WildBill50 Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Since I stated on the "model I wish for" thread that I wished for an F-101 VooDoo in other guises besides the F-101B from Monogram, here is the beginning of the RF-101C. This is the Koster vacuform conversion the is mated on the Monogram kit. So far nothing too difficult in this conversion. If one follows the Koster directions, the new nose fits very well. I can't believe how big this aircraft is. It is longer than the two seater that I started with. I would love to do this in "natural metal", but I'm chicken. So Viet Nam camo it is. I need to make a camera bay with a few widgits to show the cameras through the "recce windows". After that, this should go together relatively quick (yeah, right). So here we go: The new nose and keel has been attached here. More to follow soon, I hope Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Off to a good start! I did the F-101A single seat fighter, and was happy with how the Koster stuff went together! I still need to build the single seat RF-101C. I'll be watching this one with great interest! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmorrissette Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Can't wait to see this! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 (edited) Here we go with a little update. The cockpit is almost done being painted, seat belts and a wash and it should be done. The intakes are together but need to be finished sanding. The NACA intakes are on in place of the airscoops from the kit on the lower fuselage. The new wheels are together, these are narrower than the kit parts as there are no wing bulges on the single-seaters. The exhausts are partially painted and now need to be painted on the outside. The wing seams are filled and sanded. That's it for now. Bill Edited June 25, 2012 by WildBill50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Coming along nicely! Looks like you got as much from the kit cockpit as possible! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Hello all, Another update...I have the wings sanded and the intakes finished up, they just need to be repainted. I put together a pretty nice looking camera bay for what will be seen. I used some plactic tubing for the focal lenses with a MV lens for the aperture. I placed these on a 1/32nd scale F-104 radar package from a Hasegawa kit that was glued together side by side. I looks like a couple of different cameras stacked next to each other when painted up. It fit into the nose section of the Voodoo perfectly with the lenses being able to be seen through the bay windows. I added a bulkhead just ahead of the nosewheel bay and closed up the fuselage. Adding all of the "glass" for the camera bays was easierr than I thought it would be. I had to trim here and there to get a decent fit and then used some super glue and putty to finish up the seam work. So far so good. I also cleaned up the rear keel and have to detail it a little better. The cockpit was added and it fit really well also. The wing/lower fuselage will be added as soon as the seamwork gets completed on the upper fuselage. So far the only damage was a spilt bottle of paint (of course it was full). Thanks for looking. Bill Here are my "in action" photos: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Nice progress! Your pics show one of the things that Monogram did that I never understood.....engineering the nose gear and doors so that they hang out in the way for most of the assembly! I usually cut those things off and pin them to allow regluing at a later time. But then I'm a fumble fingering modeler! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 Never thought about cutting them off. After having to trap the nose gear inside the well, that is even more of a problem of keeping it safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted July 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Well, the wings are attached, the fuselage is sanded and sealed up and the keel has been rescribed. It looks pretty good so far. I was masking off all of the camera windows and started noticing some things about the intakes. On the kit, the intakes have a slight angle to them that slants back a few degrees. On the three view drawing that I have, the intake is 90 degrees to the centerline. What to do, what to do? Leave them alone and start painting, that what. I wish! It was bothering me a lot. The splitter plate has a rake to that also. Here is what I am doing: First I ran a line down the splitter plate from the top to the bottom of the intake. I then cut the splitter off on that line and added a piece of plastic to bring the splitter plate more vertical as on the early Voodoos compared to the "B" model. After that was corrected I added a thin piece of plastic stock and wrapped it over the intake and glued it down to get that 90 degree offset of the leading edge. Now all I have to do is add some putty to beef uf the interior of the intake. I can sand down the exterior to make it look like a panel line. Pictures to follow soon. I could of been well on my way to having this thing painted without doing this extra work. Oh well, it looks better now. Now I won't have to hear the "experts" tell me what is wrong with this aspect of the kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted August 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Here are the pictures of the intake adjustments I've made. I added a wedge to the splitter plate to bring it to a more vertical position. I used Aves Epoxy sculpt to fill in the areas inside the intakes that were enlarged. It came out really well. I used a wet finger to smooth out the epoxy and finished up with some fine sandpaper. I painted the intakes white and you can't see the seams. Now all I have is the canopy to put on and then the camo can go on. Question for anyone...The new canopy is vac-form. Should this just be "FUTURE'd" or should/can it be polished out. There are some swirls in it but it is really clear. I don't want ot wreck it by sanding it and then having it still with the swirls in it. as it looks like they go all the way through the plastic. It can still be used as is if you don't really look too close. Here are some pictures of the intakes. Thanks for looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 I would NOT sand the vac canopy. It's too thin, and I don't think the ABS or styrene used will polish out like injection clear parts. Future is completely safe. Use 2-3 dips if one coat doesn't get the job done. Just let it dry for a day after each dipping. Progress is looking good! I'm about to try out some Apoxy sculpt on my Orion soon! Thanks for the wet finger tip (pun intended)! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 Well after seeing Mr Hodge's P-3 Orion, I had to get back to this build and get it done. I got a coat of paint on it and now to retouch it up. Pictures to follow soon. I added sprue panel lines to fix where they were sanded away. So far so good. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 If it's one thing vac's have taught me, it's persistence! THAT is the key to building them, and not any "superior skills". I'm looking forward to seeing your 101der done! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 May I suggest KY ANG markings. In 68 they were deployed to Japan in response to the Pueblo incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 We shall see on what awaits the bashing of decals. I had some pictures to post yesterday but the Gods were angry and would not let me. I'll try again soon. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted December 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Well here we go again. Some pictures of this build. Camo is on but needs to be touched up. Keel paited and drybrushed...Just need a layer of smoke added. Panel lines redone with sprue. I am farther along on this than these pictures but I have not taken any new pictures yet. The build goes on. Bill Thanks to my daughter for helping get the pictures posted from Photobucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 That is looking sharp! Camo looks good from here, and it's amazing how well the keel came out. You got it blended perectly! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Montgomery Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Looking very good! The recon version of the Voodoo played a rather insignificant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis (read "Blue Moon over Cuba") in part to an instability issue that plagued the Voodoo throughout its lifespan. Seems that in a steep climb the wings blocked airflow to the stabs mounted up on the vertical tail. I've always been fond of the Voodoo (just finished building the classic Revell 101 on the "swivel base"!) and remember seeing my first Voodoo at an airshow at Malmstrom AFB as they were replacing the F-89. The two aircraft did a fly-by, the F-89 creeping along at a very slow airspeed while the Voodoo came screaming along beside the Scorpion and then tilting at a high attack angle and rocketing upward. I'm sure the -89 pilot has always hated being left in the dust like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted December 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2012 Setback! I was getting the camo redone and retouched up when I noticed that the front of the fin started splitting along the seam. I opened it up a bit to slide in a little Tenax when the top of the fuselage split about half way to the canopy. All repaired now but now I have to repaint the resanded and repaired area. I think Iknow why we start other projects and let others languish after this. Too close to the finish now though. Decals, wheels and drop tanks are all that's left. The final push is on....I hope! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Keep going Will! I've been following this with interest and love what I see. Can't wait to see more. You're seeing light at the end of the tunnel Will, and it ain't a train! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted January 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Repainted the fuselage. Today the clear coat goes on and hopefully decals. Just the gear and drop tanks to go. Mark, that light better not be a train now! Pictures real soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted January 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Here are some new images. Camo done. I added a tail light be cutting off the grey plastic and using a piece of clear sprue. I sanded the piece and polished it and then drilled two small holes for bulbs. I then added a drop of clear orange and a drop of white into the holes. It came out really nice, if I do say so. Decals are up next. David, while checking up on the KY squadron markings, I found out that they were flying RF-101G's. Wrong bird, sorry to say. The last picture is what happens while waiting for things to dry. I started the CA B-57 and got to the point of it needing paint at the same time. Pictures of that will be on a different post. ALMOST DONE, ALMOST DONE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Sign of great skills: the vac 101 looks every bit as nice as the Canberra! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted January 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thank you for the complement, sir. I can't wait to get both of these done. Too long in between getting them completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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