I have completed the second in the Century Series aircraft, the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo. I actually did two in different scales, but will post the smaller Voodoo in a separate post.
This is the 1/48 kit I had built this one many years ago, but as with all the other Century Series interceptors that I built in the past, that build was lost in the shelving collapse I experienced in 2006. Built out of the box with the exception of the decals, which came from a Caracals Decal sheet - F-101B Part 2: Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas ANG. Being a native Texan, obviously I was going to model a Texas Voodoo, so this build represents a Voodoo of the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard, 1980.
This Voodoo kit is a good one, with great detailing in the cockpit and wheel wells/flap bays commensurate with Monogram kits throughout the years. But the kit is not without its challenges. One of those challenges is in the intakes. John “Jeaton01” here has this Voodoo kit in his blog where he points out that the way Monogram molded the air intake parts will result in a difficult seam to deal with along the wing roots. Dry fitting revealed this to be the case, so I took John’s suggestion of cutting away the middle connecting legs between the intakes to eliminate much of the seam. I never could not determine what in the plastic that was removed was causing such a seam in the wing roots, but at the end of the day, the plastisurgery resulted in a much easier to deal with seam that I was able to eliminate fully.
I also struggled to get the weapons bay inserted into the fuselage. The cockpit goes into the fuselage after the fuselage has been assembled, slotted in through the area that the weapons bay occupies. You then slide the weapons bay in. That part did not want to seat properly into the position. I pushed on it with as much pressure as I dared to utilize, but could not get it to line up straight or go all the way in. Then … snap, it slid all the way in and I was able to line it up correctly.
The primary paint is Mission Models ADC gray, with some Model Master Metalizers for the tail pipes and that area on the underside of the tail. Vallejo flat black and yellow was used on the nose cone and around the canopy. Tamiya red for the flap bays and portions of the wheel wells. Mission Models interior green in the wheel wells. Model Master Acryl ghost gray in the cockpit. I kept the weathering to a minimum, with a wash of Mig neutral wash and some Tamiya weathering pastels.
Next up is the F-102A Delta Dagger (Monogram Pro-Modeler kit that was released in 1995).
I had been looking for that kit for a long time. I was a long time MDC empolyee, and the Voodoo was my favorite MAC fighter. I picked up a kit at Nordicon last September. Your build is an inspiration- can’t wait to get started.
Sharp looking model, Stephen, the burner can treatment looks really good.
I put both drop tanks on mine also, but I have read that the range was the same with one drop tank or two as the additional drag used up the advantage of the extra fuel.
John, thank you for your kind words! When I found that Caracal Decal sheet, there was zero doubt I’d be doing the big Texas flag on the tail, being a native Texan as I am.
Thank you for your kind words! I did another Voodoo simultaneously to this one, far less detailed but I did it in NMF. I’d actually like to do a 101A, but new kits are not in the budget right now.
It certainly is a great kit. The only difference I see in your build is the tail ID code. Was that the release that actually included the markings for the 111th FIS?
That is a great looking Voodoo. I did 4 of the Canadian Voodoos one of which is in the monogram builds section. That kit is an oldie but a goodie and it wont break the bank. There is a real 101B Voodoo on display at Willow Run Airport in Michigan and If my memory serves me correctly it as an ANG or Reserve bird. I got to see one of those take off one time and it is impressive. I love the Century Series birds and I remember them when they were new and hearing the sound barrier being broken was the cats behind!!!
I had built this one many years ago, but as with all the other Century Series interceptors that I built in the past, that build was lost in the shelving collapse I experienced in 2006. Built out of the box with the exception of the decals, which came from a Caracals Decal sheet - F-101B Part 2: Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas ANG. Being a native Texan, obviously I was going to model a Texas Voodoo, so this build represents a Voodoo of the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard, 1980.
