Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (Jet Powered)
HA2502 - Republic F-105B Thunderchief
USAF Air Demonstration Team Thunderbirds 1964
Die-cast metal.
Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.
Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
Fully assembled.
Comes with crew figure
Display stand included.
Option to display model with wheels up or down.
Minimum use of plastic.
Hobby Master doesn't flood the market with huge numbers of each model and
with the pre-production interest shown world wide this definitely will be a very
rare bird and extremely sought after.
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The “B” variant of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief was the initial production version and
became operational in May 1958 replacing the F-84 Thunderjet. On December 11, 1959
an F-105B set a world speed record of 1,216.48 mph over a 62 mile course. The F-105B
never saw combat and only 75 were produced before the all-weather “D” variant became
available in 1964. The F-105Bs were transferred to ANG and AFRES units with their last
flight in 1981 when they were sent to be scrapped. At least five aircraft were spared and
sent to museums.


On June 1, 1953 the 3600th Air Demonstration Team was activated and later named
“Thunderbirds”. In 1964 the USAF Thunderbirds selected the F-105B as their new
aircraft replacing the F-100C. Nine specially modified Thunderchiefs arrived for the new
season. After the sixth show of the season tragedy struck when Capt. Gene Devlin died
when his F-105 broke apart while performing a high-G climbing maneuver prior to
landing. Later that year the team returned to the F-100D variant and flew this until 1969
when they switched to the F-4 Phantom II.
Republic F-105B Thunderchief Specifications

Crew – (1) pilot

First Flight – May 26, 1956

Dimensions
Length – 63 ft 1 in   (19.23 m)
Height – 19 ft 8 in   (5.99 m)
Wingspan – 34 ft 11 in   (10.64 m)
Wing Area – 385 sq ft   (35.76 sq m)

Weight
Empty - 25,855 lb   (11,728 kg)
Normal Combat - 34,870 lb   (15,817 kg)
Maximum Take-off  - 46,998 lb   (21,318 kg)

Performance
Engine – (1) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-3/J75-P-5 turbojet, rated at 17,200 lb.s.t. (7,802 kg)
dry and 23,500 lb.s.t. (10,659 kg) with afterburner.

Fuel
Internal - 900 US gal   (3,407 L).
Maximum With External Tanks – 2,510 US gallons   (9,500 l).

Speed
Maximum “clean” – 1,376 mph   (2,214 km/h) @ 36,000 ft  (10,973 m)
Sea Level - 864 mph   (1,390 km/h)
Normal Cruise - 585 mph   (941 km/h)
Stall - 204 mph   (328 km/h)
Time to 35,000 ft   (10,668 m) - 1 minute
Service Ceiling - 32,750 ft   (9,982 m)
Combat Ceiling - 48,100 ft   (14,661 m)
Combat Range - 744 miles   (1,197 km)
Maximum range - 2,228 miles   (3,586 km)

Armament (regular F-105B)
(1) 20-mm M61A1 rotary cannon with 1028 rounds.
Up to 8,000 lbs   (3,628 kg) of ordnance in the internal weapons bay. Plus an optional
6000 lbs   (2,721 kg) of ordnance on external weapons racks (2) under each wing (1)
center-line of the fuselage belly.

The Thunderbird’s aircraft were stripped of all weapons.