FEResin 1/144
F-101B Voodoo

Background

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation developed a new aircraft design in response to the USAAF's need for a high-speed bomber escort fighter. The resulting XF-88 had disappointing performance until the twin engines were fitted with afterburners. While the results were good, the program was cancelled. With the outbreak of the Korean War a year later in 1951, a new bomber escort fighter was requested and McDonnell submitted an enlarged XF-88. They won the competition and the aircraft was redesignated F-101 Voodoo.

The F-101B was supposed to be an interim interceptor solution after it became apparent that Convair's F-102 Delta Dart was going to face extensive production delays. McDonnell added the more powerful J57-P-55 engines which resulted in the afterburner sections extending aft of the airframe by nearly eight feet, but the added thrust pushed the new interceptor to Mach 2.4. The nose was enlarged to house a two-place cockpit, an improved fire control radar, and a ground control intercept datalink. The aircraft was armed with four AIM-4 Falcon missiles and up to two Genie nuclear rockets in place of two of the Falcons.

The Kit

FEResin has released the F-101B in 1/144 scale - in resin! This kit is molded in tan resin and consists of 23 parts, plus two vacuformed canopies. The casting quality is exquisite.

The fuselage is hollow-cast so you can insert a pair of ejection seats (Seat backs and heasrests actually) and the rear cockpit's instrument panel coming. Decals are provided for the instrument panels.

Look at that one-piece wing. My example had no warpage and features nice depth main wheel wells. There are even mounting holes in the wheel wells for the main gear struts.

Like most of the better resin kits out there, this one has two vacuformed canopies - one to mess up and one for the finished model.

Markings are provided for one aircraft:

• F-101B, 58-0295, 132 FIS/101 FIG/ME ANG

Conclusion

This is an impressive little kit that will go together quickly, though it should be attempted by modelers with some skills working with small resin parts and cyanoacrylate adhesives. By the way, did you notice the retail price (from Hobbyshop.cz)? Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to FEResin for this review sample!