1/48 Monogram F-100D Thunderbird

Gallery Article by Rodney Williams

In the mid -1960's; Ralph J. Maglione was the leader of the "THUNDERBIRDS."  Ralph and I lived in Portage Lakes, Ohio; out in the country, seven miles from our home town of Akron, Ohio.  In 1968, the "Thunderbirds" came to town for the first time and put on their show at the "Akron-Canton" municipal airport.  Ralph pulled some strings, so I got to get out on the runway to shoot a 16mm-color movie of them.....What a thrill !  All six F-100D's came at me, at about 150' above the tarmac!  The roar of those engines, no wonder I'm hard-of-hearing today.   Ralph retired from the Air Force, and passed away a few years back.  I more-or-less built this model and put No. 1. on it, in memory of my childhood playmate.

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This model is another fine example of how you can use SnJ Aluminum paint, with a high gloss automotive lacquer paint finish.