Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: The Big Gimper on August 05, 2015, 02:38:12 AM

Title: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on August 05, 2015, 02:38:12 AM
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!

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/f95fec22-133e-44fa-ae5f-44948433b9e8.jpg)

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/0f56b774-14df-4db5-819a-cd932e72df14.jpg)

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/ffdccd43-cc6b-45c5-9b46-1fbabd12bc51.jpg)

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/c5b2b6c5-225b-4fb4-9737-4b9d2361067b.jpg)

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/5ef4b2d1-23c4-408a-8376-6734910e4ab8.jpg)

(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/Modelling%202015/4f1e6a45-6156-4a71-a3ec-d17883781348.jpg)

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.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: LemonJello on August 05, 2015, 03:11:14 AM
Well, I'd say have a little more of that "liquid courage" for celebratory purposes, because this is simply gorgeous!

That is a beautiful paint job, especially for a spray bomb.  I like the lightning stripe Canadian scheme, too.  Now I'm going to have to find an airframe to try that on...
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: GTX_Admin on August 05, 2015, 03:49:02 AM
That is outstanding! :) :)

Is it just me or does the chiseled nose give this a retro Viper look?
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on August 05, 2015, 04:27:02 AM
Well, I'd say have a little more of that "liquid courage" for celebratory purposes, because this is simply gorgeous!

That is a beautiful paint job, especially for a spray bomb.  I like the lightning stripe Canadian scheme, too.  Now I'm going to have to find an airframe to try that on...


Thank you. If you are looking for the Lightning Stripes, Canuck Models (http://www.canuckmodels.com/) has quite a few sheets.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on August 05, 2015, 04:54:22 AM
Carl, you have really outdone yourself with this one.  Setting new standards for yourself and the rest of us in the process.  You may very well have forced my hand to take up needlework and abandon this hobby. 

:)
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: GTX_Admin on August 05, 2015, 05:00:05 AM
You may very well have forced my hand to take up needlework and abandon this hobby. 


Christ!  If Jeff gives up the hobby and sells off his entire stash it may well crash the market and send many a modelling company to the wall... :o
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on August 05, 2015, 06:29:04 AM
You may very well have forced my hand to take up needlework and abandon this hobby. 


Christ!  If Jeff gives up the hobby and sells off his entire stash it may well crash the market and send many a modelling company to the wall... :o

Jeff: I'm with Greg. Please don't bail on us. We need you to keep your stash in order to maintain the Styrene Standard. You leaving the hobby, or Greg, Bill, or Robert will be catastrophic to the value of the global stash index (GSI). Model prices will plunge. Millions will be out of work. My kids are counting on my stash to get through college.

Look, I'll go back to Snap-tite kits if that would help at all.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: finsrin on August 05, 2015, 11:27:35 AM
You may very well have forced my hand to take up needlework and abandon this hobby. 


Christ!  If Jeff gives up the hobby and sells off his entire stash it may well crash the market and send many a modelling company to the wall... :o

Jeff: I'm with Greg. Please don't bail on us. We need you to keep your stash in order to maintain the Styrene Standard. You leaving the hobby, or Greg, Bill, or Robert will be catastrophic to the value of the global stash index (GSI). Model prices will plunge. Millions will be out of work. My kids are counting on my stash to get through college.

Look, I'll go back to Snap-tite kits if that would help at all.

Carl with his acute economic insight makes a valid point.  Those holding large styrene reserves should act responsibly in the market place to avoid destabilizing swings in GSI.  Also keep in mind that both sellers and buyers will be noticed by SBA which will result in endless inconvenient sometimes obnoxious pestering to enter their therapy program.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Volkodav on August 05, 2015, 11:38:37 AM
Superb!
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: finsrin on August 05, 2015, 11:48:07 AM
Excellent model of RF-102A :)
Looks so good in that scheme and your quality finish.  Is notable that build includes the four range extending drop tanks exclusive to the RF-102A.
Living in Washington state we are near enough to Canada that RCAF RF-102A rumors were heard (back in the day) at NAS Sand Point and NAS Whidbey Island. 
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: apophenia on August 05, 2015, 12:23:30 PM
Ooo ... that is nice!  :)
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Alvis 3.1 on August 06, 2015, 12:45:45 PM
Gorgeous!
Astounding!
Amazing!
I like it!

Alvis 3.1
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: elmayerle on August 07, 2015, 12:01:45 AM
Beautiful!!  Is the internal weapons bay converted to another fuel tank or is additional recce gear mounted there?  I could see camera windows there or a smooth antenna bulge for ELINT gear.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on August 07, 2015, 12:07:58 AM
Beautiful!!  Is the internal weapons bay converted to another fuel tank or is additional recce gear mounted there?  I could see camera windows there or a smooth antenna bulge for ELINT gear.

Thanks Evan. There is additional fuel capacity in the vacated space. I had not thought of ELINT gear but I will hunt around and see what would look good.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Brian da Basher on August 08, 2015, 08:35:21 PM
Yowsa what a stunner, Mr Gimper!

Looks a real gem in NMF and maple leaf markings! The modified nose is the cherry on top!

Well done, sir!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: ANovaScotian on November 11, 2015, 11:00:12 AM
I'd be interested to see this in a post-unification symmetrical scheme...
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: CiTrus90 on November 13, 2015, 06:50:48 PM
Shiny and beautiful!!
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Kerick on November 14, 2015, 10:49:58 AM
Outstanding!
I have a RF-101 nose laying around from my F-101E build. Now have more ideas as to what to whiff!
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: upnorth on November 15, 2015, 05:59:11 PM
Very nice!

I wouldn't have thought to do a camera nose myself. It gives it a very cool look.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Weaver on November 15, 2015, 11:37:47 PM
Lovely job - the camera nose looks right at home on it.  :)
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: finsrin on November 15, 2015, 11:44:04 PM
Very nice!

I wouldn't have thought to do a camera nose myself. It gives it a very cool look.

Lovely job - the camera nose looks right at home on it.  :)

I agree.
That concept/thought moment to use camera nose is an instance of styrene imagineering brilliance. :icon_surprised:
Now RCAF RF-102A is part of BTS aviation history.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on November 16, 2015, 02:38:39 AM
Thanks for the compliments. I do want to thank the Convair and McDonnell engineers for building aircraft which share the nose cross sections. Made my life easier.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: pigflyer on July 05, 2016, 12:46:00 AM
Terrific, so how long before we see the RF106 version then, 17 months say?
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: The Big Gimper on July 05, 2016, 02:05:00 AM
Thanks PF!

A thorough manufacturing review was held it was determined that the head of the RF-102A project (me) was negligent in numerous areas was subsequently fired.

However since no replacement was found, he was rehired, given a strong verbal down dressing and told that the RF-106 must be completed in 12 months.
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 08, 2016, 05:01:58 AM
I'm laughing on the outside, but crying on the inside because I've seen that Potemkin drama played out darn near every place I've ever worked...

Best of luck on the 2nd go round! It sounds like they found the right man for the job!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 09, 2016, 05:24:37 AM
A thorough manufacturing review was held it was determined that the head of the RF-102A project (me) was negligent in numerous areas was subsequently fired.

However since no replacement was found, he was rehired, given a strong verbal down dressing and told that the RF-106 must be completed in 12 months.

And good on the management!  Such slackness cannot be tolerated! >:(
Title: Re: 1/72 RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger
Post by: DFZ on July 20, 2016, 08:20:19 AM
Excellent work on that 102! :icon_alabanza: