99% of the material including kits are imported from Hong Kong, central/eastern Europe and Japan.

Things like sand paper or hobby knife can be purchased locally but everything else needs import. Airbrush- artmaster is an Indian brand that is good for broad works but detail jobs are best done with precision airbrushes and they need to be imported- infact I recently lost 9k on a gun after it got lost in custom due to covid related disruption :/

Covid has caused major issues in my supply chain.

1:72 Convair F-102 Delta Dagger 0-61409(56-1409), 156th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, United States Air Force (Hobbymaster)

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed to be an interceptor aircraft and act as the core of USAF air defenses in the late 1950s. The F-102 first appeared in service in 1956 with the task to intercept Soviet bombers. The official name for the F-102 was “Delta Dagger” but the most common term used was “Deuce”.

A member of the Century Series( F-100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 & 111), the F-102 was the USAF's first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter. It used an internal weapons bay to carry both guided air to air missiles and rockets( FFAR - Fin Folding Aerial Rockets).

The prototype YF-102 made its first flight on 23 October 1953, at Edwards AFB, but was lost in an accident nine days later. The second aircraft flew on 11 January 1954, with a dismal performance. Transonic drag was much higher than expected, and the aircraft was limited to Mach 0.98 (i.e. subsonic), with a ceiling of 48,000 ft (14,630 m), far below the requirements.

To solve the problem and save the F-102, Convair embarked on a major redesign, incorporating the recently discovered area rule, while at the same time simplifying production and maintenance. The redesign entailed lengthening the fuselage by 11 ft (3.35 m), being "pinched" at the midsection (dubbed the "Coke Bottle configuration"), with two large fairings on either side of the engine nozzle, with revised intakes and a new, narrower canopy. A more powerful model of the J57 was fitted, and the aircraft structure was lightened.

The Original YF-102 with its straight sided fuselage:


The re-designed YF-102A with pinched fuselage, narrower canopy and redesigned intakes:


The first revised aircraft, designated YF-102A flew on 20 December 1954, 118 days after the redesign started, exceeding Mach 1 the next day. The revised design demonstrated a speed of Mach 1.22 and a ceiling of 53,000 ft (16,154 m). These improvements were sufficient for the Air Force to allow production of the F-102, with a new production contract signed in March 1954

The production F-102A had the Hughes MC-3 fire control system, later upgraded in service to the MG-10. It had a three-segment internal weapons bay under the fuselage for air-to-air missiles.

Armament consisted of six Hughes GAR-1D Falcon radar-homing, or GAR-2 Falcon infrared-seeking, air-to-air guided missiles, or a combination of both, carried in two internal bays. (The Falcon missiles were re-designated AIM-4A and AIM-4B in 1962.) The missile bay doors contained launch tubes for twenty-four 2.75-inch (70 millimeter) unguided Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR). The Delta Dagger was not armed with a gun.

F-102 firing FFARs:




The F-102 was later upgraded to allow the carrying of up to two GAR-11/AIM-26 Nuclear Falcon missiles in the center bay. The larger size of this weapon required redesigned center bay doors with no rocket tubes. Plans were considered to fit the MB-1 Genie nuclear rocket to the design, but although a Genie was test fired from a YF-102A in May 1956, it was never adopted.

So, how do you try and escape after firing an air to air nuclear missile at a formation of high flying Soviet bombers? Here's the answer. Could it have worked for the escaping F-102 pilot( F-106 in the illustration)? Well, let us just be glad that we never had to find out.


The F-102 received several major modifications during its operational lifetime, with most airframes being retrofitted with infrared search/tracking systems, radar warning receivers, transponders, backup artificial horizons, and improvements to the fire control system. A proposed close-support version (never built) would have incorporated, in addition, an internal Gatling gun, an extra two hardpoints for bombs (in addition to the two underwing pylons for drop tanks that were fitted to all production F-102s), bigger internal fuel tanks, and an in-flight-refueling probe.

There were 889 F-102As manufactured when production ended in September 1958.

The F-102 served in the Vietnam War(painted in South East Asia camo), flying fighter patrols and serving as bomber escorts. A total of 14 aircraft were lost in Vietnam: one to air-to-air combat (to a VPAF MiG-21 using a K-13 missile), several to ground fire and the remainder to accidents. The F-102 was employed in the air-to-ground role with limited success, although neither the aircraft nor the training for its pilots were designed for that role. The F-102 was equipped with 24 2.75 in (70 mm) FFARs in the fuselage bay doors. These could be used to good effect against various types of North Vietnamese targets in daylight but the NVA AAA was a big threat. At night it proved less dangerous to use heat-seeking Falcon missiles in conjunction with the F-102's nose-mounted IRST (Infrared Search & Track) on night time harassment raids along the Ho Chi Minh trail.


The F-102 and TF-102 trainer were exported overseas to both Turkey and Greece. The Turkish F-102s saw combat missions during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. There have been claims of air combat between Greek F-5s and Turkish F-102s above the Aegean Sea during the Turkish invasion. A Greek internet website editor, Demetrius Stergiou, claims that the Greek F-5s had shot down two Turkish F-102s, while the Turkish side has claimed that their F-102s had shot down two Greek F-5s; however, both Greece and Turkey still officially deny any aircraft losses. The F-102 was finally retired from both of those air forces in 1979.

The F-102 left U.S. service in 1976, while the last QF-102A / PQM-102B drone was expended in 1986. No F-102s remain in flyable condition today, although many can be seen at museums or as permanent static displays as gate guardians at Air Force and Air National Guard installations.















Note the Coke Bottle shaped fuselage






Speedbrake deployed:




The Internal Weapons bay shown carrying six AIM-4 Falcons:




















The Real F-102 56-1409 of 156 FIS

Looks like a detailed kit, do you import them or they are available off the shelf here?

It is a prebuilt diecast metal model by the brand - Hobbymaster. HM models are available in India through their authorised dealer in India - DBJets. I get them from him.

Another great addition to your collection of American fighters. An aircraft from the dawn of the supersonic era and probably the very first production aircraft (re)designed to the area rule to reduce drag and increase speed. I always had a soft spot for the F-102 given how it was designed when all these discoveries were so new - afterburners, delta wings, area-rule - and they designed in an internal missile bay to cut drag & improve endurance while racing to the target. the F-102 was in squadron service by 1956 while all its contemporaries were barely making their prototype flights. The 1940s & 1950s world over was an age of discovery in aviation with lots of experimentation, new discoveries and lots of accidents. The moderate top speed of ~720 knots is also indicative of how much designers struggled in those days to match the (significant) engine power available, of 76kN, with the right wing & drag configuration.

As expected from Hobby Master a beautifully crafted model with sharp details right down to the missile bay. This was on my target list :-). Congratulations @skanchan95.

Thank you Sir. I had been eyeing Century series fighters for a while now. The Starfighter came first, then the Super Sabre and now this Delta Dagger. However, it is the Voodoo that I really want as it was probably the first fighter in the world to have a dedicated 'Guy in the back' to look after the radar operation and weapons firing solution duties and in many ways, was the predecessor to the Phantom in that concept.

Please do post pics of your Skyraider. It is something I am waiting for eagerly.

Love your Delta Dagger. Remind me, did it serve with the National Guard only?

Voodoo is one of my favourites. I made a beautiful model when I was about 16-18. I need to check because I am pretty sure I still have it somewhere. The Voodoo is a big plane! Compared to other planes of that era, F4 Phantom comes close in size I guess.

Waiting for the Skyraider images too. It was one of the very first Airfix models I ever made, together with the Bronco. I have seen Skyraiders still flying on the US airshows in 2009-2012. Gorgeous sound!

It served in USAF units as well as ANG Units. If I recall correctly, George W. Bush, flew F-102s with Texas ANG.

Would love to see pictures of your model.

1:72 MiG-21bis Fishbed-L 1st Fighter Squadron "Avenger of Dubrovnik", Croatian Air Force, 1993 (Hobbymaster)

The MiG-21 needs no introduction to any military aviation enthusiast. The MiG-21 holds a special place in Indian military aviation history because its variants have defended our skies since 1964 and it continues to do so till today.

The MiG-21 was originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. HAL manufactured three variants of the MiG-21 in India - Type 77 MiG-21FL, Type 88 MiG-21M and Type 75 MiG-21bis( many of which were in the 2000s upgraded to Bison standards)

It is small, fast, agile and most importantly simple making it easy to turn out great numbers of the plane. In IAF service, the MiG-21 still has the shortest scramble time from ORP.

The MiG-21bis comes from the family of fourth generation MiG-21. It had improved air combat performances at low and medium altitudes, engine and airframe was slightly redesigned (compared to third generation MiG-21s such as MiG-21M/MF/SM/SMT etc).

MiG-21bis 102 "Avenger of Dubrovnik"
Unit: 1st Fighter Squadron, HRZ (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo or Croatian Air Force)

In 1991 a War of Independence between Croatia and Yugoslavia began and lasted until November 1995 when Croatia won its independence from Yugoslavia. Croatia gained its three MiG-21bis’s in February 1992 and May 1993 when Croatian born pilots defected from the Yugoslav Air Force. The aircraft were painted with the Croatian emblem and re-serialed 101, 102 and 103. The only survivor 102 is on display at the 91st Air Base Museum, Zagreb-Pleso, Croatia.

Serial: 102 (ex-Yugoslav Air Force 17235)
On 15 May 1992, Capt.Ivica Ivandic of the Yugoslav Air Force defected with this MiG-21bis to Croatia. MiG-21bis '102' - nick-named 'Osvetnik Dubrovnika' ('Avenger of Dubrovnik') was the former '17235' of the Yugoslav Air Force. The aircraft wore a the insignia of the - then - 1st Squadron Croatian Air Force- Black Knight helmet with shield in Croatian national colours - and the town arms of the historic City of Dubrovnik, which was heavily damaged by Serbian air and artillery strikes, in 1991. It is believed that this is the sole survivor of the original three Croatian AF MiG-21s, acquired through defections of Yugoslav Air Force pilots, in 1992. 1st Squadron was subsequently renumbered to 21st Squadron.

As for the other two MiG-21bis which defected from Yugoslav Air Force to Croatia, they were not as lucky as 102.

101 - The first MiG acquired by the Croats was MiG-21bis-K, previously serialled '17133' in the Yugoslav Air Force. The aircraft was acquired on 4 January 1992, when Yugoslav Air Force Captain Danijel Borovic defected with the aircraft to Pleso IAP, near Zagreb. The aircraft got the new serial '101' applied on the nose, as well as a large Croatian flag on the fin, and the Croatian shield on the rear fuselage. No. '101' was to see only a short service with the HRZ, then it was shot down already on 24 June 1992 by a SA-14 SAM.

103 - On 15 May 1992 Capt Ivan Selak defected with this aircraft to Pleso Airport, Zagreb, Croatia. Aircraft was nick-named 'Osvetnik Vukovara' in the memory of the eastern-Croatian City of Vukovar, completely destroyed in a long siege in 1991. The aircraft is former '17167' of the Yugoslav Air Force and the arms of the City of Vukovar. On 14 September 1993 was shot down by Serbian Strela MANPAD, pilot Capt. Miroslav Peric, was killed.

Capts Ivica Ivandić and Ivan Selak fought on behalf of Croatian forces in the Yugoslav Wars and survived.

Croatian Air Force MiG-21bis 102 :


You can make out the Yugoslav flag markings on the tail fin, roundels on the wings and serial number on the nose blanked out on the Croatian MiG.

Yugoslav Air Force MiG-21bis 210:


General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 15.0 m (49 ft 2.5 in) (with pitot)
Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 5.66 in)
Height: 4.125 m (13 ft 6.41 in)
Wing area: 23.0 m2 (247.3 sq ft)
Empty weight: 5,339 kg (11,770 lb)
Gross weight: 8,725 kg (19,235 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Tumansky R25-300 , 40.21 kN (9,040 lbf) thrust dry, 69.62 kN (15,650 lbf) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: 2,237 km/h (1,468 mph, 1,276 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 2.05
Range: 1,210 km (751 mi, 653 nmi) (internal fuel)
Service ceiling: 17,800 m (58,400 ft)
Rate of climb: 225 m/s (44,280 ft/min)

Armament
1x internal 23 mm GSh-23 cannon with 250 rounds
4x K-13A or 6 x Molniya R-60 AAM or
2x 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs



The real 102:








With the centerline drop tank loaded, the single ventral airbrake would not operate, the two front ones would continue to work regardless.






A common mistake that collectors do is mount the MiG-21 drop tanks in the inner pylons( HM too did it in their product photos). The drop tanks cannot be mounted on the inner pylons in a 3rd/4th gen four pylon MiG-21






'Osvetnik Dubrovnika' ('Avenger of Dubrovnik')




The cockpit is detailed as well:








Note the GSh-23 cannon


Here's to the hope that one day HM will release an Indian MiG-21

Focke Wulf Ta-152.

The final iteration of the FW-190, this one was suffixed with Ta in honour of Kurt Tank who later designed the Marut for us.

Attached Thumbnails

 

1:72 BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 "Operation Deliberate Force" No.800 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm , HMS Invincible. Mediterranean July 1995 (Hobbymaster)

The fourth Harrier in my collection and by far the best.

The Harrier as all of us know was the Harrier a V/STOL(Vertical/Short Take off & Landing) fighter. It has four vectorable nozzles. The nozzles point in the rearward position for horizontal flight and for vertical takeoff or landing, the nozzles are pointed downward.

The Sea Harrier F/A.2 was an improved variant of the British Aerospace (BAe)Sea Harrier FRS.1 with a more powerful engine, improved air-to-air capabilities( new radar - Blue Vixen, replacing FRS.1's Blue Fox Radar), new RWR and weapons options(BVR capability - AIM-120 AMRAAM integration). The FA.2 continued in service until 2006 when it was replaced by the Harrier GR9. 56 FRS.1 Sea Harriers were upgraded to F/A.2 standards.

Sea Harrier FA.2 carried the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and it was the first British aircraft to have this capability. An upgraded model of the Pegasus engine, the Pegasus Mk 106, was used in the Sea Harrier FA2. Other improvements included an increase to the air-to-air weapons load, look-down radar, increased range, and improved cockpit displays.

The AIM-120 could be carried the F/A.2 in four weapon stations - two each on the outer wing stations and two in place of the centerline gunpods as shown in the pictures below:



AIM-9s could also be carried in dual IRM launchers(FRS.1s too had this capability so did our upgraded LUSH Sea Harrier FRS.51s - which could a unique combination of Derby BVR & Python IV or Magic II IR missiles in a dual missile launcher in the outboard pylons:


When the F/A.2s were retired in 2006 by the Royal Navy, the Indian Navy expressed interest in acquiring up to eight of the Royal Navy's retired Sea Harrier FA2s in order to maintain their operational Sea Harrier fleet. But neither the Sea Harrier F/A2's Blue Vixen radar, the advanced RWR or AMRAAM capability was proposed to be included and certain US software would also be uninstalled prior to shipment. The deal did not go through due to the cost of airframe refurbishment.

In 2006, the Indian Navy started upgrading its 15 Sea Harrier FRS.1s in collaboration with Israel by installing the Elta EL/M-2032 radar, a fixed IFR probe(removable like the F/A.2 IFR probe) and the Rafael Derby medium-range air-to-air BVR missile - called LUSH upgrade (Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier). The Sea Harriers served with tee Indian Navy till 2016.


Sea Harrier ZD608
ZD608 first flew in 1985 as an FRS.1 and joined No.801 Naval Air Squadron in 1986. ZD608 was one of 56 FRS.1 aircraft upgraded to FA2 standards. The FA2’s primary task was fleet defender but in 1995 assigned to HMS Invincible, ZD608 as part of Operation Deliberate Force demonstrated the FA2 could be used in a strike role. Operation Deliberate Force was a sustained air campaign conducted by NATO to stop Bosnian Serb Army aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War with the Srebrenica and Markale massacres, precipitating the intervention. In 2006, Sea Harrier F/A.2s were retired and ZD608 ended its career with a collector in Greece.



General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
Wingspan: 25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)
Height: 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m)
Wing area: 201.1 sq ft (18.68 m2)
Empty weight: 14,585 lb (6,616 kg)
Maximum fuel weight, internal: 5,182 lb (2,351 kg)
Maximum fuel weight, 2x 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 l) drop tanks: 6,762 lb (3,067 kg)
Maximum fuel weight, 2x 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 l) drop tanks: 8,184 lb (3,712 kg)
Maximum fuel weight, 2x 330 imp gal (396 US gal; 1,500 l) drop tanks: 10,396 lb (4,716 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 26,200 lb (11,884 kg) Short T/O
17,620 lb (7,992 kg) Vertical T/O
Fuel capacity: 630 imp gal (757 US gal; 2,864 l) internal fuel in 5 fuselage and two wing integral tanks; provision for 2x 100 imp gal (120 US gal; 455 l) combat drop tanks or 2x 190 imp gal (228 US gal; 864 l) combat drop tanks or 2x 330 imp gal (396 US gal; 1,500 l) ferry drop tanks on inboard wing pylons only.
1x 50 imp gal (60 US gal; 227 l) Demineralized water aft of the engine

Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus 106 vectored thrust turbofan engine, 21,500 lbf (96 kN) thrust with water injection

Performance
Maximum speed: 618 kn (711 mph, 1,145 km/h) / M0.94 at sea level
578 kn (665 mph; 1,070 km/h) / M0.97 at altitude
Combat range: 400 nmi (460 mi, 740 km) high-altitude intercept with 3 minutes combat and reserves for VL250 nmi (288 mi; 463 km) for ground attack missions
Ferry range: 1,740 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (16,000 m)
g limits: +7.8 -4.2
Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
Wing loading: 130.28 lb/sq ft (636.1 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 1.22
Take-off run STO: 1,000 ft (305 m) at MTOW without ramp

Armament
Guns: 2× 30 mm (1.18 in) ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage, with 130 rounds each
Hardpoints: 4× under-wing pylon stations, and 1 fuselage pylon on centerline plus 2 attach points for gun pods with a total capability of 8,000 lb (3,630 kg) of payload.
Rockets: 4× Matra rocket pods with 18 SNEB 68 mm rockets each

Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-120 AMRAAM

Air-to-surface missile:
ALARM anti-radiation missile (ARM)
Martel missile ARM
Anti-ship missiles:
Sea Eagle
Bombs: A variety of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs).
Others:
reconnaissance pod or
2× auxiliary drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time

Avionics
Ferranti Blue Vixen all-weather airborne radar
BAE Systems AD2770 Tactical Air Navigation System
Thales MADGE Microwave Airborne Digital Guidance Equipment
Allied Signal AN/APX-100 mk12 IFF
Marconi Sky Guardian 200 RWR
2x BAE Systems AN/ALE 40 chaff/flare dispensers



Bomb markings under the cockpit - indicating the number of bombs dropped by the aircraft during Operation Deliberate Force. The fixed IFR probe visible.








Inflight - Replaced AIM-9s with AIM-120s.














The Sea Harrier F/A.2 & FRS.1. The only major & noticeable difference between the two Harriers is the shape of the nose.




My Harrier Fleet - 2 X RN Sea Harrier FRS.1s, 1 RN Sea Harrier F/A.2 & 1 RAF Harrier GR.3

Excellent model, our Falcon Slayer ! I was just about to write hoping for a IAF Mig-21 when I read your line. IAF was one of the biggest operators of the Mig-21 but there are hardly any models in IAF colours, similar is the case with Indigo A320s. I am able to find diecast models of Air Seychelles A320s (they have 2!) but not Indigo(250+ in service and 600+ on order).

Excellent finishing and painting. You should make a post how you paint these models with such realistic detail. I always wondered why this aircraft did not have a FW- prefix.

Looking forward to an Indian Navy Sea Harrier as No.5! Are these all from DBJets? He told me new imports are on hold for now.

Yes and that is the Irony. Indian models get sold out at the manufacturer's end. For e.g I am told the InFlight Indian Airlines Caravelle is sold out at the manufacturer's end. The AV72 1/72 IAF Gnat is popular and is difficult to get. The JC IAF Su-30MK is sold out as well. Yet manufacturers are somewhat reluctant to make Indian models as they believe the market for scale models in India is pretty poor.

But good news is they are trying to do something. I believe InFlight is coming out 1/200 models of an AI A310(VT-EJH) and a B747-200(VT-EBO) this year. HM may try to make something in IAF livery I am told.

HM didn't have a FRS.1 mould till now. But as per their last year's product leaflet, they are coming out with a RN Sea Harrier FRS.1, mostly by the end of this year. So hopefully an IN Sea Harrier FRS.51 isn't far way....

Coming up next...


It is easy to identify this aircraft type. But guess exactly which variant is this of that aircraft type and how you came to that conclusion.

The hint lies in the picture itself. The hint that I am referring to was a feature unique to this variant and most of its brothers/sisters did not have this feature.

A variant of the Su-27 "Flanker".

Yes, but which one and why?