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It is hard to believe, but the day is finally here, The Showdown group build has begun!

 

I am going to build the Monogram 1/48 RF-101B and the KittyHawk F-101B . The KittyHawk kit has the option to build as an RF-101B, so I will build it as such.

 

Let us kick off the build with a look at the kits. I will start with the Monogram kit. 

 

The RF-101B kit was issued once in 1986. The kit is based on the F-101B kit first released in 1984. the RF-101B kit has a different nose to depict the camera nose of the RF-101B

 

The kit box is very much a product of 1980s graphic design trends with the grey grille pattern under a painting of the airplane

 

20191001_021100sm-vi.jpg

 

Since this kit is a 33 year survivor, still sealed in side, I figured it was appropriate to memorialize the kit still sealed in the bag, in 30 year old air

 

20191001_021152sm-vi.jpg

 

Ok, all silliness aside, let us look at the kit sprue by sprue. first up is the Fuselage halves: 

 

20191001_021220sm-vi.jpg

 

The fuselage is presented in left and right halves, with a seperate section for the nose. Panel line detail is raised.

 

the next sprue has the RF-101B specific parts, the nose, the weapons bay door, instrument panel, dashboard, and strakes for the fuselage

 

20191001_021313sm-vi.jpg

 

Here is a close up view of the instrument panel,  nice crisp detail, typical of Monogram of this era

 

20191001_021329sm-vi.jpg

 

The next sprue has the lower wing bottom half, and many detail parts

 

20191001_021440sm-vi.jpg

 

next we have the upper wing halves and more detail parts, including the cockput

 

20191001_021518sm-vi.jpg

 

The burner can tubes and loose parts

 

20191001_021646sm-vi.jpg

 

The clear parts

 

20191001_021732sm-vi.jpg

 

and finally instructions and decals.

 

20191001_021801sm-vi.jpg

 

The decals appear to be the monogram superthick variety. The only thing I do not like here is the mustard yellow formation lights. I will need to figure out a way to replace them.

 

Overall, a fine example of Monogram in the 80s, when Monogram was at its peak. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And in the other corner, the KittyHawk F-101B. This kit was released in 2018, and is based on the F-101A/C released in 2014.

 

20191001_022026sm-vi.jpg

 

First up is the sprue with the wings.  Noteworthy here is that the control surfaces are all separate

 

20191001_022201sm-vi.jpg

 

Next we have a sprue of detail parts and most of the nose

 

20191001_022340sm-vi.jpg

 

Next is the rear fuselage and detail parts

 

20191001_022439sm-vi.jpg

 

the next sprue has the forward fuselage, burner cans, wheels, and cockpit and other parts

 

20191001_022537sm-vi.jpg

 

Detail parts, intakes, fuel tanks and weapons

 

20191001_022700sm-vi.jpg

 

Clear parts were bagged separately and are scratch free and very clear

 

20191001_022756sm-vi.jpg

 

Which brings us to the decals. 

 

I can see right off that the ANG logos appear to be a lighter blue than expected. I can not be sure, but the font on the Canadian markings looks strange. On the plus side, there are decals for the cockpit decals

 

20191001_022916sm-vi.jpg

 

 

And finally, the photo etch. It provides details for the afterburners, cockpit side panels, and instrument panel

 

20191001_023031sm-vi.jpg

 

My first impressions are the surface detail is very nice and up to contemporary standards. It is also apparent to me the kit was designed to accommodate different variants. I am just concerned about the 6 piece fuselage, and keeping the separate control surfaces straight during assembly. 

 

 

 

 

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I found Monogram RF-101B kit after a lot of effort. 

 

The reason I went to look for it is because KH kit has some fundamental mistakes that to me at least are hard to fix. Like its cockpit, the filler plate underneath that replaces the weapons bay for RF-101B is missing. 

 

I had Monogram F-101B in Revell boxing and comparing the KH with Monogram, I felt keeping aside the raised panel lines, the Monogram kit is much better. The raised lines can be rescribed and you wont need to rescribe each and every line.  For Monogram kit, the cockpit out of the box is so much nicer you will not need an aftermarket. There are some improvements needed of course but wont be so hard in the realm of modern day kit building. 

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I spent about four hours at the bench. I made some progress but it just takes time.

 

First I installed the fuel dump vents from the inside of the fuselage halves, and then I decided I want closed speedbrakes, so I glued the speed brakes shut. It took a bit of filing, scraping, et cetera to get a satisfactory fit

 

20191004_234611sm-vi.jpg

 

I did the same thing with the KittyHawk Kit. It took more work, , I had to remove some detail in the speed brake bay

 

20191005_025630sm-vi.jpg

 

I assembled the horns? that go on the engine fan face. These are molded in halves. I had to sand the seam

 

20191005_025735sm-vi.jpg

 

What took the most time was gluing the PE to the cockpit 

 

20191005_025608sm-vi.jpg

 

I hoped to start painting parts but I am trying to prep as many parts for paint as possible. Many parts on both kits can not be painted on the sprue since a large sprue attachment point is in a prominent spot, or seam lines have to be cleaned first.

 

I will get back to work on this one tomorrow.

Edited by Kurt H.
typographical error
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  • 2 weeks later...

I got a little overwhelmed trying to sort and get parts ready to paint for both Voodoos, so I decided to focus on the monogram kit for a while, then catch up with the KittyHawk kit.

 

I am slogging through painting parts. I decided to try to get some tonal variation in the wheel bays and doors. Started with a black base and airbrushed highlights, and blended it in with a blend coat

 

This is AK interactive german medium green, it just looked the best to my eye based on the other colors I had.

 

20191013_000909sm-vi.jpg

 

You can also see my doodling practicing to get tiny lines

 

I used MRP interior gray to paint the cockpit parts. With my Sotar 2020 I was able to paint the gray part of the stick with no masking

 

20191013_000859sm-vi.jpg

 

Here are the intake parts:

 

20191013_031146sm-vi.jpg

 

Next I painted the red parts, also with a similar process of black base and highlights. Here are the parts after a coat of aqua gloss. I applied the gloss to facilitate applying a wash

 

20191013_044828sm-vi.jpg

 

Since this part of the lower fuselage will have the gear door in the way, I pre-painted this area with the correct light gray

 

20191013_044831sm-vi.jpg

 

I also painted the landing gear door which is the other side  of the green and red part above

 

I also painted the instrument panels. I had to do this with a brush, I used model air nato black. It is acceptable.

 

20191013_044816sm-vi.jpg

 

And the last thing I did was to assemble the intakes. I think I can touch up the inside seam with perfect plastic putty

 

20191013_044902sm-vi.jpg

 

I made a mess on my work bench, so I will need to clean up before more work.

 

Thanks for looking

 

 

 

 

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I did more work on the voodoo, but forgot to take pictures of everything.

 

But I did get pictures of the cockpit work....

 

I can not brush paint the side panels with an acceptable level of quality. so .... in order to airbrush it, I had to spend a lot of time to mask around the area to paint

 

20191016_024654sm-vi.jpg

 

followed by fleeting moments of painting

 

20191016_031102sm-vi.jpg

 

but It was all worth it

 

20191016_031602sm-vi.jpg

 

much better than what I could do freehand with a paint brush.

 

See ya next time

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was finally able to devote a little time to the monogram Voodoo. I was in the home stretch on two other kits I wanted to finish

 

I started by highlighting the switches in the cockpit with a white colored pencil. It looks OK, easier than trying to paint it but I am not sure it I would do this on a contest model.

 

20191031_024157sm-vi.jpg

 

a few days ago I assembled the pieces in the lower wing

 

20191031_021057sm-vi.jpg

 

 

20191031_021044sm-vi.jpg

 

tonight, I continued assembly of the wing by gluing the upper wing halves to the lower wing

 

20191031_024205sm-vi.jpg

 

 

I wrapped up tonight by joining the fuselage halves. I  am taking a slow approach to this. I started with the aft fuselage, since there was a lot of surface area I used the regular thick Tamiya liquid cement. It is applied on the two pieces to be joined, and the parts are joined.

 

20191031_024957sm-vi.jpg

 

I will let this set, then move on to the rest of the fuselage with a capillary action cement. I am going in stages to try to avoid "stair stepping" the fuselage. 

 

Talk to you later

 

 

 

 

Edited by Kurt H.
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GOOD PROGRESS, Your right about those kit decals. the font of the numbers RCAF and the full ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE do not look right. Also the union jack in the old red ensign looks like it has black crosses instead of red.

 

See if you can find a copy from Belcher bits or Canuck for that scheme. Or Leading Edge for a later scheme.

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I continued to make progress with the voodoo.

 

I decided to build this one flaps up, so I had to  use files and my dremel to make the flaps fit in the up position

 

20191101_234801sm-vi.jpg

 

The Fuselage seam did not require too much work, I am on the second round of putty, sand, prime  

 

20191108_031842sm-vi.jpg

 

This part is frustrating, monogram molded several details in place and it is difficult to work the seam in between these details:

 

20191108_031850sm-vi.jpg

 

The seam is very solid, I used the Paul Budzik inspired CA/nail acrylic powder mix to reinforce the seam from the inside. 

 

20191108_031915sm-vi.jpg

 

I remember this seam being a weak spot the last time I build one of these 20 years ago.

 

I have more fiddling to do with the flaps, but I think I can get to a stopping point soon and let the Kitty Hawk kit catch up.

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Another week has gone by, and I have spent a lot of time obsessive compulsively working the seams

 

I had this area, the keel looking good, but i noticed some areas which needed re-work

 

20191117_013040sm-vi.jpg

 

Then I dropped the model later and broke one of the antennae near the canopy. I was irritated, and in my younger days I might have gone into bench rage, but I decided to check my references and the good news was only the navigation light was on the RF-101B I found a picture of, so with glee I removed the other blog and sanded the seam

 

20191117_013030sm-vi.jpg

 

I have also made it harder on my self trying to replace lost panel lines, only to have them slightly crooked, requiring filling, and sanding.

 

See ya next time!

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Last week I did not do much work on this model, I was studying pretty hard for a certification exam. The hard work paid off and I passed the Exam. So It has taken a few days to get back my mind back into modeling.  I have performed even more putty sand repeat

 

Previously, I bulked up the top of the flaps with CA and nail acrylic powder. I needed to fill in some low spots, so I used Acryl blue putty:

 

20191127_023518sm-vi.jpg

 

The bottom of the wing had a smaller gap, so I used a finer putty, bondo glazing and spot putty:

 

20191127_023527sm-vi.jpg

 

spot primer of the top of the fuselage, showed some fine gaps I was able to touch up with thin CA and sand

 

20191127_023535sm-vi.jpg

 

And a quick spot prime application reveals the fuselage is done, but the wings need some more work. I expected it to need a little more, but primer makes it easier to see.

 

20191127_032042sm-vi.jpg

 

 

Any way I will continue tomorrow. see ya next time!

 

Edited by Kurt H.
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  • 1 month later...

I have started priming parts on the KittyHawk kit.  I lost motivation when I realized I had to do all the things I was already finished with on the Monogram kit all over with the kitty hawk kit. Then, I saw just how many parts were on the kittyhawk sprues and it felt overwhelming.

 

But I must carry on. 

 

For this kit, I  decided to try Badger Stynlrez... It is an acrylic primer which is well regarded. I have tried it on test hulks, but not in production

 

20200107_015815sm-vi.jpg

 

I read on facebook and forums that you just hose this stuff on. While it was wet it looked like it was pulling away from the edges, like a bad gloss enamel spray can. but as it dries it settles down

 

20200107_015819sm-vi.jpg

 

some of these parts might require another light coat. 

 

I am still here and building I have some real life stuff to deal with, but be assured I am watching this GB carefully. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I broke through the motivational problem and got back on track with the kitty hawk kit. I painted the intakes, gear bays, doors, and the exhaust parts with the same techniques as the monogram kit

 

The intakes were painted with Mr Surfacer 1500 white, and the turbine faces with AK extreme Metal aluminum

 

20200118_232936sm-vi.jpg

 

Then all the doors, flaps, bay parts, etc

 

20200118_232953sm-vi.jpg

 

One thing I noticed on a lot of parts, is ejector pin columns, as demonstrated here, I find this somewhat disapointing

 

20200119_011055sm-vi.jpg

 

But I carried on and assembled the intakes, exhaust parts, and glued them in the fuselage

 

20200119_013730sm-vi.jpg

 

These parts were clear coated with Aqua Gloss  in preparation for a wash

 

20200120_034723sm-vi.jpg

 

I started with the decals for the cockpit. The decals are somewhat thick and did not seem to settle at first, but after Solvaset, and sitting overnight they snuggled into place

 

20200120_034750sm-vi.jpg

 

It is easier to keep going once a little progress is made, so stay tuned...

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I have been dreading working on the monogram voodoo, I made things hard on myself by positioning the flaps in the retracted position. On one side, the flap sits much lower than the lower wing surface

 

20200219_023541sm-vi.jpg

 

so I resorted to the rather barbaric use of 220 grit sand paper to sand the wing surface as much as I could, then I applied a generous amount of Acryl Blue putty

 

20200219_025514sm-vi.jpg

 

as soon as I applied the putty I realized CA and nail acrylic powder might have been a better choice. 🤦‍♂️

 

So the putty will take a day to cure and require a few rounds of putty sand repeat

 

I moved on to the KittyHawk kit and used Perfect plastic putty to address the gap in the halves of the intakes

 

20200219_031718sm-vi.jpg

 

It looks a little better, I will spray some Mr. White Surfacer and it should look ok. 

 

And finally I glued the instrument panels and sticks in the cockpit of the monogram kit. I prefer to add the seats at final assembly as they always seem to fall out, and it gives me an excuse to procrastinate on the seats, I do not like painting and detailing seats.

 

20200219_031616sm-vi.jpg

 

Once I get the wing sorted, I can pick up momentum on the monogram voodoo.

 

Till next time...

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I finally got back around to the monogram Voodoo. I am way over committed to Group builds, this one, one on a car forum, and now like 3 on youtube... 

 

Any way, I worked a lot on this wing. I used a ton of CA&Nail acrylic powder. It leveled the area but required a lot of work to sand. It still required a skim coat of 3m red putty

 

20200303_041114sm-vi.jpg

 

and after primer, I have an acceptable result

 

20200304_042442sm-vi.jpg

 

and in comparison to the other side, I need to work on re-scribing the line near the trailing edge of the wing

 

20200304_042445sm-vi.jpg

 

and the top looks acceptable now too

 

20200304_042453sm-vi.jpg

 

So, with this issue settled I can get on to getting ready for major assembly. I glued the intake fences in place

 

20200305_043054sm-vi.jpg

 

as well as the cockpit

 

20200305_043059sm-vi.jpg

 

I assembled the tanks

 

20200305_045813sm-vi.jpg

 

the nosewheel bay

 

20200305_045819sm-vi.jpg

 

and the nose

 

20200305_045824sm-vi.jpg

 

I removed the pitot in anticipation of the brass replacement.

 

See ya next time. 

Edited by Kurt H.
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5 hours ago, phantom said:

Ahhh, but this was a good group build idea!

 

Would like to have done some Tomcats, but commissions take my priority.

I agree, it is just on me for doing so many. 🤦‍♂️

 

It is ok, I will get this done, and hopefully mustangs too.

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It's worth noting that Voodoo's only carried single drop tanks on operational sorties, the second tank was only used when ferrying.

The reason is a little odd, at the speeds used on operational sorties, the extra tank didn't add any range, because it added as much fuel burn from drag as it did fuel. Ferry operations involved cruising at lower speed and the drag is speed-related, so the tank added a lot of range when ferrying. I've heard the related F3H Demon had the same issue.

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