Modeling the F-101 Voodoo

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The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a Cold War supersonic escort fighter, interceptor, and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. This article is about scale models of the F-101. For the main article, see F-101 Voodoo (or CF-101 Voodoo, for the history of the type in Canada).

1/144

• ARII F-101A
  • A very old basic kit.

1/72

• Hasegawa/Minicraft RF-101C
  • This is an older Hasegawa kit with raised panel lines that builds into a fine replica of the single-seat Voodoo. Minicraft boxing contained decals for a bare-metal 56-0084 with polka-dot tail from 45th TRS. The newer Hasegawa boxing contains decals for 3 aircraft: 56-0176 "Kathy's Clown" from 45th TRS, 460th TRW, USAF in SEA camouflage; 56-0110 from 66th TRW, USAFE in aluminum; and 56-0066 from 45th TRS, USAF in aluminum with polkadot nose band and tail, similar to the Minicraft boxing.
• Revell F-101B
  • This is a scaled-down version of the 1/48 Monogram F-101B resplendent with detail and now featuring recessed panel lines.
• Matchbox F-101F\RF-101B\CF-101B
  • This kits is very old, maybe made in 1970s. The kit was brought into the German market in the early 1980s. I build it those days!
  • Decals 1:F-101F, 178 FIS, North Dakota ANG 1973
  • Decals 2:RF-101B, 192 TRS, Nevada ANG 1972
  • Decals 3:CF-101B, 409 Sqn, CAF

1/48

• Monogram F-101B
  • A fine kit in spite of its age. Finely raised panel lines, superb cockpit and landing gear detail, options for open airbrakes and flaps. The kit does have a few problems:
    • AIM-4 Falcon missiles supplied are incorrect for the F-101B. The kit provides AIM-4F Super Falcons which were only used on the F-106. These are very different from the earlier (up to AIM-4D) Falcons carried by the F-101B. Appropriate missiles can be obtained from Monogram's own F-102.
    • The model appears to be based on a museum aircraft. Retraction locks are molded onto airbrake actuators and main landing gear retraction struts, and the instructions even recommend you paint them red. The retraction locks are simple to sand off.
    • The engine faces are very simplied. Real F-101B had a very complex curved cone in the intakes. This is not glaringly obvious on the finished model but purists can install intake covers.
    • The kit has also been boxed as a Canadian CF-101B. This requires removal of the overscale formation stips ("slime lights") and several antennae. The majority of CF-101B had a recessed NACA-style avionics and cockpit cooling scoop on the lower left nose rather than the raised scoop on the USAF aircraft. Recess for the scoop part on the model is easily modified to represent this.
    • F-101B had different-shaped exhaust ports above the wings — oval on the left and rectangular on the right. The kit has oval exhausts on both sides.
  • C&H Aero Miniatures makes a resin set to convert the Monogram kit to an RF-101A/C. The set includes a new nose, correct exhaust nozzles, rear fuselage, and intakes, and requires surgery on the kit. The resin parts also have recessed panel lines, in contrast to the raised lines on the kit.