Monogram 1/48 McDonnell RF-101B Voodoo "Black Magic"

[garybrantley]

This is the old Monogram 1/48 kit. I built it in a pseudo-Blackbird scheme, many years ago now. It's taken a turn or two around the internet since then and has been seen on several scale modeling forums. I used various black enamels, for instance, semi-gloss, flat, and gloss and then used the same type finishes in clear acrylic. The decals are from a F-117 set, I believe. The Voodoo was a fast mover in its day and although the only all-black 101 that I'm aware of was a Canadian Air Force bird, I really think the USAF should've tried it out as well! She does look rather sinister wearing the black and it seems fitting for an aircraft named Voodoo.

Once again, the pics were taken at our little local airport, and I remember that it was a bit windy that day. I watched the horizontal stabilizer flutter dramatically in the wind and thought it would surely come off.  But luck held out and the bird didn't take flight.  So, join me for a little "what if" venture and have a look at some old, black magic. Comments and complaints are welcomed! Thanks for stopping by! 😄

[tcoat]

That does look good in flat black and as always your photos rock.

Although not one I fuelled I did see the Canadian one once. If I remember right it was black because they used it as an aggressor and it had to be obviously different from the others.

[garybrantley]

Sept 6, 2024 21:39:14 GMT -5 tcoat said:

That does look good in flat black and as always your photos rock.

Although not one I fuelled I did see the Canadian one once. If I remember right it was black because they used it as an aggressor and it had to be obviously different from the others.

Thanks, Tony (that's right,isn't it?), I sure appreciate the comments! 👍 That is cool to know about the Canadian Voodoo!   It was gloss black wasn't it?  

[jeaton01]

Good one, Gary!

[bakster]

That looks super cool in the black. I love how you photographed it as well. It looks real. Really nice work.

[handiabled]

Another great build! Once again your pictures with their back drops and natural lighting are terrific Gary!

[kyledehart5]

And yet another stunner Gary!! Beautifully done. I love it. Love the paint scheme and the look you've achieved. Thank you for sharing.

[garybrantley]

Sept 7, 2024 0:16:52 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Good one, Gary!

Thank you, John! 👍

Sept 7, 2024 1:49:50 GMT -5 bakster said:

That looks super cool in the black. I love how you photographed it as well. It looks real. Really nice work.

I sure appreciate your comments, bakster.   Thanks so much! 👍

Sept 7, 2024 3:47:37 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Another great build! Once again your pictures with their back drops and natural lighting are terrific Gary!

Thanks for that, Brent! 👍 I just couldn't get by without that airport out there, and one just can't beat the lighting.   And I like how the everchanging sky provides a different look each session. 😊

Sept 7, 2024 4:53:19 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

And yet another stunner Gary!! Beautifully done. I love it. Love the paint scheme and the look you've achieved. Thank you for sharing.

What a nice comment, Kyle! 👍 Thanks for the love, and as always, you're welcome as well. 🙏🏻

[tcoat]

Sept 6, 2024 22:38:27 GMT -5 garybrantley said:

Sept 6, 2024 21:39:14 GMT -5 tcoat said:

That does look good in flat black and as always your photos rock.

Although not one I fuelled I did see the Canadian one once. If I remember right it was black because they used it as an aggressor and it had to be obviously different from the others.

Thanks, Tony (that's right,isn't it?), I sure appreciate the comments! 👍 That is cool to know about the Canadian Voodoo!   It was gloss black wasn't it?  

Well mostly gloss.  At cottage with limited internet so can’t look it up but I recall there was something special about it and it was only on loan from the US Airforce. Think It eventually went back to them.  It was right at the end of my service time so didn’t really have as much exposure to it as I did some of the others. 

[oortiz10]

*sigh*



Gary. Seriously. Why do you torture me so? I have both of Revellogram's Voodoos in the stash. Just like I have their Thunderjet and Intruder in the stash. I had Tamiya's Skyray in the stash. It's now on my bench. Your great work is making me want to move them all onto my bench!

This Voodoo is too cool! Great work! I love the way it looks in black. As much as I want to, my pair of Voodoos will have to wait, but thanks for sharing and thanks the inspiration!

-O

[garybrantley]

Sept 7, 2024 9:38:29 GMT -5 oortiz10 said:

*sigh*



Gary. Seriously. Why do you torture me so? I have both of Revellogram's Voodoos in the stash. Just like I have their Thunderjet and Intruder in the stash. I had Tamiya's Skyray in the stash. It's now on my bench. Your great work is making me want to move them all onto my bench!

This Voodoo is too cool! Great work! I love the way it looks in black. As much as I want to, my pair of Voodoos will have to wait, but thanks for sharing and thanks the inspiration!

-O

Thanks for a good belly laugh, Omar! 😁 I don't mean to torture you, it just happens, I guess. 🤦‍♂️ 😄 No, seriously, thanks so much for those comments! 👍  You are a great modeler and will produce some great results with all of those kits.   This Voodoo is an oldie but it's still a favorite of mine.   I'm glad that you find some inspiration in my work; I can usually use a lot of that myself and comments like yours do that for me my friend! 🙏🏻  Thanks again! 

[Green KreationZ]

Looks like the real thing Gary!

[Steve Zuleski]

Ooooh, I love it. This paint scheme gives this bird some serious character and mystique. Almost like it's a secret squirrel test bird or something the boys only roll out when the satellites are gone overhead. Pretty awesome work, Gary!

[garybrantley]

Sept 9, 2024 12:11:53 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Looks like the real thing Gary!

Thanks, Keith! 👍 Mighty nice of you to say that, much appreciated! 😃

Sept 9, 2024 12:49:41 GMT -5 Steve Zuleski said:

Ooooh, I love it. This paint scheme gives this bird some serious character and mystique. Almost like it's a secret squirrel test bird or something the boys only roll out when the satellites are gone overhead. Pretty awesome work, Gary!

Thanks, Steve!  👍 That all-black scheme does sort of suit the airframe, I think.   I do like your explanation! 😁

[cbaltrin]

That's a very nice Voodoo Gary!  I have thing for Tandem seat jets and this kit in particular has a special place in my heart. It was the last kit I purchased before I enlisted back in 1990. I remember I was blown away by the cockpit detail. And those flaps--I'm half tempted right now to get mine off the shelf and paint the flaps just to put a nice wash on all that detail in there!  This kit affected me much like the phantom did the first time I saw it. I had never heard of the F-101 before I saw the monogram kit and it reminded me quite a bit of the Phantom ( It was a big fighter, big engines, big tandem seat cockpit,  all that bare metal on the tail behind the jets plus and unconventional tail -- I just loved it!).  

[keavdog]

That's pretty cool Gary - great what-if. Airport shots are just money! I've got the KittyHawk kit in the stash for my someday century series build. Well done!

[406 Silverado]

Your photography floors me just as much as your finished build outcomes do Gary. Continuing to blow minds with your talent brother and am glad that your bird didn't take flight during the picture taking process. 

[TJ]

I've never seen this one Gary. Your take on a black Voodoo is great. With the ZC interiors on the flaps and speed brakes giving a little color. Too cool

[garybrantley]

Sept 9, 2024 21:39:07 GMT -5 cbaltrin said:

That's a very nice Voodoo Gary!  I have thing for Tandem seat jets and this kit in particular has a special place in my heart. It was the last kit I purchased before I enlisted back in 1990. I remember I was blown away by the cockpit detail. And those flaps--I'm half tempted right now to get mine off the shelf and paint the flaps just to put a nice wash on all that detail in there!  This kit affected me much like the phantom did the first time I saw it. I had never heard of the F-101 before I saw the monogram kit and it reminded me quite a bit of the Phantom ( It was a big fighter, big engines, big tandem seat cockpit,  all that bare metal on the tail behind the jets plus and unconventional tail -- I just loved it!).  

Thanks for the comments, Chris! 👍 You know, the Voodoo was sort of new to me too when I first saw this kit, along about the time you did.  It is a great Monogram kit and builds up pretty well.  I had built a bunch of Monogram kits, and Testors and Revell too, before the internet came along and told me they weren't "up to par". 😁  I think those old kits can provide a good canvas that a good modeler can use to create better models.  Even now, with a lot of more modern kits on the shelf, I'll reach for an old Monogram classic (Or even Hobbycraft!?!). 

You're right that the Phantom and Voodoo share a lot of familial similarities; the McDonnell Demon also shows that same heritage.   Maybe someday, I'll even get my Demon done! 

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 0:02:14 GMT -5 keavdog said:

That's pretty cool Gary - great what-if. Airport shots are just money! I've got the KittyHawk kit in the stash for my someday century series build. Well done!

John, many thanks for the kind words, my friend! 👍  It seems they all look better out at the airport! 😁. I look forward to seeing your KittyHawk Voodoo! 😊

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 4:35:53 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Your photography floors me just as much as your finished build outcomes do Gary. Continuing to blow minds with your talent brother and am glad that your bird didn't take flight during the picture taking process. 

Wow, what a nice comment, Joe! 👍 I sure do appreciate it, too. 🙏🏻  That stabilizer came soooo close to taking off (jes like your funny emoji! 😄); it was really fluttering up and down and as I recall, it has a very tenuous connection at best.   That's one reason I have so few pics of this one!   I was glad to get her home all in one piece.  I'm so glad you like my "four footers", my friend! 😊

Sept 10, 2024 5:27:19 GMT -5 TJ said:

I've never seen this one Gary. Your take on a black Voodoo is great. With the ZC interiors on the flaps and speed brakes giving a little color. Too cool

Thanks so much, Johnny! 👍  I love those comments, my friend, thank you sincerely! 🙏🏻

[greg]

That is absolutely stunning, Gary.

I've been away from the forums long enough to have had your masterful airport photos slip my mind. I echo everybody else, it's always worth repeating what a great job you do with your pics and models.

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 9:42:28 GMT -5 greg said:

That is absolutely stunning, Gary.

I've been away from the forums long enough to have had your masterful airport photos slip my mind. I echo everybody else, it's always worth repeating what a great job you do with your pics and models.

Thank you so much for the very generous comments, Greg! 👍  I appreciate that a lot.   And it's good to see you around again, old friend!   

[eaglecash867]

Man! That is awesome, Gary! Always loved the old Voodoo.

[spook]

Definitely Nailed it

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 13:27:23 GMT -5 eaglecash867 said:

Man! That is awesome, Gary! Always loved the old Voodoo.

Thank you, a lot, eaglecash!  👍  Me too, she's kept up her shape all these years! 

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 14:45:07 GMT -5 spook said:

Definitely Nailed it

Thanks, spook! 👍 Much appreciated, thanks for stopping in! 😃

[stikpusher]

[garybrantley]

Sept 10, 2024 19:04:45 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

😁 

[cbaltrin]

Sept 10, 2024 8:28:45 GMT -5 garybrantley said:

I had built a bunch of Monogram kits, and Testors and Revell too, before the internet came along and told me they weren't "up to par". 😁  I think those old kits can provide a good canvas that a good modeler can use to create better models.  Even now, with a lot of more modern kits on the shelf, I'll reach for an old Monogram classic (Or even Hobbycraft!?!)

Agree 100% Gary!