Hobby Hint

by Jack Hollander

The first thing I did on the Thunderchief was to sand off the panel lines. The original panel lines were raised. Then I went over it and re-scribe the lines.

Camouflage is done in Vietnam Era pattern. I used Testor Model Masters Dark tan, Dark green and medium green on the top; Camouflage Gay on the underside.

I sprayed the entire plane with Medium Green first, followed by the Tan, then the Dark Green. I wasn't able to see demarcations between greens until it was clear coat with Floquil Flat Clear (which is actually a semi-gloss).

A drawback to the kit it that there wasn't a really decent way to attach some of the parts, such as the horizontal stabilizer and the weapons payload. For the horizontal stabilizer, I used a brass tube through a brass tube so that it turns. Other parts that were "pinned" using wire were the exhaust pipes, bombs, and antennae.

I painted the navigation lights Clear Red and Clear Blue. If you shine them with a light, it looks like its light up. MV lenes were used for landing lights and the decals were aftermarket decals.

Photos by Jeff Junker