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F-105D Thunderchief

Camouflage and Markings:

For the camouflage, all DC ANG F-105s were finished in the standard S.E.Asian scheme. This is Tan (F.S.30219), Dark Green (F.S.34079), and Medium Green (F.S.34102) on the sides and upper surfaces with Camouflage Gray (F.S.36622) on the lower surfaces. I used all Testors Model Master enamel paints.

The decals were the really interesting part of this project for me. No manufacturer makes markings for the DC ANG, hence I was left with a problem to come up with the needed markings. This is where my new ALPS printer comes into play. I just purchased an ALPS MD-5000. The main reason for the purchase was to make custom decals. This project was a great test run of the printer's capabilities as the markings are rather simple and require no huge effort to create. The printer did not disappoint me.

I spent about one and one half hours cleaning up artwork on my PC that I originally scanned from some pictures of DC ANG F-105s. Then, I printed the artwork on clear decal film and used the custom printed decals just like any other decals you might buy. I used Solv-a-set as a decal setting solution. The results were wonderful, as you can see for yourself in the pictures of the completed model. To the right is an image of the artwork that I used to create the decals. For space reasons, the artwork is one quarter the size of the image I actually used for creating the decals. Also, to make the white markings show up here, I recolored the background to green in this image. The ability to print white is a BIG selling feature of the ALPS printer. The rest of the model's decals are scraps taken from various SuperScale decal sheets for the THUD.

With the camouflage and decals completed, I applied a final gloss coat to seal the decals and started weathering. I did most of the weathering using very thin black enamel paint. I applied this as a wash prior to doing the flat coat. Then I applied it as air brush shading after the flat coat. A final pass of silver dry brushing completed the weathering.

After the weathering was completed, I attached the landing gear, wheel well doors, canopy, and nose pitot and declared the project complete.