A new personal record has been set. My first reference to this built was in January 2013. It only took me 19 months to complete it.
What we have here is the unknown RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger. As part of Operation Queens Row, the transfer of first 66 F-101B/Fs to the RCAF in 1961, several "surplus" F-102As were modified to be the RF-102s dedicated recce platform. They were offered to keep the Voodoo deal alive and remain a USAF A/C vs the RCAF going to Europe for the aircraft.
Six were modified and secretly included with the F-101 purchase. No photographs exist of the RF-102As. All that is known about existence is their serial numbers: 17501 to 17506. As well a very large collection of pictures of the asses of Deer, Moose and Elk running at very high speeds in the Canadian boreal forests and across the Tundra.
This is my interpretation of what 17501 may have looked as flown by 410 Cougar Squadron (red and white rudder stripe) in 1961. 410 was the designated Voodoo training squadron.
The reason it took me 19 month is I was scared s**tless of ruining the kit. This is my first RCAF lightning strip build, I have never done the decal on decal roundel, build the serial number by individual numbers, create the canopy frame markup etc. Way too many new techniques. I want my Mommy!
Items I'd like to change:
1. Maintenance areas are too big.
2. Squadron rudder stripe is too big.
The bill of materials is:
1. Two of the really old Hasegaewa F-102As
2. Nose from the really old Hasegaewa RF-101A
3. Lone Star Models F-102 one piece closed resin weapons bay door
4. Belcher Bits CF-101 decal sheet
5. Fantasy Printshop Black, Red and Yellow decals stripes
6. Liquid courage @ 5.5% by volume
Primary paint is Tamiya spray bomb TS-30.