RCAF RF-102A Delta Dagger

[The Big Gimper]

A new personal record has been set. My first reference to this build 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. 6 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 as 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 are the only other evidence.

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 stripe 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.

[Captain Canada]

Oh what a beauty ! Love the markings on that scheme. The nose really changes the look of her as well.

[Howard of Effingham]

 

I like this one a lot! excellent idea.

[ChernayaAkula]

Gorgeous! 

[loupgarou]

Oh what a beauty ! Love the markings on that scheme. The nose really changes the look of her as well.

Yes, the upturned nose is very se*y!
Ahem, why TWO Hase F-102?

[Gondor]

I am guessing loupgarou that t second F-102A was to provide the extra fuel tanks under the wings because the F-102 normally only carries one pair of fuel tanks in total.

Gondor

[The Big Gimper]

I am guessing loupgarou that t second F-102A was to provide the extra fuel tanks under the wings because the F-102 normally only carries one pair of fuel tanks in total.

Gondor

Correct. Also the nose gear part was too damaged to use so I stole that PN as well.

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, that REALLY looks the business! 

Camera nose, NM finish AND Canadian lightning stripe, what's not to like?

[Gondor]

Why do Canadian military aircraft look so good with the flash on their side?

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

Some of them look even betterer, the ones with the double lightning flash, like the Argus. 

[FAR148]

Nice job

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That's a beauty!

[zenrat]

How many of those 19 months were devoted to PSR?

Excellent.  This spurs me on to finish mine.

[Dizzyfugu]

Beautiful! 

But anything with a Canadian flash on its NMF/grey side looks flashy... 

[Geoff]

Excellent -great idea well executed. I love it!