Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modeling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side, we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modeling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modeling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold-winning modeler who has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has been featured in numerous aviation and modeling books and magazines for the last 35 years. On the design side, we have Jonathan Phillips and Andy Folds, who have been involved in designing and producing a wide range of magazines and books over the last 25 years, including market-leading modeling magazines.

The Phoenix Red Series was launched with the F-16 Fighting Falcon Part 1 [US Versions], followed by F-16 Fighting Falcon Part 2 [International Versions] and Wild Weasels. These first three books are currently sold out. Red Series Book Number 4 The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is the subject of this review. Two additional books in the Red Series are currently available: Number 5 The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady and Number 6 The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.

This square-back volume is 112 glossy pages surrounded by card covers. The front cover photograph is Republic F-105D-25-RE, 62-4229, with the 357^th Tactical Fighter Squadron [355^th Tactical Fighter Wing] on a mission over Vietnam on February 6, 1970. She was based at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base from early 1966 to December 10, 1970.Later, she returned to the states before spinning and crashing on August 31, 1977, into Pamlico Sound Lagoon, North Carolina. Serving with the Virginia ANG, the pilot, Major William C. Jones was able to eject safely. Not counting the inside cover advertisements, I counted 210 color photographs and 38 black and white photographs. Ryan Dorling contributes eight color side profiles covering F-105D and F-105G variants.

Andy Evans kicks off this tome with 40 pages on the Development and Service of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief. The genesis of the F-105 began in 1950 as a successor to the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. At least 108 design proposals were evaluated to address the need for a supersonic, single-seat, single-engine aircraft utilizing available technology. The Air Staff liked the Republic proposal and a contract for 199 F-105 aircraft was issued in September 1952. The projected end of the Korean War in March 1953, lengthened the development process, but the first flight was achieved on October 22, 1955. The first airframe, YF-105A [54-098[ is shown airborne at the top of Page 007. The second YF-105A [54-099] is shown in the center and lower photographs. The lower photograph shows off the second YF-105A refueling the second F-105B-1-RE [54-0102]. The next three chapters cover the Thunderchief in service.

The USAF still saw the need for a two-seat trainer variant of the Thunderchief, but early proposals were considered to be too expensive. Eventually, a two-seat design saw fruition as the F-105F, but no new orders for the two-seater were placed. Instead, F-105D airframes were converted to two-seaters on the production line, becoming the F-105F. Eventually, the F-105F aircraft were proposed for the Wild Weasel missions that had been pioneered by North American F-10 Super Sabers. The bottom of Page 33 shows off the DBU -24 cluster bombs that the F-105F carried. The top of the page shows an F-105G next to an F-105D with crew members preparing Mk. 82 bombs. Page 45 shows off two of Ryan Dorling’s color side profiles, in this case, a natural metal F-105D of the 23^rd TFW based at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in 1965. Note the red and white striped rudder. The second F-105D is in South East Asia camouflage, serving with the 465^th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

The next section covers three Thunderchiefs in the walkaround format. A F-105F that was on display in Addison, Texas, as part of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum is shown on Page 67. Sadly, this museum has closed and this aircraft, along with everything else in this great museum, is now in storage. The Walkaround section is followed by a photo gallery of Thunderchiefs, followed by a Specifications table.

The next section covers build reviews of Thunderchiefs in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scales. Mario Serelle’s work is shown on Page 86 as part of his build review of a Trumpeter 1/72 F-105G Wild Weasel. Note how well Mario’s ‘marbling’ preparation looks in the finished paint job at the bottom of the page. The contents include:

• Acknowledgments
• Author’s Note
• Glossary of Terms
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Design and Development: The YF-105 [Page 007]
• Chapter 2: Into Service: The F-105B
• Chapter 3: Vietnam Warriors: The F-105D
• Chapter 4: SAM Slayers: The F-105F and F-105G [Page 033]
• Color Side Profiles by Ryan Dorling [Page 045]
• Walkaround: F-105 Thunderchief In Detail
  • F-105G BuNo. 62-427 Preserved at the Pima Air & Space Museum
  • F-105D BuNo. 60-500 [Now at Historic Aviation Memorial Museum in Tyler, TX]
  • F-105F BuNo. 63-343 [ex-Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, TX; now in storage] [Page 067]
• F-105 Gallery
• F-105 Specifications
• Modeling: Building the Thunderchief in Popular Scales
  • Thunderstick Thud By Michael Dudley [Revell 1/48 F-105D]
  • Thud Gone Wild By Mario Serelle [Trumpeter 1/72 F-105G] [Page 086]
  • ‘Thud!’ By Rene Van Der Hart [HobbyBoss 1/48 F-105G]
  • Pussy Galore II By Grant Dalzell [Trumpeter 1/72 F-105D]
  • Thunder-Weasel By Simon Watts [Trumpeter 1/32 F-105G]
  • Silver Thunder By Hans Spruijt [HobbyBoss 1/48 F-105F]

Phoenix delivers a nice package in this book. You get the development and service history of the Thunderchief. You get 248 photographs, the majority in color. The six build reviews are all well done and show off what can be accomplished with the available model kits. If you are planning on building a Republic Thunderchief, this book is a must-have. My thanks to Phoenix Scale Publications and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great issue.

Highly recommended!