Popular Post RidgeRunner Posted January 17, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2022 Hi everyone, Finally, I’m very pleased to be rolling out my latest Voodoo for your consideration, hoping that you will like her as much as I do. She has languished on the shelf half-done for about three years and so I thought I ought to finish her. Unfortunately I cant find my notes regarding paints. I show what I can remember. Those who have seen my previous Voodoo builds will know that I was on a Valom Voodoo “fix” for a while at that time and this will be the third, and last for the foreseeable future. This model depicts RF-101A-30-MC 54-1514 which was operated, until her sad demise, by the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at Shaw AFB. She crashed, fatally, while operating near Franklin, North Carolina on the 16th March 1966. More specifically she is finished as she appeared as part of camouflage trials involving two Voodoos in the early to mid 1960s. Another is reported as being black overall (possibly 54-1512). The following is an extract from the Operational and Test Evaluation - Camouflage and Corrosion Control (RF-101) document issued in October 1963 (TAC-TR-63-8): “The two RF-101's were each painted differently; however, the color scheme chosen was one which provided good "cover" against a verdant terrain. One aircraft was painted a black first coat followed by a dull green mixed with a small quantity of black for the final coat. The second aircraft was painted two coats of the green and black mixture and, in an attempt to break up the silhouette and distort distinctive lines, irregular splotches of reddish-brown paint and alternate black were applied. In both cases the undersides of the aircraft ware similarly painted, as were the external fuel tanks.” Interestingly a further un-identified RF- Voodoo (at least one) was painted in a toned-down camouflage a little earlier, carrying toned-down black national insignia too. This was around the time of the Cuba Crisis and is illustrated in a couple of reference books. As shown, 54-1514 had additional green stripes around the rear end of the engine bay and on the wing tips, indicating its participation in the extensive exercise “Desert Strike” in the Spring of 1964. See her (I think) at 18 minutes 45 seconds in this video: At Ontario, Ca: I found other potiential shots of her during Desert Strike on YouTube: Some will also have seen other images of her with a strange and different mottled camouflage. A famous photograph shows her as a static air show exhibit (at St. Louis?) in that scheme. My challenge, apart from the kit itself, has been the decisions around the paint colours. The greater minds on the subject have suggested that these were a unique mix. Therefore, I have attempted to simply match what I see in the image above but using proprietary paints. They may not be 100% accurate but they are close. Later, of course, the RF-101As in SE Asia adopted a further scheme which was close to that on 54-1514. I have therefore used that in my decision-making process too. Sadly she doesn’t sit as a build I am most proud of. I made a number of mistakes along the way and now I have just been determined to get her done. Nevertheless, I think she deserves completion and illustrates well a potential alternative to the well known SEA camouflage. So, what did I do/use?. Here goes: Modifications from the kit: 1. Replaced the wing fences with Plasticard 2. Added nav lights etc behind canopy and on the wing tips with spare sprue and KristalKlear 3. Cut jet pipe housing back by c5mm and added 12.5mm stryrene tube 4. Used F-84F (Airfix) for the belly tanks (minus fins) 5. Used modified F-101B resin cockpit 6. Added under fuselage aerials/sensors Aftermarket and other materials used: 1. Kit – Valom McDonnell RF-101A Voodoo 1/72 (72092) 2. Aftermarket – a cut-up and adapted Aires F-101B cockpit, Armoury wheels 3. Paints – Colourcoats, Humbrol Sand, Black, Chrome (191), Silver (11), White, Interior Green (226), Red (60), Gull Grey (140). Finished with Humbrol Satincote. 4. Decals – Xtradecal national insignia, home drawn and printed serials, lettering etc, Xrtadecal red lining. Sadly I had some silvering of the home printed decals 5. Weathering/Wash – Flory 6. Jet pipe – 12mm styrene pipe I hope you like her Martin 97 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 That does look lovely! And, the camo is indeed unusual, but very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 That's a good looking Voodoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in a shed Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 My, thats very nice indeed, most fetching in that scheme. The USAF should have adopted that one for sure. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox1_BE Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Very peculiar camo scheme indeed, great finish 👍 Never seen this before, thanks for posting! Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 very nice, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignacio Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Absolutely striking and unusual scheme. Outstanding job as usual my friend! Saludos!!! Ignacio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 That is one very nice Voodoo Martin and a little bit left of centre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 That really looks nice Martin, can't understand why it's been on 'that' shelf for so long. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Excellent work on that Voodoo Martin. Always good to see a Voodoo. Unusual colour scheme & looks like you've rendered it pretty well I'd say. Funny old kit that Valom & don't know why they didn't get those exhaust tubes right. I need some of that tubing for my next attempt! 😉 Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Stunning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Beautiful--Really nicely done! I'd never seen this experimental scheme before, which looks inspired by the LRRP "tiger" camouflage battledress, and I think was issued at around the same time. There's a "gate guard" SEA pattern RF-101A at Shaw AFB, former home of the 363rd TRW and TFW, and my first duty station following tech school. I inspected it up close, one fine humid afternoon. NB: Shortly after I arrived at Shaw, Gen. McPeak decided to re-numerate the 363rd to the 20th FW, after his old unit in the UK, so the 363rd went into the history books. As I was assigned to the numbered air force HQ, I didn't care, but others expressed irritation with McPeak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Very nicely done and a very unusual paint scheme - I love it! Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat101 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 I have never seen that paint scheme on an SEA aircraft. That said very well executed and an impressive result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Lovely job Martin! I've not seen a Voodoo in that camouflage scheme before and yours is very nicely done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 What a unique colour scheme. It looks really good on your much improved Valom Kit. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 What a wonderful build, she looks amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Great build, just love that colour scheme ! Wulfman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Beautiful build and finish,what a cracking scheme! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Yowzah, Martin- yet another wonderful One Oh Wonder from your workbench! I think you did a very good job with the paint colors, and I bet you did more research on them than the people who painted the real airplane! As you may recall, we were stationed at Shaw from 1958-60 and I got to watch the 363rd TRS RF-101A/C's and RB-66's all day long! (You should hear two of them taking off in reheat- a VERY noisy weenie cooker! )See what their RF's looked like in their heydey below. That's a beautiful model, my friend! I am soooo jealous! Mike photo via Airplanes Online photo via Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcello Rosa Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Outstanding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Mega smart Voodoo. Nice result form a so-so kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomthounaojam Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 WOW!!! that is an outstanding model, cheers!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PATRICK FROM THE SANDS Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 I have this kit in my stock and I wish I will do a similar outstanding work! Congratulations, this camouflage was not known from me and open new horizons for my build! Superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Beautifully done Voodoo there Martin, love the scheme you chose, I was going to attempt it on my build a bit ago but couldn`t find photo`s of both sides at the time. Great job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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