Subject:  
McDonnell
F-101B  "Voodoo"
Kit Used: Revell - 1/72

Review & model by:
Paul Romans
Pictures: R. Forys




[Revell released this version of the F-101B around 1990, but it has been OOP since 1992.]




Revell released this version of the F-101B some time ago; one source says 1990, but OOP since 1992.   I picked this one up at least 10 years ago, maybe longer.   A quick internet search shows this kit is harder to kind than I would have thought which is a shame, since it's really a very nicely done model.   The kit features fine engraved panel lines, a decent cockpit, detailed landing gear, optional position flaps and dive-brakes, well done intake trunking (a pet-peeve of mine), a very nice decal sheet, and a good rendition of the rotating weapons pallet, equipped with both Falcon and Genie missiles.   You even get two centerline fuel tanks.   Not bad.





[Construction of the Revell F-101B was simple.]




Construction was simple.   Follow the directions and you can't go wrong.   Very little filler was required, as everything fit together with Tami-gawa precision.   The cockpit was well detailed OOB, but I added two True-Details resin seats, which were a bit nicer than the stock parts.   The instruments were picked out with a fine brush, a dark wash was applied to give everything some depth, and it was done.   Everything else on the kit was stock.   I left the diving brakes closed as my personal preference, but dropped the flaps.   The instructions give good pointers on correct painting of the interior bits.




[Very little filler was required, as everything fit together with Tami-gawa precision.]



The Century Series were all fabulous designs and redefined what jet aircraft could be, prompting a lot of catch-up development in the USSR.   As second-generation jet aircraft, they all promised to exceed anything the older, 1st-generation jets, such as the F-80 and the F9F, could accomplish.   These were world-beating designs that would firmly show the world that American know-how was still in the lead.   Right?

Well, that's what everyone hoped.   In truth, most of the Century Series were something of a disappointment in actual service.   The first plane, North American's F-100 Super Sabre, was a clear-air fighter in the same vein as the Mustang and F-86, and even though it was supersonic in performance, it lacked intercept radar and had no real all-weather capability.   The era of visual engagement was pretty much over when the F-100 made its debut, and the "Hun" spent most of its career as a mud-mover, hauling iron bombs in low level attacks over Vietnam.   The F-102 Delta Dagger was a Sci-Fi dream plane with its radical delta wing, but the prototype could not even break the sound barrier.   Poor understanding of transonic area-rule problems doomed it to failure.   A considerable redesign generated an acceptable plane that went on to serve adequately, but never outstandingly.

The F-103 was too radical and never progressed beyond a mock-up.   The F-104 Starfighter, another serious departure from the norm, looked fantastic on paper but lacked range and versatility and had some of the nastiest handling characteristics ever.   After killing many of its own pilots, it was withdrawn from service after only a few years.   Much-modified versions enjoyed success with many other nations, but never with the USAF.   The F-105 Thunderchief, a massive nuclear fighter-bomber with an internal weapons bay, wound up hauling iron bombs alongside the F-100 in Vietnam, a role it was poorly suited to with its high wing-loading and ungodly fuel consumption.   The F-106 was really a complete re-design of the disappointing F-102, and with its transonic problems licked, it at last fulfilled the promise of the original delta-wing idea.

This leaves the F-101 Voodoo.   In 1948, McDonnell Aircraft built the XF-88 for SAC's Penetration Fighter competition, a design that showed promise but lacked performance.   A much better version of this basic idea emerged in 1951 as the F-101, and was considered as a long-range bomber escort for Korea.   SAC lost interest in the Penetration Fighter idea, but the Tactical Air Command wanted the Voodoo as a fighter-bomber, and despite many teething troubles, the plane went into service in 1957, with Mach 1.5 speeds and a 3000-mile range.   The original single-seat, cannon-armed version was replaced by the all-weather, radar equipped two-seater F-101B, armed only with missiles carried on both sides of a rotating pallet behind the nose wheel well.   J-57-P-55 engines were specified, with their much longer after-burners simply sticking out the rear.

For many, the B-version is the definitive Voodoo.   Its guidance system was state-of-the-art for its time, performance and range were very good, and late production models were even fitted with the rather frightening AIR-2 Genie nuclear missile, who's 1.7 kiloton blast was intended to eliminate fleets of attacking Soviet bombers in a mile-wide atomic fireball.   The "B" was produced in larger numbers than any other variant at 479 units, and though it may be argued that the Voodoo was the most successful of the Century series, some feel its greatest contribution was as a stepping-stone to the superlative F-4 Phantom.






[The paint scheme is all Testors Gloss Gull Gray - FS16440 - with Metalizer Stainless Steel on the underside.]



With the assembly finished rather quickly and easily, we were off to our state-of-the-art paint department, created by shoving everything on the desk over to one side and unraveling the airbrush hose.   The paint scheme is all Testors Gloss Gull Gray (FS16440), and after waiting a day for this to dry I masked and sprayed the underside of the tail with Metalizer Stainless Steel.   The afterburners were painted with Metalizer Gunmetal, and highlighted with more of the Stainless Steel.   The nose was painted flat black. Since the gray paint was nice and glossy, the decals were applied right over it without problems, requiring only judicious applications of Micro-Set.




[A thin yellow hi-visibility line was painted along the edges of the framing, and fasteners were simulated with small black dots from a sharp-tipped marker.] [The cockpit was well detailed OOB, but I added two True-Details resin seats, which were a bit nicer than the stock parts..]
[A dark wash of flat black and/or burnt sienna was applied to most of the panel lines to bring them out. ] [The decals were applied without problems, requiring only judicious applications of Micro-Set.]



Final details were added, and the clear parts were installed in place with white glue.   A thin yellow hi-visibility line was painted along the edges of the framing, and fasteners were simulated with small black dots from a sharp-tipped marker.   A dark wash of flat black and/or burnt sienna was applied to most of the panel lines to bring them out, the formation light bars were painted in pale yellow, and several streaks were simulated around various panels and moving parts with dark pastels.




[The kit features fine engraved panel lines, a decent cockpit, detailed landing gear, optional position flaps and dive-brakes, well done intake trunking, a very nice decal sheet, and a good rendition of the rotating weapons pallet, equipped with both Falcon and Genie missiles.]



I have only two small criticisms:   One, the canopy actuating rod is a tricky fit, and the instructions are vague here.   I'm still not sure I have it in right.   Two, the rotating weapons pallet is designed to actually rotate, but the fit is very tight (good), making it really hard to turn the thing without breaking something (bad).




[Overall, a really nice kit to build, and I'm pretty sure it's the best Voodoo you'll find in this scale.]



Overall, a really nice kit to build, and I'm pretty sure it's the best Voodoo you'll find in this scale.   Too bad it's been largely overlooked, as this is on a par with anything else Revell has released in the past few years.   Come to think of it, I haven't seen one of these for sale at a swap meet for a long time, so get one if you can find it, as it's a great addition to your Century Series.   Highly recommended!




[The Revell F-101B is a great addition to your Century Series. Highly recommended!]