(Download a higher resolution image by clicking on any picture
below.) 
49-2694 was assigned to the Limited Phase IV Performance Evaluation of the GRB-36D at Edwards Air Force Base. It was flown by Major James Rudolph and Captain Charles Neyhart. It made four flights without the RF-84K between November 1955 and March 1956. The future Bell X-2 pilot Captain Milburn Apt hooked RF-84K, 52-7258 onto its trapeze on March 23, 1956. 49-2694 made two more flights with the RF-84K on its trapeze in April 1956. The trapeze was damaged by turbulence, so the Thunderflash was never launched from 49-2694. It was unloaded on the ground after the evaluation.
Note the
intricate black striping on the upper surface of the wings. The
upper turret bay doors should really be flush with the skin of
the fuselage.
The wings
of the Hobbycraft B-36 models droop slightly from the proper
position.
My model commemorates the hook-on accomplished
by Mel Apt on March 23, 1956. It took him over ten attempts to
hook the nose probe onto the receiver. He came away with the
opinion that the task of hooking onto the trapeze in any level of
turbulence was too difficult for an average jet fighter pilot.
Note the red turbine warning stripes on the
underside of the Thunderflash.
Modifications to the kit include the open lower
turret bay, the addition of the radome for the AN/APX-29
rendezvous radio anntenna to the top of the fuselage, the removal
of the boom from the right side of the trapeze, the addition of a
fixed faring at the front of the bomb bay, the unequal length of
the bomb bay doors, and the smaller radome on the tail.
The notches in the bomb bay doors
were meant to provide clearance for the yoke of the trapeze. The
main jack and trapeze yoke should line up with those notches in
the doors.
Part 1: Republic RF-84K
Thunderflash and McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
More Hobbycraft B-36 kit reviews:
Patrick Hawkey built the B-36D
Warpcore.org review of B-36D
Rollmodels.net review of unbuilt FICON GRB-36D kit
Richard Marmo reviewed the Hobbycraft B-36B and B-36D/RB-36H kits for Scaleworld.
Ken Duffy converted a Mongram 1/72-scale RB-36H kit into a GRB-36D.
Main page of Hobbycraft FICON review
-advertisement-
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring historic Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites.
A dozen Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites from 1952 to 1956:
Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic F-84E Thunderjet 49-2115 at Forth Worth, Texas and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic YRF-84F Thunderstreak 49-2430 at Fort Worth, Texas and Dayton, Ohio
Convair GRB-36D 49-2962 and Republic RBF-84F Thunderflash 52-7266 over Washington State
Convair GRB-36D 49-2694 and Republic RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7258 at Edwards Air Force Base, California
Put a copy of the Project FICON - Fighter Conveyer: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
-advertisement-
Send a message to Brian.
