A true retro model

I showed a glimpse of a second Revell F-102. I happened to get this one in a package deal on eBay some time ago.

I think it was one of seven or eight built models that looked like they were built carefully enough and were intact enough to make credible desk model rehab projects. With shipping, I got them delivered to my front door for about $3 each. Not a bad deal.

The Dagger was typical. Whoever did the work at least cared enough to put the decals in the right places, more or less. He (I assume the builder was male) left it in the medium gray the plastic arrived in. Pretty sure this represents the last issue of the kit, with the 327th commander's checkerboard marked machine being represented. (Except the checkers are supposed to be red, not insignia blue. Oops.) By the time this issue of the kit was available (late seventies?), the idiot markings in the plastic that showed you where to put decals had been removed from the molds. Yay.

Look at that...gear up...not landing gear broken off! My kind of model!

Classic 1950s surface detail. The external rudder actuator was a feature of the prototypes and was absent on the production short-tails. The speed boards above the engine nozzle are a bit short as well. One last little oddity is that whoever put this one together, put the exhaust cone in the wrong way...hollow part facing into the fuselage. Details, details.

They sure don't make 'em like this anymore. Revell got their money's worth out of this mold, I bet.

Comments

[Doug]

Always interesting to see old school build ups like this.Thanks for posting this Pat and your site is one of my favorite modeling places on the internet.

[Pat Hawkey]

Well it warms my heart to have regular visitors, sir. Suggests I'm doing something worthwhile. Thanks for checking in. (Never know what you'll find do you...)

[Doug]

On the topic of retro modeling,I'm currently working on the old box scale Revell B-29.Despite it's age I still think it's a better kit than the Crown/Minicraft 1/44 scale kit.