One more Vietnam Era memory.... [PIC]

That is a beautiful airplane and model of it ! It looks great in it's S.E. Asia camoflage colors. I had a couple of scale plastic models of both the F-101A fighter and the F101B interceptor. I remember the big 1/48 plastic scale model I built of the two-man F101B interceptor and also a real 1:1 photograph of it own shadow of the photo-recon F-101A over the ship and docks in Havana when the Russians were removing the MRBM's from Cuba during the missile crisis. A very cool jet fighter aircraft.

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

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I had to wait for the internet to give me a context to all I saw in that theater.    It's been a series of, "So THAT's what was going on!    I get it now!"

Funny, but I can relate.   That's happen to me a few times now.....     You know, this internet thing  just might catch on.....  🙄 🤔 🙄 

Nice looking plane. I was a fan of the F-100. In the mid to late sixties, I remember seeing a F-100 at the local airbase show. I was surprised it was still n service. Another

favorite of mine is the F-104. Here is a photo of the real F-104 and the 1/18 21st model.  In 1984, at the Ramstein air show, I saw a German air force F-104.

memoires hey? I remember making an Airfix kit of the F104. First time of thought of it 60 years? 

Great post all.

@grockwood I was fascinated with the Super Sabre. It was such beautiful, yet simple design:

I remember when the F104 Starfighter debuted. The West German Luftwaffe bought a ton of them right off the assembly line with disastrous result. It was called the "Widowmaker". Between 1961 and 1989, 300 aircraft were lost and 116 pilots killed. It was a rocket ship but very hard to handle. In the Vietnam theater, it was used as a fighter escort for the EC-121 Warning Stars to discourage challenging Migs. There were a lot of aircraft lost in that mission also, but none in dogfights.

@grockwood Is that "Smoke ll" a Hobby Master diecast?

Rich, no it's a 1/18 plastic version made by 21st Century toys.  here it is boxed up. They also sold a Luftwaffe version.

@grockwood 21th Century does some really great military models.

@rich-sufficool They sure did.  Marketed as toys, but they actually bordered on fine scale models  and with a little augmentation  details & features could really be highlighted.  😀

Last model airplane kit I built was that big Monogram B52 back in high school ‘67-71. I forget the scale, maybe 1/48th?
Steve

@100ford2003 I remember a large scale B52 kit out there. I think it was a Monogram in 1/72. There is a HpH model in 1/48 which is worth a fortune, but it was released in late 2019. They also have a B36 "Peacemaker" in that scale.

Thanks Rich. Those are some big kits of some huge planes. 
I sure miss Prestige Hobbies which was a local shop here in Stanton / Buena Park just down the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. 
Steve

@100ford2003 Well all miss our local hobby stores. In Jersey, they were replaced by Hobby Lobby stores which are worthless to modelers. They're more geared tp moms who like to decorate their homes.

@rich-sufficool 

I’ve been to them and their kit prices were astronomical. I recall seeing 1/18 Maistos at around $40.