Finally completing my collection of OOP, Superscale/Microscale F-106 Delta Dart decals (7 in 1/48 and 5 in 1/72) I managed to pick this set up on eBay recently for the princely sum of $15.00. Unfortunately it is missing two stencils which I’ll point out later.  (Yea, I know, but I have the missing stencils and was happy to pay that for this rare set!)

This set has the only 1/48 scale “Green Eagles” markings of the 49^th FIS that I know and in the minds of F-106 builders makes it really collectible.  I intend to use these quickly as the 49^th had some of the coolest markings of all the Fighter Interceptor Squadrons.  The USAF Museum F-106 is painted in 49^th FIS markings in fact and is always a popular display.  (Your editor would like to note that this plane is a very early 106 (still has the wing fences) and never flew with the 49th)  One of the nice things about these 49^th markings is a later, TAC version 49^th bird can be modeled with them by using new and deleting some of these markings.

Also on this rare sheet are markings for a 5^th FIS “Spittin’ Kittens” Six in early 1970s markings (the one shown above is in the 60's scheme).  Making an 80’s version with these will be much harder.  Note that both of the represented tail numbers are preceded by the “0” (zero) which indicates they were over 10 years old at the time of painting.  This was thought to avoid confusion over newer aircraft with identical tail numbers – less the decade numeral.  (As a side note I’m a crew chief on an Ohio ANG KC-135R, tail number 57-1469 – marked “71469”!  Trust me, we don’t get confused!)  Frequently this designation is mis-identified as a letter O and said to mean obsolete.  I wish I knew who came up with that pile of manure so I could set them straight!  Both of these aircraft were later converted to QF-106s.  57-0236 was shot down on 29 January 1997 by an AIM-120 out of Tyndall AFB, FL and 59-0081 met the exact same fate earlier on 17 May 1994.

 Unique to early, F-106 Superscale decals this set includes national markings.  There are enough stencils for only one aircraft of the two provided and was normal for the 1/48 scale decals.  (All 5 1/72 F-106 sets provided enough stencils for two aircraft – none have national markings.)  Missing on this set are marking for the external tanks which may or may not have been used depending on the time period.  My best advice as always is to check your references.  Both squadrons here did use unique versions of yellow lightning bolts on their external tanks.  Also note that the black seen in the scan on the 5^th FIS tail markings (border and stars) is really a very dark blue which is accurate.  Register is excellent on this set.

 Now, a point on the missing stencils from this previously-owned set.  Not really a big deal for me personally – missing them that is - but it made me do a little research on one in particular.  This is the rescue stencil located on the port intake.  The decal I’m missing is the cover to the canopy ejection lanyard.  It was a round panel opened by a flush latch and painted yellow with or without the latch painted black.  A small, black arrow pointed at it from the left, instruction stencil and the large, yellow “RESCUE” arrow pointed at it from the right.  If you look at the composite I provided you’d see four different versions of this from available kits, aftermarket decals, and the real thing.  In 1/48 scale I think this is an important detail and would really recommend detailing it if you build in this scale.  Earlier F-106s had different designs for the rescue latch and even later some differed from others.  Yea, check references!  The other missing stencil is a “Warning” marking for the port Angle of Attack vane.  There are two stencils provided on the sheet but only one AOA vane was used so no loss there.

 Overall I highly recommend all of the old SS/MS F-106 sheets – in both scales.  If you can find one, pick it up!  Check out www.f-106deltadart.com and go to the 5^th FIS page for some interesting history of 236!

 Reviewed December 2002

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