rob Lyttle Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) I have another contender loitering in my stash and this could be a likely scenario for it to get onto the building bench. I developed a real liking for the F101. Sheer beauty in shining metal, nothing short of sculpture! And when I discovered that McDonnell's chief test pilot, the guy who took the 1st Voodoo airframe clean through the sound barrier in level flight without even trying, was called Rob Little, that was the absolute clincher for me. I have a couple of photos of the man, I'll see if I can find them in the archives. Anyway, I went through a stage of picking up 101s and building a few of various types. My latest acquisition is a much wanted Monogram Century Series two-seater in 1.48. But this Frog kit has not been built yet. To be honest there's not much to it,as illustrated by the instructions. I mean, that's it! The box contents are this... Not too sure about the decal sheet. I have a few spare items in the spares box. 2 options are catered for, a bare metal shiny bird based at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire with the 66thTRW in 1964, and a camo scheme from Vietnam 1967. Gotta be the shiny Voodoo for me!😎 I'm planning on a quick and easy build from the box to get another tick put up on the group list. Probably going to play 2nd fiddle to the Lockheed Ventura project but look, we've got ages, haven't we??👍 Edited March 5 by rob Lyttle 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 11 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said: guy who took the 1st Voodoo airframe clean through the sound barrier in level flight without even trying, OK OK slight exaggeration by me. Mach0.9 Got a bit carried away there in my head. He made his way up through McDonnell Douglas Co right to the top 👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Great stuff Rob Out of interest are you building 2 of these as you seem to have 2 build threads going ? Best of luck with this one Cheers Pat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Great choice and I do believe this is our first Frog boxed ‘Hasegawa’ moulded kit presented for this GB. You’ve just gotta love that boxart which probably sells this kit all on its own. We’ll all be watching this one come together. Cheers and all the best .. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Neat choice, love the name connection. You had too! Colin the Wessex nut 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 9 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: are you building 2 of these Just the one, Pat. I'm not sure what happened there. I put up the correction post soon after and there it was.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 (edited) 4 hours ago, rob Lyttle said: Just the one, Pat. I'm not sure what happened there. I put up the correction post soon after and there it was.... Hi Rob, I have had that happen a couple of times of late when making an edit just after the initial post - not sure if it is me being clumsy or the website throwing one of its little wobbles. It is a nice enough kit - I bought one not long after it came out and over the years it has gone from NMF to camo. I still have a Microscale decal sheet for the F101, if it is any help? The sheet had options for 3 camo planes, one of which I have used and one NMF from 363TRW which is unused except for the stars, the black walkway lines, the lines on the drop tanks and the red fuselage warning stripe AFAIK. Pete Edited February 6 by PeterB 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 The nose of this kind of Voodoo is loaded with cameras. The only reference on the model of this is a set of 5 little transparencies and recesses moulded on the plastic. What I have in my possession is the Tan Model version of the Republic RF84 Thunderflash with copious amounts of detail in the camera compartment. A very similar era, maybe simultaneously in active service? 🤔 But I won't be building an installation of cameras. So I'm going to limit myself to drilling out the window openings and see what will look appropriate before fitting the glazing. Similar with the nose part... Other than that, the cockpit pan is in and I'm going to join up the sides. There is a slight issue, but I think good glueing and holding will overcome the problem. The thing is, do I need weight in the nose to keep the front wheel on the ground? No mention in the instructions, and the main gears are fairly well back on the Voodoo, but there is quite a bit of plastic on the rear of the model. I'm going ahead because I now have a series of 3mm holes in the nose area incl one right through the front 😎👍 3mm is just right for taking my 3mm solder wire which I often use for nose weight. I think I can build now and balance later 😇 Yeah, let's see if I can get those sides together in a permanent sort of way. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Job done ✔️ closed up and underwing panel fixed too. The fit is remarkably good 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 This is the Hasegawa mould in a FROG box, in which case the fit is going to be excellent, if my experience of their F-102 and F-106 kits is anything to go by. They are simple kits but turn out really well. The Convair deltas have a higher parts count only because the kits include a representation of the missile bays. Looking forward to this. Regards, Adrian 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfox63 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Oh look, another banana, but this one is Japanese. Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'll see myself out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 7 hours ago, AdrianMF said: if my experience of their F-102 and F-106 kits is anything to go by I remember doing the 102 and the fit was pretty good all round. The challenge was indeed those missiles on extended frames. A bit short on detail but built-up OK. And a display nameplate which was cool, esp when foiled. No such with this one I'm afraid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 And there we are...😃 Easy-peasy. Pretty much a complete airframe. Seems like no extra weight is required up front, but there's a backup plan if necessary. The horizontal tailplanes are one piece with dihedral built in and a quadrant in the middle which the rudder/fin-top piece fits over. This is a tidy solution, simple and effective 👌 All-moving tailplanes of course so no messing about with elevators 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Terrific! I continue to be amazed at how big all the century series jets are. Looking forward to the paint job. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 Yes, Adrian, it marks a real stepchange in aero design. I mean the EE Lightning is a fair size of a beast too. The 101 may be the biggest of them all, quite a benchfull in 1.48 from Monogram or Kitty hawk. I'm thinking spraycans on this but the weather is appalling currently 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 Well, this has been loitering for some time, but always close to the bench. I'm planning on rattlecan spray priming and painting but the weather is lousy, cold and wet, and my spray booth is the great outdoors. So not too promising 😕 A few items have been ticked off, however, in preparation for painting when the opportunity arises. The 2 tanks have gone on. And visable there is a scratch arrester hook. No mention of this in the kit but all the other Voodoos I have done have a hook fitted and I don't see that this type would be an exception. If it turns out I'm wrong it can always be removed. The airbrakes are fitted in the closed position, just to emphasise the great shape of the plane. By no means a perfect fit but I think it'll tidy up OK. So roll on a break in the winter conditions to get a bit of primer on at least 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 Well, how about that?...Today I had some spare time AND the sky cleared enough. I brought the primer indoors to warm up a little and set about the Voodoo. A hole drilled between the tanks to accommodate a wooden skewer using what's known as an "interference fit"😅. That's my handle. 1st primer run showed up a few issues but that's what it's for, right?? The kit plastic is that silver-grey stuff which displays a ghost effect when filed and sanded. A joint or surface detail feels smooth to the fingers but still carries a ghost of what has been removed or smoothed off. So the whole thing still looks rubbish! All you can do is prime and see what you get .... Filled some items around the top of the fin, speed-brake doors and so on, and had another go. To be honest, I'm quite pleased with what I got. The surface detailing is raised of course, but really quite finely done, intakes look satisfyingly thin and well shaped, and I'm liking the overall shape and look. The sawn off recon nose suits the plane instead of the usual pointed cone shape. Nice. Plus, I can "fly" the 101 out to the shed and back while holding the skewer stick, banking quite hard and making roaring jet noises as I go....😎😄 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 Here's a fascinating old newsreel that came up on YouTube. Irritating muzak wailing throughout, I'm afraid, and a very stylised typical voiceover. But interesting info on Operation Sun Run, a high speed test from LA to New York and back. Some eye-catching decor on these 101-Cs that I hadn't seen before 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 I grabbed the chance to get some spray can metallic on. I've found the this particular paint dulls and degrades quite quickly with handling. Thought about getting some cotton gloves but then decided to try out with Pledge/ Future over the paint. It's not a stunning example of metallic paint anyway, it's a little bit "freckled" , but I'm sticking with it and the Pledge seems to have sealed and protected it. So far.... And having a go at the walkways. The decals are yellowed and I don't think I can use them. "Put them in the SUN for a week or two" I hear you say 🤔 Ha! Falls down laughing 🤣 The walkways are just the black outlines and require the panels to be painted first anyway. The yellow effect might be insignificant over the dark grey so I may try them here. Antiglare panel painted in olive and a 1st coat for the nose cone. I've tried to create a white band where the nose meets the fuselage metal. The engine cans are on too, waiting for some kind of burnt metal effect. It looks like Frog have marked out the wing leading edges as a moving type slat type of wing which I think is a mistake. I haven't seen any type of 101 with that feature. But I ain't going back to fix it now. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 I've been getting some info on the 1957 USAF Operation Sun Run. Six 101Cs set some records for transcontinental flight from LA to New York, and also the round trip back to LA Each aircraft had a distinct striped decor for easy identification because a lot of refuelling was required in a very controlled and systematic program. The USAF had started using their new KC135 Boeing tankers and Sun Run was a serious workout for Voodoos and tankers together. Anyway, some nice paint jobs on the Voodoos. Turns out that Hasegawa had issued a kit complete with the Sun Run decal sheet..... but I haven't got one 😕 Found this guy's example though.... https://www.modellversium.de/galerie/8-flugzeuge-modern/8564-mcdonnell-douglas-rf-101c-voodoo-hasegawa.html Lovely 😍 Looks like he's rescribed entirely. So I'm thinking I might have a go at scratch decorating with red stripes for Sun Run #3 Just eyeballing and marking with a red felt pen. I've scribed a few of the structure lines onto the fuselage to get some reference points, and drawn the refuelling port on top of the fuselage. No hint of it's existence or position given on the kit plastic, but this German guy seems to know what the score is- I'm copying him!🤗 I'm visualising matt white base coat and red gloss over that 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinneko Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Next you'll need the KC135... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 I think I have the makings of Sun Run #3😎 That's one of the Frog decals applied. I was concerned that the red would show through the transfer and turn it a little bit pink-- I've had this happen before I have other decals in hand, from a Matchbox 101 and my thought was I could double layer if necessary to kill any pinkness. The old Frog decals seem to have done good in this respect and any yellowness isn't really showing. They do have a noticeable thickness though and excessive carrier borders compared to modern standards. I've taken a shot at the refuelling dock on top of the fuselage .. I'll keep rummaging in the spare transfers box and see what's suitable. Actual airframe number will have to be printed 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 Looking really nice with a splash of colour and decals on. I’m liking this one a lot. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 In addition to a few more decals, the seat has recieved a bit of scratch work, A few straps and arm rests. Some extra paint touches and in it goes, I borrowed an access ladder from another Voodoo-- something I scratch built -- and it looks quite tidy on this one. But I'd have to cut the one-piece canopy to pose it open Next up I'm looking at the legs and wheels. See if I can get her up on her feet 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 Decision made to have the canopy closed. The content of the cockpit doesn't warrant close inspection, so the ladder idea is shelved Undercarriage is done and fitted and she's happy to stand with the tail up and nose wheel on the ground. A couple of wheel chocks already in place The canopy itself has been done with foil tape strips and the only tricky bit was the front screen with the horseshoe shaped frame. There's a bit of disparity between the foil and the paint but I think I can tame it. Having the frames in foil makes it easier to brush paint. Just working my way through the various camera port transparencies 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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