Convair F-106 Delta Dart
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/7/8/2/929782-65866-95-720.jpg)
The kit and accessories
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/7/8/1/929781-65866-17-720.jpg)
The parts...rinsed
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/7/2/5/934725-65866-10-720.jpg)
Paint Scheme 1) Florida ANG
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/7/2/7/934727-65866-15-720.jpg)
Paint Scheme 2) New Jersey ANG
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/7/2/6/934726-65866-32-720.jpg)
Paint Scheme 3) Modified "QF-106" target drone ( formerly New Jersey ANG scheme)
The AeroMaster decal sheet includes additional nose art decals for the New Jersey scheme which apparently also remained on the QF-106 scheme as well. Unfortunately, despite this sheet indicating it is for both before and after... there are only enough decals to build one or the other.
The AeroMaster decal sheet includes additional nose art decals for the New Jersey scheme which apparently also remained on the QF-106 scheme as well. Unfortunately, despite this sheet indicating it is for both before and after... there are only enough decals to build one or the other.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/9/0/5/934905-65866-82-720.jpg)
The build has begun with cockpit and weapons bay components assembled as well as started on the engine assembly. I painted the insides of the engine (combustion chamber?) flat black then went over the raised details with a Tamiya weathering pastel ("Oil Stain" ) to bring out the hi-lights. Probably wont notice it once closed up, but always good to experiment, and I thought it turned out ok, and found it much easier and cleaner than dry-brushing.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/8/0/9/937809-65866-33-720.jpg)
Cockpit, weapons bay, main and nose wheel bays assembled and painted.
Weapons and wheel bays airbrushed with Mr Hobby H58 "Interior Green", with the raised details dry-brushed with Tamiya XF-4 "Yellow Green". Further weathering achieved with Tamiya Dark Brown panel line wash, and Tamiya Weathering Master (pastels) Set A using "Sand"
Weapons and wheel bays airbrushed with Mr Hobby H58 "Interior Green", with the raised details dry-brushed with Tamiya XF-4 "Yellow Green". Further weathering achieved with Tamiya Dark Brown panel line wash, and Tamiya Weathering Master (pastels) Set A using "Sand"
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/8/1/0/937810-65866-99-720.jpg)
Engine assembled, painted with Vallejo 77.713 "Jet Exhaust" and secured to the right side of the fuselage.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/2/4/4/938244-65866-41-720.jpg)
Fuselage closed up and wing installed. Vertical tail is only resting in position and hasn't been permanently secured yet. Slight gaps where the air intakes join the fuselage and wing, and another where the vertical tail mates with the upper spine on the fuselage. No gaps at the wing roots whatsoever!
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/2/4/5/938245-65866-46-720.jpg)
Fuselage closed up and wing installed. Have not done any clean up on the joins yet.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/5/4/941954-65866-16-720.jpg)
Nose cone, canopy and air-brake installed. External tanks and munitions assembled. Have also made a start on filling and cleaning up the gaps and joins.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/5/3/941953-65866-64-720.jpg)
Nose cone, canopy and air-brake installed. External tanks and munitions assembled. Have also made a start on filling and cleaning up the gaps and joins.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/4/4/9/947449-65866-40-720.jpg)
Clean-up of the joins is about 80% done now. Test fitting assembled main landing gear struts, external fuel tanks and ailerons etc.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/4/5/1/947451-65866-68-720.jpg)
Clean-up of the joins is about 80% done now. Test fitting assembled main landing gear struts, external fuel tanks and ailerons etc.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/4/5/0/947450-65866-86-720.jpg)
Clean-up of the joins is about 80% done now. Test fitting assembled main landing gear struts, external fuel tanks and ailerons etc.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/7/0/949070-65866-65-720.jpg)
Stynylrez acrylic white applied to the airframe and external fuel tanks.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/7/1/949071-65866-25-720.jpg)
Weapons, doors and assorted actuator arms painted. Still a little more detailing and dry-brushing to do on these yet.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/4/7/9/949479-65866-75-720.jpg)
Base coat of AK2146 "ADC Grey" FS16473 applied to the airframe, external tanks and outside faces of the wheel bay doors etc.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/7/6/8/949768-65866-59-720.jpg)
Paint work finished and ready for a clear gloss coat.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/7/6/6/949766-65866-15-720.jpg)
Paint work finished and ready for a clear gloss coat.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/7/6/7/949767-65866-62-720.jpg)
Paint work finished and ready for a clear gloss coat.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/0/2/9/951029-65866-72-720.jpg)
External tanks, missiles and airframe given a coat of Pledge floor polish, with the airframe itself given 3x very light coats for even coverage all over.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/0/3/0/951030-65866-89-720.jpg)
External tanks, missiles and airframe given a coat of Pledge floor polish, with the airframe itself given 3x very light coats for even coverage all over.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/0/3/1/951031-65866-22-720.jpg)
Will leave the airframe for at least another day or two for the clear coat to fully cure/harden.
In the meantime, will look at weathering the insides of the wheel bay doors, assembling the cradles for the Falcons, and applying the decals to the Falcon (and Genie) missiles themselves.
In the meantime, will look at weathering the insides of the wheel bay doors, assembling the cradles for the Falcons, and applying the decals to the Falcon (and Genie) missiles themselves.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/5/1/1/952511-65866-49-720.jpg)
Finished applying the decals. Just need to seal them ahead of the final assembly.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/5/1/0/952510-65866-88-720.jpg)
Finished applying the decals. Just need to seal them ahead of the final assembly.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/0/3/9/953039-65866-21-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/0/4/1/953041-65866-33-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/0/4/0/953040-65866-14-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/0/4/2/953042-65866-35-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/0/4/3/953043-65866-85-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/0/4/4/953044-65866-71-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/0/4/6/953046-65866-59-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/0/4/5/953045-65866-97-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/0/4/7/953047-65866-49-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/0/4/8/953048-65866-57-720.jpg)
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
Коментари
49 4 February 2021, 20:42
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Cheers & welcome guys... I still haven't made a start yet, but will do soon.
I hadn't anticipated this subject being so popular. Hope I don't cock it up 🤔
9 February 2021, 16:46
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Popular subject for sure - and a potential carrier for some cool tail-art too!😉
9 February 2021, 16:52
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It was a splendid flying machine, it's potential limited by those useless Falcons.
And yes cool tail arts.
9 February 2021, 17:26
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Oh man this is going to be a good one! Your build will be inspiring for sure.
10 February 2021, 01:49
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Welcome guys 😉👍
The kit includes decals for both Florida and New Jersey based aircraft, but my initial plan had been to use the aftermarket decals (pictured) to build the Orange (or is it red?) wingtip and tail version (QF-106) of how the New Jersey aircraft ended up. I'm now undecided on whether to build this kit in the Florida scheme, or do the New Jersey scheme both before and after the QF-106 conversion 🤔
Any thoughts suggestions?
Anyway, as painting is still a long way off, I intend to pull my finger out and make a start today but probably wont post any album updates until there's something to see... in a day or two. Until then, here's a short "primer" that's worth a look...
Youtube Video
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OqVTAlVH41M/maxresdefault.jpg)
10 February 2021, 19:40
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I'm going to vote for the Florida scheme since I live here in the lightning, err I mean sunshine state 😄
10 February 2021, 19:45
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As a kid I saw the picture of the Florida 106 with the lightning in a magazine (or a book..?) somewhere and I thought it must be the most badass plane - geometric "fast" shapes and such minimalistic, yet menacing heraldry 😄
10 February 2021, 20:00
![](/profiles/img/65866-287-s.jpg)
So that's 2 for the Florida scheme😉
The other option of course is just to build both the standard Florida and New Jersey schemes that Trumpeter include, and drop the QF-106 version altogether? (I don't intend to acquire a third kit)
I received the second kit for my birthday last year from my brother, but he wasn't aware that I already had it in the stash and even advised me to sell it and buy something else.
Edit: I just added some shots of the paint schemes to choose from. Note that the AeroMaster decal sheet includes additional nose art decals that the Trumpeter kit doesn't.
10 February 2021, 20:20
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The build has begun with cockpit and bomb-bay components assembled, as well as started on the engine assembly. I painted the insides of the engine combustion chamber? flat black, then went over the raised details with a Tamiya weathering pastel ("Oil Stain"😢 to bring out the hi-lights. Probably wont notice it once closed up, but always good to experiment, and I thought it turned out ok, and found it much easier and cleaner than dry-brushing.
The nose gear assembly is a little odd in that the nose gear strut attaches to the side walls of the wheel bay (sitting flush with the roof) rather than mounting directly to the roof of the wheel bay. So I'll need to paint the insides first (along with the strut) prior to assembling the nose wheel well itself.
Still a little more clean-up to do, but I hope to get the engine assembled and painted along with the wheel bays and cockpit interior tomorrow.
11 February 2021, 05:43
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I too cast my vote for the Florida scheme, should the voting booth still be open😉
The curved anti-glare paint on the nose and the blue tail art look quite nice.
12 February 2021, 16:38
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Yeah, I've pretty much settled on the Florida scheme with the weapons bay displayed open, and a QF-106 version (with bomb-bay closed) using the AeroMaster decals just as a point of difference when both are eventually built. As to which one this build will be, will depend a lot on how well the bomb-bay and doors go together... which from what I've read is a bit of pain in the backside with this kit.
12 February 2021, 17:40
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Not a lot of progress to show, but I have been slowly plodding away assembling and painting the interior components. The cockpit, engine, bomb and wheel bays have all been assembled, painted and weathered etc, and I have been adding them one at a time to the right side of the fuselage, then temporarily attaching the left side while the glue cures to ensure correct alignment. Just the main wheel bay and cockpit to go before I close up the fuselage permanently.
15 February 2021, 22:09
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Not a huge lot, but a nice lot for it, every addition looking great and I´m sure the whole will be more than just a sum of it´s pieces!😉 👍
16 February 2021, 13:20
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Thanks Nathan and Slavo. I tried to get better close-ups of the instrument panel and side consoles etc, but the camera just wouldn't focus properly unfortunately. Will see if I can get better shots before I install the canopy.
I've since closed up the fuselage and installed the wing as well now.
The fit overall has been pretty good, and the molding detail is superb... BUT, as with the Hobby Boss Corsair II that I built last year, the panel lines are very shallow and wont take much effort to accidentally erase during cleanup or while painting.
16 February 2021, 16:32
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A small update showing the fuselage closed up and wing installed. The tail is only resting in position at present, and I have not made a start yet on cleaning up any of the joins which for the most part are pretty good. There are several gaps where the intakes mate to the fuselage and wing on both sides as well as the vertical tail where it mates to the top of the fuselage spine, but these should be fairly straight forward to fill and clean up... "touch wood"😉
I was quite impressed with the clean joins at the wing roots.
Starting to look like the "Dart" now at least.
16 February 2021, 18:33
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I am impressed too, James, and not only by the clean joins at the wing roots, but more by the clean building
16 February 2021, 19:58
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take care of the nose lg mate, that's the only thing that you gotta knock on wood for the dryfit seems pretty solid, great job so far and so quick!
16 February 2021, 20:08
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I've been plodding away on the Dart build, making some (slow) progress.
The nose and canopy have now been installed along with the vertical tail; including the rudder and air-brakes. (I opted to install the air-brakes closed rather than opened/deployed)
The join on the nose wasn't the greatest and still needs a lot of clean up. The gaps on the air intakes have been filled, but I will need to apply a layer of Mr Surfacer over the top to try and blend them in a little better.
For a fairly recent kit (2014) I was expecting a little more from it to be honest.
The fit has been (mostly) pretty good, but I've found most of the parts to be riddled with molding seams and flashing as you would get from kits three times it's age, and the assembly instructions for some of the smaller parts like the main landing gear braces to be a little vague which has been disappointing.
22 February 2021, 20:34
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Your build is looking nice James. That weapons bay is going to be full!
22 February 2021, 21:08
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Are you going to do the New Jersey version of the QF-106 James. Expert Choice decals makes a nice set of decals for it. I actually worked on converting the F-106's to QF-106's from 1990 until 1994. We did 188 of them. I worked in the flight operations dept.
23 February 2021, 01:06
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Thanks Nathan, I'm not familiar with the early weapon types included in this kit, but Hobby boss provide 2 bombs, and six early looking air-to-air missiles across 2x identical sprues. The load-out will consist of 1x Bomb with four missiles. The missiles are odd in that you get 4x with a clear seeker head lens, and 2x without?
I decided to assemble all six to play it safe, but the intention is to use just the 4 with the clear seeker heads in the lowered and ready to fire position so they should hang just outside of the weapons bay.
EDIT...
I just looked them up on a review of the kit and apparently they are...
4 x AIM-4B/C (GAR-2/2A) IR Falcons
2 x AIM-4A (GAR-1D) SARH Falcons
2 x AIR-2 Genie's
23 February 2021, 16:48
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That's really interesting Clifford 👍
The plan for this build is to do a Florida ANG scheme with the weapons bay displayed open, and for the other kit to do the New Jersey ANG scheme... converted to the QF-106.
As with the ES-3A "Shadow" I built a while ago, I also saw (and took pictures of) this very same aircraft, also on display at the Davis Monthan Airforce Base a few years ago. I didn't even realize until after I acquired the replacement decals for it. Funny how things work out like that.
Eventually, I've got the F-100, F-102, F-104, F-105, another F-106 and F-111 to build and line up together.
23 February 2021, 16:53
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I think the bomb may actually be the AIR-2 Genie nuclear rocket 🙂 + the small missiles should be the SARH and IR versions of the AIM-4 Falcon (if they are the same size) or the non-clear seeker ones are larger and generally somewhat different they could be AIM-26 Super-Falcons (nuclear/guided)... As the Russians do +/- until today, same missile body/different seekerhead...
I guess a version with the Genie and 2 SARH/2 IR would be a well imaginable config, some sources say the Falcons should have been fired in pairs well like the Soviet doctrine to fire IR first, then follow with the radar-guided one to constitute increased hopes of actually hitting something...
23 February 2021, 17:32
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HAHA Yeah, I wasn't sure what they were off the top of my head 😳 (the aircraft is a bit before my time) until I looked up the kit review, as the instructions don't indicate what they are. But the plan is for 1x AIR-2 Genie and 4x AIM-4 IR Falcon's.... that is if I ever finish with the bloody joins and re-scribing lol!
23 February 2021, 17:41
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The only cool thing about the Falcon, was its red colour. And the fact that one lucky F-4D driver managed to shoot down a Vietnamese MiG-21 in Operation Rolling Thunder. Out of 54 Falcon launches, just 5 scored a hit (Wikipedia).
23 February 2021, 19:22
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Not an AIM-9X or R73/74 for sure, but for a missile conceived in the late 40´s - hey... & I´m sure the pilots in early Vietnam period were to a point trying to prove missiles don´t work just to get the guns installed back on their rides😉 it´s effectively & scientifically proven missiles & rockets work better fired from aircraft which DO have internal guns 😄
23 February 2021, 19:56
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Oh, oh, oh, those sneaky bastards, that's how we got the long nosed Phantoms! Great work!!! 😄
23 February 2021, 21:30
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If you you would of known of me when you saw that bird, if you would of looked on the nose wheel door you would of seen my name on it.
24 February 2021, 03:55
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Thanks guys 🙂
@ Clifford... That's awesome! Unfortunately, the coach trip we did to Davis Monthan AB didn't allow us to get off and walk around up close to the aircraft like at the near by PIMA museum unfortunately, but was still well worth it for the experience.
I made a little more headway on the clean-up yesterday, but not enough to warrant taking any more pics. Will update the album when there's more to see.
24 February 2021, 17:01
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Thanks Ben. I haven't touched it for a couple days now, as I got a bit side-tracked messing around with Elite Dangerous 😳
27 February 2021, 20:54
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A little more progress to show with the joins mostly dealt with now... still a little more clean up to do, but not far off giving the airframe a coat of primer.
It's been 2 steps forwards and 3 backwards at times with the clean up and re-scribing; with the re-scribing in particular not being one of my strong points. So to break up the tedium I assembled the main landing gear components and cleaned up all the remaining parts like weapons and wheel bay doors and assorted actuator arms etc.
I was relived to see that it doesn't sit on its arse like my prev build of the Canberra 😳
2 March 2021, 19:42
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Pic #15 is really nice, if someone disregards the intakes it pretty much looks like a B-58. Both of them thoroughbreds!
2 March 2021, 20:12
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Thanks Maciej, and yeah... being of a similar vintage when delta wings were all the rage. Hehe, I was thinking it looks a lot like a big over-scaled Dassault Mirage III😉
2 March 2021, 21:57
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Thanks Clifford. 🙂
I attached the replacement pitot tube on the nose today but still needs a little work to clean up the join. I'm hoping to be able to shoot a primer coat over the airframe tomorrow.
All the remaining attachments like weapons, actuator arms and wheel bay doors etc have already been primered, and some painted interior green where applicable.
Will update the album when the primer coat is done.
4 March 2021, 05:48
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Thanks Alex 🙂
I gave it a light coat of Stynylrez acrylic white primer yesterday.
I'm trying to take extra care to not flood the panel lines as I did on the Corsair II build, so will keep the coats as light as possible. Will rub it down shortly with a 3000 grit sanding sponge ahead of doing a little pre-shading.
5 March 2021, 20:36
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Base coat of "ADC Grey" applied using AK2146.
Will give it a gentle rub down all over once more, and then mask of the nose for the black. Fingers crossed that I don't snap off the pitot tube in the process. 🤔
6 March 2021, 17:35
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Very nice progress James, nice subtle marbling effect in the base coat...👍
6 March 2021, 17:42
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Thanks Jos & Clifford 🙂
I finished up the paintwork today. Will give it a couple coats of Pledge floor polish tomorrow, then leave it a for a couple days to cure before applying a panel line wash and decals etc.
7 March 2021, 01:12
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Cheers Nathan, Lode and Mirko 🙂
Tamiya "curvy" tape was invaluable for masking the subtle curve of the anti-glare, and nose cone, as well as the silver trim on the air intakes. I used Tamiya rubber black for the anti-glare section, and semi-gloss black on the nose cone itself. I had a bit of a "brain fart" opting to use the semi-gloss over standard flat black as the entire thing is going to be clear gloss coated anyway. 😳
I'm hoping that once finished, that the two different shades of black will stand out as apparently the paint on the anti-glare section faded much faster than that on the nose... presumably due to being made of different materials?
7 March 2021, 16:52
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Very very convincing result in my opinion 👍!
Looking forward to see your next steps!
7 March 2021, 18:00
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Thanks Konrad 🙂
I finally mounted the main landing gear struts and then gave the airframe 3x light coats of Pledge floor polish, with just a single coat to both the missiles and insides of the wheel bay doors. Will leave the airframe now for at least a day or two for the clear coat to properly harden.
While I wait, will look at assembling the fiddley cradles for the Falcon missiles and applying the decals to the missiles themselves.
I took a bit of a gamble by not pre-shading over the panel lines, as I didn't want to risk flooding them under multiple layers of paint due to them being so shallow. (Next time I will deepen them a little with a scriber prior to assembly) Hopefully the marbling I did outside of the panel lines will be sufficient enough to give it a little more depth and break up the otherwise mono-tone looking ADC Grey.
I was thinking that the Italeri "Flat Red" (4606AP) that I used on the Falcons would be a fairly good match for the hi-vis wing-tip and tail markings on the QF-106?
8 March 2021, 19:22
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I think that red would look great. And it fits quite well with the pictures, too.
On some it looks more orange but that could be because the color of the pictures was fading.
I am not sure if the aircraft were used for a long time after being converted to drones.
8 March 2021, 20:06
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Cool work on the weapons & peripherals! 👍 Can´t wait to see it all in full technicolor on that black sunlit table!😉
8 March 2021, 22:11
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@ Slavo - Thanks mate... neither can I lol!😉
@ WhiteGlint - Yeah, I took a picture of a QF-100 in storage at the Chino Planes of Fame Museum in Los Angeles and it definitely has a more orange hue to it than red. Perhaps a custom mix will be in order by adding a couple drops of orange to the Italeri flat red.
Maybe Clifford (having worked on them) can shed some more light on the life expectancy of the drones?
9 March 2021, 16:44
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The actual color on the wing tips and tails was Int. Orange, but it had a little more of a red tint to it. So adding a few drops of red to the orange should just about give you the right color. Most of the drones, the 106's at any rate usually lasted a couple of years. They had a scoring system on them so were not usually shot down all the time. As they got more worn out etc, then they would shoot them down, or if one was damaged during a mission and could not be recovered safely, they would blow it up remotely with the bomb they carried installed in the missile bay for that purpose. Not all of them were destroyed, some are in musuems,and I think there are a few in the bone yard again. They could also be flown by a pilot after they were converted to drones, which they were quite often. They are now converting F-16's to drones. Having gone through the F-4's. Hope this helps. But again the wing and tail colors were not red.
10 March 2021, 01:49
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Thanks Clifford! 🙂 👍
I thought they were converted to be shot down directly...
But yeah, using a scoring system and sensors to simulate the engagement saves some drones and money.
I guess this is what you meant?
10 March 2021, 11:57
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Thanks for your insight Clifford, that's really interesting to know as I too thought that the conversions were done for immediate destruction as well... which I thought was a bit extravagant. Also can you pm me your email address? I've got a couple pics to run by you (if you wouldn't mind) that I took of the "International Orange" on the F-100 Super Sabre; but I have no idea if it's authentic or just a re-paint by the museum staff.
I gave the F-106 a panel line wash yesterday and sealed it in, in readiness for the decals.
Quite pleased with how it turned out.
10 March 2021, 17:00
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I finished applying the decals this afternoon.
Will let them settle down properly overnight, then seal them in ahead of final assembly.
11 March 2021, 01:55
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Really coming alive James! Looks very striking in the Florida markings. I remember now that when I was kid I had a bed cover of a Florida F-106🙂. Good times
11 March 2021, 08:06
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Thanks guys 🙂
The decals were very thin and settled down perfectly with just a single application of Microsol over the top.
I had a near disaster with the large "U.S. Air force" stencil on one side when it grabbed slightly, and out of position which then caused a huge crease in it.
Thankfully, after lightly brushing on a ton of water, and with some careful manipulation, I was eventually able to reposition it, and remove the crease so that it would lie flat. Next time I will split these decals into 3 parts and place them individually to make them more manageable. Other than that, my only gripe with them is that the blue Florida tail band and pin stripes look a bit too pale/light?
Anyway, next up is to open up the weapons bay and install the missiles and then hinge the doors open... a fiddley bit of assembly that I'm not looking forward to...
11 March 2021, 15:51
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Ready to play a round 501 you got a Board james?
Looking very impressive your Dart 👍
11 March 2021, 16:48
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I finished it off this afternoon.
I had intended to display the weapons bay open, but ran into a couple difficulties.
To cut a long story short... given such a confined space, my eyes just weren't up to the task, let alone my dexterity. After several close calls by bumping the pitot tube on the nose, and then finally snapping off the tube on the vertical tail I decided to cut my losses and just keep the weapons bay closed.
Other than that, it was a pretty nice kit to build. There were some molding seam lines on most of the smaller parts that I wasn't expecting for a fairly recent kit, but not a big deal to clean up in the end.
Anyway cheers for following 🙂👍
12 March 2021, 02:01
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That turned out quite nice James. Looks like she just landed. I bet the pilot is heading off to his favorite beach bar by now.
12 March 2021, 02:22
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Ist seams that there is always nice weather at your end 😉! Anyhow very awesome looking bird! Congrats James!
12 March 2021, 05:22
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That turned out fantastic James! Very clean build, which nicely shows the unique lines of the Delta Dart!
12 March 2021, 09:25
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Super clean build of one of my favorite airplanes! Very cool presentation with black background!👍
12 March 2021, 10:29
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That's a bit unfortunate James, but the result looks stunning nonetheless - great work! 👍
12 March 2021, 10:47
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Lookin' good 👍 The shading and the decals really break up the grey body.
12 March 2021, 14:11
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@ Konrad - It's been a bit wet and overcast these last few days, but cleared up enough to take the pics, and stayed that way long enough to bring the Canberra back out and shoot again😉
@ Alexander - Yeah, it was disappointing and especially so after taking the time to paint and weather the weapons bay and missiles... but I ended up doing more damage than what it is worth to keep persisting with it.
I've learned a lot with these last two builds, that I wouldn't have done had I kept building armour.
Many thanks for your comments guys, always appreciated. 🙂
12 March 2021, 14:52
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The century fighter are the best looking jets. You have done it justice. Congratulations
12 March 2021, 19:13
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James, you did it again...congrats mate! Your armor builds rocks, but those jets are a joy to see man...👍.
12 March 2021, 20:42
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I think you achieved the differing look of the black on the nose quite well. I forgot to mention in my previous post.
13 March 2021, 17:44
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Thanks Nathan. 🙂
It was a bit of an experiment to use the rubber black, but it gave a nice contrast in the end which was what I was trying to achieve. The Tamiya grey panel line wash also helped as well.
13 March 2021, 17:56
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I think I am going to get the "B" model and do it in the B-1B chase scheme, they used both an A and a B, and yes we converted both.
14 March 2021, 02:33
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James, you've build a true beauty. It was a joy to follow this build. I'm looking forward to your next
14 March 2021, 20:01
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The deal is on the table and it´s a stunner (again)
Great job over all aspects, especially the paint-job on the upper delta - applying shading but only the mildest contrast in panel lines - looks super-realistic and the NZ sun nods approvingly 👍
Looks exactly like the mental picture I had from my early days seeing it in the magazine 🙂
15 March 2021, 09:03
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@ Murad, Lode, Daniel and Slavo - Many thanks for your feedback guys 🙂
Having completed this one, the QF-106 is definitely on my to-do list now... but need a brief change after building aircraft for the last five months😉
15 March 2021, 16:34
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I will say it again, beautiful "Six" well done. I also plan on doing a QF-106. I built quite a few for company executives and so forth when we were doing them, but have never built one for myself. So many to choose from, but am partial to the Montana ANG, and Cape Cod ANG birds, but do not know if I will be able to find decals for those. I have another set of the NJ. ones.
9 September 2021, 19:39
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Absolutely a clean build James...love the early jets, so this one is definitely a reference model!
10 September 2021, 20:10
Album info
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
159 FIS, 125 FIG, Florida ANG
Completed March 12 2021