History

After the cancellation of the Avro CF-105 Arrow, the RCAF needed to search for an alternative aircraft to meet their requirement for a supersonic air defence interceptor. After reviewing the available candidates, the F-101 Voodoo was selected, and 66 were purchased from the USAF. Although it never had to fire a shot in anger, the Voodoo protected Canada from its entry into service in 1961 through to retirement in 1984.

This decal represents the “symmetrical” bilingual markings the Voodoo fleet wore between 1973 and 1984

First Impressions

This is a very comprehensive sheet, offering representative service aircraft from 409, 410, 414, 416 and 425 Squadrons. Rudder stripes are offered for 409, 410 and 425 Squadrons, and special “lobster” speed brake zaps for 416 (these indicated that the aircraft carried “special guests” for the squadron's next party in the weapons bay).

CF101s were first painted in overall aluminium lacquer which weathered to a very flat looking silver-grey. Later on, many aircraft were painted in “Canadian Voodoo Grey” FS 16515. This colour is available from the Testors Model Master line, but I have heard rumblings that Testors has discontinued it, so if you want some you'd best rush out to the model shop soon. As an alternative, Xtracolor's X301 “Boeing Grey” from their airliner range is an almost exact match.

The printing is very sharp and the carrier film is as limited as possible, most often not extending past the printed outline of the marking. The decals look very thin. These are traditional silk-screen printing, not ALPS nor laser printed.

decal sheets

There are two sheets plus an addendum.

The first sheet contains the basic markings, a full set of stencils and walkways. The serial numbers as supplied will do Voodoo 101025 from 416 Sqn, as it exists in the collection of the Canadian Aeronautical Collection in Ottawa, but sufficient spare numbers are provided to do many other aircraft from the fleet. The numbers are not duplicated, so aircraft with paired numbers will not be able to be done using only this sheet. Separate RCAF style numbers are available from other decal printers if your subject requires them.

The second sheet covers the individual squadron markings, rudder stripes, lobster zaps and yellow canopy sealant for the canopy frames. There are three variants of the 409 Hawk badge, three of the 425 Allouette badge and two of the 416 Lynx badge. There are 3 410 Cougars badges because operational aircraft had the cougar head facing right on both sides of the aircraft, but the “gate guardian” at CFB Bagotville has the badge facing forward on both sides. Rounding off the squadron badges is a set from 414 Black Knights, who used one Voodoo in the electronic warfare role and a CF-101F as a proficiency trainer. This sheet allows modellers to do 414's proficiency aircraft. Fans of the “Electric Voodoo” will want to get sheet# 009

The addendum sheet provides correctly proportioned lightning bolt fuselage stripes.

instruction sheets

The instructions come on four 8 1/2 X 11 sheets printed in full colour. The first has 4 view drawings of Voodoo 025 showing the overall paint scheme. The second shows the placement of all of the stencils and the third shows the positioning of the optional squadron markings. The fourth identifies the position of each stencil on the decal sheet by number.

Separate references will be necessary to do any aircraft other than 025 for correct serial numbers, airframe colour and positioning of special markings. Some aircraft, especially from 416, often carried temporary exercise markings on their upper wing surfaces. This is mentioned on the instruction sheet, but not fully explained.

The instruction sheet mentions that the decals may be harmed by strong setting solutions. I did a test using portions of the incorrect fuselage flash and my poor old knocked-about Revell 1/72 Voodoo.

• 1. Solvaset
  
• 2. Micro Sol
  
• 3. Micro Set
  
• 4. No setting solution
  

The results show that used carefully, Solvaset did not damage this decal, and that used without any setting solution at all, the decal still conforms to the moulded detail.

All Canuck Models decal sheets and accessories are available for purchase directly from the manufacturer at the Canuck Model Products website.


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