Rob de Bie

I think you're right! I made a mental note to always double check when M117s are reported 🙂 Rob

Ha! I built that kit as a youngster, my only 1/48 kit I think. And found the bombs in my spares box. I don't recognise them as M65s, the Monogram depiction is 10x better. Diameter is 10% too small, the bomb body looks too long, but overall length is 3 mm short. Scalemates says the kit was reissued by Italeri: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/944145-esci-4027-fiat-g-91-r-1-r-3-gina Rob

Black maybe looks like a WW2 recognition model. Silver was also one of my ideas, and it would give a bit of an old-fashioned look, which would suit this model. Decisions decisions... By the way, I plan to overpaint the canopy too, if that matters. Rob

Yes, all attention should go to the weapons load, that's what the model will be used for. They will be painted in their real colors. Gray sounds like the most neutral color indeed. Rob

I'm researching the weapons and other stores used by Dutch F-84Fs, and I plan to interview a few former pilots on the subject. I'm currently gathering all stores in 1/48 scale, and I have a Monogram Streak model available to build a 'stores configuration study model'. I plan to use small magnets in the pylons and stores, so it can be configured as desired. My question: what would be a suitable finish for the model itself? I don't want to paint it in a camo scheme with full markings, I have a feeling that would distract too much, and sort of limit the use to the era of that camouflage. But what then? Black overall? Silver? Neutral gray? I want to do the stores in their real-life colors, by the way, to atract the attention to them. If anyone has a suggestion or maybe an example, I'm all ears! Rob

I just found an Ebay photo that indeed shows these bombs in the 'Canadair Sabre': One other option that I need to check is Isra Cast 48046 'IAF Vintage 500kg GP Bombs'. Judging from web photos they look as detailed as the Monogram version - i.e. not very well. The fins look flat, whereas the real one has a (rough) airfoil shape, and the conical tail consists of four identical spot-welded pieces. Here's a photo of one I took in the Soesterberg museum : Regarding others from the series, I only looked for the AN-M66 (2000 lbs) and found the following: Accurate Miniatures / Italeri Avenger, Attack Squadron 48030, True Details TD48505. However they are all versions with the 'boxy' and short tail section. But if anyone knows another source, I'm all ears. Rob

Thanks for another confirmation that these were M65s, plus identifying another kit that has them! I think you're talking about the 'Canadair Sabre' box? I found some sprue photos but didn't see the bombs. Rob

I thought I remembered that these bombs were 'officialy' declared to be 750 pounders (i.e. by Monogram). But the instruction sheet does not say so, so I started to wonder. Now I know, thanks! Rob

Thanks for the links! To trade manuals: I found these as PDFs on the internet: - TM 9-1980, Bombs for Aircraft (1950) - OP 2216, Aircraft Bombs, Fuzes, and Associated Components (1960) They contain a lot of solid information. Regarding the software problems, did you try to run in 'compatibilty mode'? You can find that under right click when your mouse is on the .exe file. That sometimes solves the problem. Rob

Many thanks for measuring the parts! That confims my suspicion. I'm happy that we now have an AN-M65 in this scale. Rob

At the risk of sounding very stubborn: that looks like an M65 too! And there's some proof of that visible in the photo: you can see that the bomb has three suspension lugs: the usual 'modern' twin lugs on the top side, and a single lug on the bottom side. You can see the latter quite clearly. The M117 only has twin lugs. Another quite interesting clue are the brown bands on the bomb: they are probably the result of the bomb being stored with its transportation rings (shipping bands) fitted. The M65 (and others from the series) had welded-on lugs, so the bomb could not be rolled as-is. To facilitate moving, they were fitted with wooden rings, so they could be rolled. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the M117 had screw-in lugs, and that would take away the need for transportation rings. Rob

Ah yes, the M117 would be the alternative. I looked up its dimensions too: length 84.0", scale 44.5 mm diameter 16.1", scale 8.5 mm fin span 22.4", scale 11.9 mm So the M117 is a bit smaller in all dimensions. If I look at the photo below from iModeler it looks just a bit too blunt for an M117, that's why my guess is an M65. Hopefully the dimensions can tell us? Rob

I would like to know what type of bomb is included in the Monogram 1/48 F-84F. It looks like a AN-M65A1 with a M129 tail. Can anyone check the dimensions that I found in an old manual? length 91.1", scale 48.2 mmm diameter 18.8", scale 9.9 mm fin span 26.2", scale 13.9 mm Thanks in advance! Rob

IIRC, there were some early crashes attributed to hot bare metal wings cooling down very rapidly during take-off, leading to flap problems (hope I remembered that part correctly). Coupled with early downward ejection seats, that cost a few pilot lives.The white paint kept the wing temperature down. Rob

I can only add one thing: 5437 provides only three tanks: one inboard and two outboard tanks. The box shows two inboard tanks amd two outboard tanks. I think many modelers did not want to use the nuke, and were disappointed that the kit did not have two inboard tanks. Rob