I have been fascinated by this aircraft for decades – they were flying north of my home province during some of the more critical parts of the Cold War.

Every new Fifty Cent Fighter Series aircraft seems to be getting a slightly different treatment. In this case it is Mr Hobby aqueous primer and surface grey paint with some Levelling Thinner to spray it. The consistency seemed to be too thin, but it settled into the engraved markings well and had brought them out with no additional weathering.

The fit was good – little filling – and the canopy as good as many larger scale ones. The decals were woeful, and for some of them I wondered whether they would release and go down at all. It was just a matter of time, however, and thankfully the intervening decades had not embrittled them.

The basic printing was out of register, however, and it is only the light shade of grey under them that disguises the errant white border. Had I a source of 1/144 F-106 decals I would have chosen anything but these.

But the job has finished and the display line grows. And I am looking specifically for other 1/144 now that they do not seem so insignificant after all.


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