RF-101

by Garfield Ingram

Here is my 1/48 scale RF-101 conversion, based on the Monogram kit with the Koster conversion. I built this conversion a number of years ago but have not seen an injection molded version of this classic jet but thought it would be of interest.

This is a very simple conversion, requiring simple cuts and alignment of the new pieces. I, of course, had to make the job more difficult for myself by raising the flaps, closing the airbrakes and re-scribing the entire model. To me, this aircraft looks best when it's lean and clean. The kit includes vacuform halves for the forward fuselage, a new keel, canopy, weapons bay cover with camera ports and resin burner cans. The single seat fighter version is also possible with this kit. My original intention was to do a camouflaged version but found that the fit was so good that I would not have to worry about an ill- fitting joint showing up in natural metal. This is a great credit to Bill Koster as the kit and the conversion kit parts are of such dissimilar materials. The keel is a tricky fit and care is particularly required here.

All assembly was done with ca which cures hard like the surrounding plastic, making rescribing much easier. After the model was assembled and before re-scribing, Many thin layers of extremely thin Mr Surfacer was sprayed on to help spot glitches and to seal the plastics and ca. When the scribing, using an Olfa P Cutter, was complete. the primer was polished to a high gloss. The colourful unit markings were painted on first using Model Master glosses then polished to remove any dust and orange peeling, followed by an application of SNJ and Model Master Metalizers. The decals, including all of the lettering was trimmed right close to the colour to remove ALL of the decal film. When using metalizers, don't treat the decals like you would a painted model with gloss coats but trim them so that they look like painted markings on a metal surface. Try to get hold of as many Verlinden stenciling sheets for jet aircraft as you can, again to avoid decal film.

 

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2002 by Garfield Ingram
Page Created 01 February, 2002
Last Updated 31 January, 2002

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