1:48 F-106B Delta Dart canopy mask (inside and outside) Trumpeter

The cockpit of the two-seat Dart from both sides

The double-sided form of the stencils for the long canopy of the F-106B version. Besides the outer framing it covers the inner side as well, which is more visible on a two-seat cockpit than on a single-seat one, because the glazed area is substantially larger. The name of the item gives which kit the set belongs to.

A machine for training and for alert

The rear seat came about for retraining pilots onto the demanding weapon system, but the aircraft remained a full interceptor. The difference from the single-seat version is visible mainly on the upper part of the fuselage: the glazing continues further back and the transition into the spine is gentler. The flying characteristics stayed almost the same, with only a small price in performance. The two-seat machines flew with the same units as the single-seat ones and ended their service together with them.

How to go about it in practice

• Start with the inside, while the clear part is loose in your hand.
• Carry the cockpit shade right up to the edge of the frame, so that nothing shows through from outside.
• Spray the outer frames together with the surrounding skin of the fuselage.
• Give the paint time between coats; twice the area is easily scratched.
• Check the edges against the light before the final clear coat.

Who it suits

Modelers who want to reach real depth on a large glazed area, not merely a dark silhouette of frames. The difference is apparent above all seen from above, when the cockpit is visible along its whole length. It also suits building a pair of the single-seat and the two-seat aircraft in the same scheme.