scjh Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 (edited) Hello LSP, The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo seems to be a popular aircraft subject. However, with multiple versions with their different roles (fighter/bomber, photo reconnaissance, interceptor), one's favorite Voodoo may be different from the next person's. To me, the definitive Voodoo is the RF-101A/C with the elongated wedge photo nose. It is the only version that saw actual combat, and the version flown by the ROCAF. This project started back in 2018, mostly as a shape study of accuracy of existing kits. I built the ancient Hasegawa 1/72 RF-101C kit and started on the Koster/Monogram 1/48 conversion many years ago. When the Kitty Hawk 1/48 Voodoo kits came out in 2014 and 2018, I was disappointed to learn about the various issue of the kits (kudos to all those who overcame the problems). I set out to see what I can model with the help of historical and walk-around photos of the RF-101A/C (special thanks to Akira, Jennings, phantom, Patrick, and Clarence), factory drawings from Ron Downing's Aviation Archives blog, and numerous books. The exploration also involved photogrammetry, using multiple photos to recontruct 3D models. The large parts are 3D Printed in FDM and small details parts may be printed in resin. The design will evolve over the build, as the model is more developed in some areas over others. The intakes/wing root is roughed in at this stage. Hopefully there is enough to build a decent represenation of the RF-101A/C. SC Edited December 27, 2023 by scjh GusM, Anthony in NZ, Tolga ULGUR and 35 others 36 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Yeah Baby! Awesome! San Martinnfb and scjh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scjh Posted December 27, 2023 Author Share Posted December 27, 2023 Comparison of 1/32 and 1/48 prints with the Haseagaw 1/72. Comparison of the 1/48 print with the Kitty Hawk 1/48 RF-101A/C. Uncarina, Dandiego, Tony T and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 wow, those recce voodoo's look very promising scjh, scvrobeson and Martinnfb 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunticus Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Bloody awesome! Such a beautiful aircraft... Do you have a scheme in mind for it yet? Good luck with the progress, I hope this will be a success. Followed! scjh and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 yet another amazing project! scjh and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quang Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 One of my favourites. As a schoolboy I remember seeing the first camouflaged Voodoos flying in pairs over our home in Saigon like giant green lizards. Interesting to note the difference in the nose shape between your model and the Kitty Hawk kit. Tony T, Martinnfb, scjh and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scjh Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 (edited) Thank you Jack and Hans! 9 hours ago, Grunticus said: Bloody awesome! Such a beautiful aircraft... Do you have a scheme in mind for it yet? Good luck with the progress, I hope this will be a success. Followed! Thank you Grunticus! There are so many great schemes to choose from. I will probably start with this ROCAF RF-101A Block 25 54-1503/652, with Sun Run record setters and SEA schemes possibly in the future. 8 hours ago, quang said: One of my favourites. As a schoolboy I remember seeing the first camouflaged Voodoos flying in pairs over our home in Saigon like giant green lizards. Interesting to note the difference in the nose shape between your model and the Kitty Hawk kit. Hi Quang, I still remember the howls of a pair of F-104s flying overhead when I was in elementary school. By the way, I followed your KH RF-101C build on Britmodellers. What an inspiration! As you probably already know, accurate drawing of these historical aircrafts are hard to come by. Even with manufacturer drawings, one has to be careful of image warping, distortions, obsolete designs, typos, etc. This model has been refined over the years, based on historical drawings and a few hundred photos. In order to help verify drawings, I started using photogrammetry. I took over 400 photos of the RF-101A 54-1506/5658 (over 200 from the front). Also a few fellow modelers helped with photos of the RF-101Cs at Pima and Warner Robins. So while not prefect and completed yet, the shape of the photo nose fuselage should be pretty good. Major fuselage and wing cross sections also were constructed with information from historical documents. The ONLY drawing of the photonose I've come across that is accurate is Loft Sheet #20-1/#20-2. This is a screenshot of the photogrammetry software I used. The little blue camera icons are the re-constructed camera positions. I had to stay outside of the rope around the display. This was my setup. And a few comparision of of 1/48 kit and conversions sets. From the top, C&H, Kitty Hawk, Koster, and mine. SC Edited December 28, 2023 by scjh Alain Gadbois, patricksparks, panzerrob and 21 others 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngtiger1 Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Wow, now this worth following all the way. Voodoo is such an iconic jet that I wish I had a Time Machine to travel back and see it fly. The whole jet is just plain sexy! Martinnfb, Alain Gadbois and scjh 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 One of my top favorites jet!!! Great work! Martinnfb and scjh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Great choice of subject. The chisel nosed Voodoos look superb. Is this a one off or is it to become a kit? She's a big aircraft. Not Thunderchief big but certainly has presence. McDonnell Douglas are responsible for some fine aircraft designs scjh, Martinnfb and Uncarina 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 This is going to be awesome! (great choice) - great work so far. Good luck with the project and with the help you have received from the other esteemed members, it should come out looking fantastic. Derek Anthony in NZ, F`s are my favs, scjh and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Eagle Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 As was said in a great movie, “you were a braver man than I, Gunga Din”. Nice work. Martinnfb and scjh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quang Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 3 hours ago, geedubelyer said: McDonnell Douglas are responsible for some fine aircraft designs Voodoos and Phantoms do share some common DNA scjh, geedubelyer, F`s are my favs and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 That's amazing work. I recently purchased an Elegoo resin printer to go with my Prusa FDM and I hope to follow in your footsteps in the near future. scjh and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now