O.K. folks, I got a decision to make about a sheet of decals I’ve got and what to put them on.
The decals are from Belcher Bits, Canadian markings for Monogram’s 1/48 F-101 Voodoo. I’m about ready to give up on the Monogram kit, sadly, and was thinking the decals shouldn’t be wasted, and a hypothetical project would be a good use for them.
The dilema? I can’t quite decide what to slap them on, here’s some ideas I had:
1: Short nose F-4 Phantom II. Spey engine version if I can find one, D version if not. I thought I might put it in bare metal or aluminum overspray and use the decal sheet’s Red Ensign flag on its tail, making it date from the early-mid 60s. I also though of painting it in the overall grey the Voodoos had in the 70s with the current Canadian flag on the tail.
2 : F-111 Aardvark with longer span wings (like the C version) I can’t quite picture a paint scheme for it though.
3 : F-105D Thunderchief. I’d do it either in bare metal or some European camoflage and have it represent a German based one from when Canada still had bases there.
4 : SAAB Viggen. Probably paint it up just like the Voodoos of the 70’s in the gloss air defence grey.
Those are my initial ideas, I’m jus looking at something to put a paint job on and get the decals on, no major butchering, as straight from the box as I can make it.
What do you folks think of those ideas? The Phantom is the most developed of my ideas so far, What might some of the rest of you do?
Thanks for the feedback, I’m going to some of the local hobby shops this coming weekend to have a look around, If the Airfix Viggen is about in any of them I may make the grab
If I did the Thud, I think I’d do it in the dark green and grey over light grey that was on Canadian CF-104s at the end of their flying days. or perhaps some sort of arctic paint sceme for Northern patrols.
Perhaps my trip next weekend will see me encounter something totally unexpected and inspirational that I had not though of yet.
The Viggen is getting more appetizing though!
I also wish there was a Sea Vixen in injection form as that thought also crossed my mind.
Thanks for the input so far, I’ve hit one of those “dry well” moments in my own imagination.
Just overall fit issues really. That rotating weapons area really makes for some serious fit issues all through the areas around it and try as I might, I’m just not satisfied with the results of any attempts I’ve made to get that area smoothed out.
The intake trunking was also a royal pain to get right, I got it right, but it took so much time that my intrest started waining there.
As much as I love the Voodoo aircraft, I just couldn’t keep excited about the Monogram offering anymore.
It’s really time for some fresh moldings of that bird, I hope Tamiya or Hasegawa might take a shot at it someday.
Hey Upnorth, if you do do the viggen are you interested in swapping the decals for ???. i have a kind of swedish thing going on at the moment (nothing rude tho[;)] ).and have been searching for some aftermarket decals with no success. i even went out and bought the airfix mustang and mozzie for the swedish markings but both sheets where out of register "grrrrrr " cheers. Greg
Well this may sound boring, but why give up on the Voodoo just yet?
If you want to fantasize a bit put the 101 on floats, like the one in the artists’ painting in the staff lunchroom at the Edmonton ATC center …
Hook em, clean em, AND fry em too!
Regards,
Bruce
gregers: If I do find the Airfix Viggen and the decals look good and in register (a rare situation in my experience with their decals) I’ ll let you know.
Bruce: I’ve seen a retouched photo of a Voodoo on floats and tried doing it with Matchbox’s old 1/72 kit, knida bombed on it though. I don’t think “given up” is the precise term for my relationship with the Monogram 1/48 kit, it just feels like I’ve gotten into a rut with it and am finding it difficult to pull myself back to it. Sometimes you just got to look at those part done kits with their problems and say “Next” and move on. I hate doing that, but sometimes it happens.
I’ve just done my little go round of local hobby shops today and was totally inspired by something that NEVER once crossed my mind to put these decals onto.
I was ready to commit to a Viggen, then I saw HER, staring out at me from the 1/48 section of the shelf, saying “I could be Canadian, Please take me home!”
I could see PRECISELY in my mind what she would look like finished the minute I saw her, right down to how to put the lightning bolt on her and the glossy light grey she’d be wearing overall.
She caught my eye,[8)]
She’s gettin’ the decals[:p]
She’s the best combat aircraft Canada never had…[:D]
Alright, I know, enough suspense
She’s Airfix’s 1/48 Buccaneer S.2!
I always thought Canada should have had a dedicated maritime interceptor, longest coastline in the world to look after and all.
Hi Upnorth. go for it. the bucc would look great with the maple leaf on the tail. looking forward to seeing the pics. i have a spare heller viggen,i may just steal your idea if your dont mind…Greg
