1/48 F-106B
Finished another one! This is the very new Trumpeter two-seat Dart. It’s a kit I really looked forward to and started it when I received it in early July. It’s a nice kit, that assembles well, with a few flaws. The biggest issue to me is the landing gear. Trumpeter created keyed, L and R landing gear struts. In reality, the struts were identical and interchangeable. Much has been made of the fact that the intakes are wider then those on the old Monogram 106. You don’t really notice it unless you view it from above when parked next to a Monogram Six. My opinion is that while the Trump intakes are a bit broad, Monograms are a little anemic. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle. I finished it with Model Master and Humbrol enamels. Decals are from Caracal Models’ Massachusetts ANG set, depicting a plane near the end of it’s career in the late 1980s. This one was lots of fun, and is really an eye catcher when completed.
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Gregor d said on October 2, 2015
Great Dart John!
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thank you, Gregor!
Maurits De Ridder said on October 2, 2015
Beautiful plane! I love the paintjob!
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thanks Maurits! These ADC gray planes are great canvasses.
Morne Meyer said on October 2, 2015
I can understand why the Delta Dart was referred to as the sexy 6. You did an amazing job on this kit. I find it very difficult to understand how kit manufacturers can still get the shapes wrong on kits with todays technology at their disposal and when the real thing is still in existence in museums or still in service. Needless to say your Delta Dart is very impressive.
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thanks Morne! There is no excuse for the l/g issue. Luckily, I never turn my models over. (-:
Simon Whitney said on October 2, 2015
Lovely work John, very sharp paint job.
Well done mate.
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thank you Simon, I’ve always liked this a/c.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on October 2, 2015
John, thanks. I was wondering about them intakes, but who else makes a 106 B in 48th, without hacking apart two kits, or using some astronomically priced resin forward fuselage? Feh!
What a beauty!
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thanks Bernard. Overall, it’s a fine kit. It looks the part when finished.
Craig Abrahamson said on October 2, 2015
Beautiful example, John….ya done good, my friend. Always wanted a “B” model (one of my favorite pics is the one with the original Mercury 7 guys posed beside it).
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thanks Craig! I know that photo well and used it as a reference when assembling the canopy.
Wayne Landis said on October 2, 2015
I think these 106Bs are even prettier than the single seaters. I remember seeing these aircraft in New Jersey markings at Atlantic city in the 1980s. There were spectacular aircraft for both their size and markings. I think your build captures both aspects of the aircraft.
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
I agree that they look better then the single seaters. They kind of look like a Mirage 2000N on steroids. Another plane that looks better to me with two seats is the Hawker Hunter. I wish someone would do one of those in 1/48.
Tom Cleaver said on October 2, 2015
Very nice. I have been wondering what this kit looks like when completed. it does for some reason look better than the single-seater.
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
It’s a fun kit, Tom. Very graceful lines to the plane make hard not to like.
Bryan W. Bernart said on October 2, 2015
Nice work!
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thank you Bryan!
Greg Kittinger said on October 2, 2015
Great looking Dart!
John Healy said on October 2, 2015
Thank you, Greg!
Rob Anderson said on October 3, 2015
Looks very nice! I think a lot of folks (including me for awhile) miss out on some great kits by having the pervasive anti Trumpeter bias seen on some forums. I have heard the 106s roundly thrashed, but your build has proven once again most Trumpy kits build up nicely. Great job!
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on October 3, 2015
Rob, agree. Got to make up your own mind, after weighing the pros and cons. Nobody ever questions the “experts”, though the feeding frenzy at the shark tank relative to a certain companys 109 was entertaining.
John Healy said on October 3, 2015
Thanks Rob. Regarding Trumpeter, some are good, some are terrible. This one is a decent kit, priced a bit too high though. Some Trump kits are real disappointments. The Westland Whirlwind and DH Hornet kits have obvious problems that are hard to fix. The Skywarrior, Mig-21s, and Mig-3s in 1/48 are all nice. Buyer beware!
Bernd Müller said on October 3, 2015
Flawless and perfect build, John. Love the clean finish !
John Healy said on October 3, 2015
Thank you, Bernd!
George Williams said on October 3, 2015
Very clean build, John, it looks beautiful.
John Healy said on October 4, 2015
Thank you George!
Marc Barris said on October 4, 2015
Nice build John, loved the clean paintwork.
John Healy said on October 4, 2015
Thanks Marc!
Gary Brantley said on October 7, 2015
I love the “6”, and yours looks fantastic John! Very clean work sir, my hat’s off to ya:)
John Healy said on October 8, 2015
Thanks Gary. I to like the Dart a lot. What’s not to like about pointy, shiny airplanes?
Dirk Derks said on November 6, 2015
Hello John,
Excellent build and spray finish.