Sheet #

Area 53 A53-2 for 1/48 F-102A Delta Dagger

Price:

$6.50 (includes postage)

Units:

196 FIS California ANG

Review By:

Scott Van Aken

Notes:

For Monogram 1/48 F-102A

The first potent USAF interceptor is undoubtedly the F-102. This aircraft was designed from the start to carry internal missiles. While the F-101 is an earlier number, the missile version was designed after the 102 was in production. As with other USAF interceptors like the F-101B and the F-106A, it was a missile-only aircraft and carried its weapons in a weapons bay.

The F-102 served for a number of years with regular USAF units before being turned over to the ANG as newer weapons systems were developed. While it didn't last in service as long as the F-101 and F-106, the F-102 was quite capable, despite the ever-present problems of maintaining its large and complicated fire control system.

Some F-102s were sent to provide quick alert at bases in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Most of the airframes left when the type was withdrawn from service were converted and expended as drones.

This particular sheet allows you to do either an F-102A or TF-102A from the 196 FIS of the California ANG in the late 1960s before the type was withdrawn from service. To do the TF-102, you need the C&H conversion. 

Like the F-101 sheet reviewed previously, there are sufficient markings to do one complete aircraft. Though the instructions tell you to used ADC grey, a number of 196 FIS F-102s were painted in overall aluminum. You need photo proof to determine the correct tail number. Like the earlier sheet, the yellow is slightly off register, but can be trimmed off so shouldn't be a problem.

To build this aircraft as an F-102A, you need the Monogram and not the Pro Modeler kit. The Monogram kit has the proper wings for an ANG bird. For the TF-102, you need the ProModeler kit.

Please note that I deliberately fuzzed the image of the decals to prevent unauthorized duplication. 

Review copy courtesy Apollodcal 

If you can't find their decals at your local hobby shop, you can order them direct from the link above.

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