Susaschka Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Hi all, For my Spangdahlem Heritage project I'm also planning to build a F-105F (and maybe a F-105D) next in addition to the F-4E, F-4G, A-10A, F-15C and F-16CJ. After a very long search decals have been located and obtained, so now I can focus on the kits and their configurations. 🙂 I will build a bare metal or Aluminium F-105F, as these are the decals for that I've found and it will most likely be a Monogram or Revell kit. Now I only need to look for an interesting loadout. Can anybody help me with the following questions: 1: Were any of the Spangdahlem based F-105F's upgraded to Weasel standard during 1966-1967 with self-protection kits and equipment needed to fire AGM-45's by installing a pair of external blister fairings on the lower central fuselage? 2: What colors were the F-105's in during their stay in Spangdahlem? I'm only able to find photo's and drawings of silver and aluminium F-105's. This topic (https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235053309-the-thud-over-germany-f-105s-of-usafe/) states the following about the paintjobs: - They were bare metal before the ‘Look Alike’ upgrades that started in 1962; - They were painted aluminium after the ‘Look Alike’ upgrades; - They were painted SEA camo after mainenance from 1965 and apparently lose all of their squadron markings. Unfortunately no photographic confirmation is shown. The F-105G at Spangdahlem's gate in SEA camo (my picture) was most definitely not based there, as F-105F's only started to be upgraded to F-105G standards from 1968. According to the info I found online, Spangdahlem switched to F-4C's in 1967-1968 and the 49TFW was relocated to Holloman 1 July 1968. If that is the case then this (or any) F-105G couldn't be based at Spangdahlem. I therefore assume the SP markings on this F-105G are completely fictional and for display purposes only. Thanks in advance for any help and/or corrections. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Some Bitburg F-105s from that time period can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdebock/albums/72157633718479218 they should give you an idea what European based Thuds were like. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 8 hours ago, Finn said: Some Bitburg F-105s from that time period can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdebock/albums/72157633718479218 they should give you an idea what European based Thuds were like. Jari Thank you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbryan911 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Finn, that album is cool. There's a couple shots of 490 that looks like it's part natural metal and part look a like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 Today I received this beauty. 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VADM Fangschleister Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Don't forget the F-4D from the 23 TFS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted June 2, 2021 Author Share Posted June 2, 2021 On 6/1/2021 at 12:08 AM, VADM Fangschleister said: Don't forget the F-4D from the 23 TFS. Indeed! And I think ! also need to consider the EF-4C too... First I'm going decal hunting for the F-4D decals as I know these exist. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 I have an additional question: Does anybody know if the F-105F's that were based at Spangdahlem were ever tasked with the SEAD mission (with AGM-45's) or were they only used for training the nuclear mission? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 On 5/22/2021 at 5:10 PM, Finn said: Some Bitburg F-105s from that time period can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdebock/albums/72157633718479218 they should give you an idea what European based Thuds were like. Jari Those are great photos! Question: some of the NMF birds look like unpainted aluminum, with a lot of contrasting surfaces, while others look like overall aluminum lacquer, much more uniform. Is that what the photos are actually showing, or were they all aluminum lacquered with a lot of wear? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 23 hours ago, seawinder said: Those are great photos! Question: some of the NMF birds look like unpainted aluminum, with a lot of contrasting surfaces, while others look like overall aluminum lacquer, much more uniform. Is that what the photos are actually showing, or were they all aluminum lacquered with a lot of wear? If I remember correctly they used to be bare metal in the beginning, but during one of the upgrade programs they were painted overall aluminium. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cajun21 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 (edited) 21 hours ago, Susaschka said: If I remember correctly they used to be bare metal in the beginning, but during one of the upgrade programs they were painted overall aluminium. Only the B models were NMF but eventually painted aluminum under Project Look Alike. The D's were painted at the factory before delivery. The color difference is due to the underlying material causing tonal differences. Another interesting photo is the one is the USAF DeHaviland Beaver next to a French Bf 108 Taufin (sp). To best of my knowledge no EF-105F's or F-105G's were ever stationed in Europe. Cheers Itch Edited November 19, 2021 by Cajun21 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Susaschka Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) On 11/19/2021 at 3:12 PM, Cajun21 said: To best of my knowledge no EF-105F's or F-105G's were ever stationed in Europe. Cheers Itch If I've researced correctly, the SEAD/Wild Weasel mission was only introduced with the 52TFW with the (E)F-4C and no F-105's at Spangdahlem were ever tasked for this. This really means I'm only left with a very clean F-105F with only two droptanks if I want it to be realistic. Maybe I will try to scratchbuild the bomb bay after all, but we will see. 🙂 The F-105G at the gate of Spang has indeed never flown there, is 100% fictional, but it does exist. As this is allready fictional, I will load this one up as a pure Weasel with a Centerline fueltank, one droptank, an AGM-78 and two AGM-45's. Edited March 6, 2022 by Susaschka Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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