference to the type of ECM pod.

Have you guys got any ideas?

[keavdog]

Quick search shows QRC-160 / ALQ-71

[Stikpusher]

These are some of the pods used.

[Stuart]

Thanks Gents - those are prefect.

Looking at that vs the sketch in the plans I have - it looks like I could use any one of those. I'll have to see what I can find.

Cheers!

[Stuart]

So after a bit of research, I found that one of the Hasegawa weapon sets has one of these early pods.



Sufficed to say I've ordered one - so just a sidewinder and rail to sort out now for the other side.

[Stikpusher]

If you’re doing this on your F-105F, those did not carry a Sidewinder. They carried an AGM-45 Shrike ARM on the outer pylons. The Weasel crews were unhappy losing one of those when they were ordered to start carrying the ECM pod instead, since they did not use the pod most of the time.

[Stuart]

If you’re doing this on your F-105F, those did not carry a Sidewinder. They carried an AGM-45 Shrike ARM on the outer pylons. The Weasel crews were unhappy losing one of those when they were ordered to start carrying the ECM pod instead, since they did not use the pod most of the time.

You're spot on Carlos and I think that's what Airfix where thinking with this boxing...



However, as I'd like to build a proper F-105G Wild Weasel at some point, I thought I'd go with building a bog standard F model. From some of the books I have on the Thud, I read that the F model was used in country, and was still fully combat capable (it was actually also slightly faster than the D) and were used in combat, so I thought I'd use a bit of artistic license and do a standard D model load-out.

[Stikpusher]

Yes, there were a few F models used in the standard mode, mostly in the early phase of Rolling Thunder (1965-1968). The G did not appear until Linebacker in 1972. Visually, the F was nearly identical to the early Weasels, with only the RHAW antennas being the visual difference.

[Stuart]

I didn't realise the G was as late as 1972.

To be honest, there are so many dimensional issues with this kit, any discussions of accuracy are largely irrelevant. If you saw it up close, the nose is REALLY off - if I build another F-105 I'll go for a better kit. I know Monogram did a G, which I suspect is much better than this, and Revell did a D model. I don't hear good things about the shape of the Trumpeter kit.

[Stikpusher]

The G was developed between Rolling Thunder and Linebacker, and was deployed to SEA between those two campaigns. I don’t know if it was there around the time of the Son Tay Raid, but that mission did have Weasel support.