Colors & Markings: F-102 Delta Dagger

For many modelers who grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, the F-102 holds a special place in their hearts. It remains a popular subject and Detail & Scale’s Colors & Markings of the F-102 Delta Dagger is a perfect resource for anyone building the Convair interceptor.

Author Rock Roszak opens with a very useful discussion of the paint schemes applied to Delta Daggers, including Federal Standard numbers, and specifications for the markings. Special sections are devoted to the Southeast Asia camouflage pattern applied to some and the aluminized lacquer metallic finish used on a small number of F-102s. Then, the book dives into the squadrons that operated the Delta Dagger in the Air Defense Command, U.S. Air Forces Europe, Pacific Air Forces, and Air National Guard.

Each squadron is illustrated with photos and Roszak’s sharply done color profiles. This accounting demonstrates the colorful markings applied to what were otherwise mostly gray planes.

If you need information to finish one or a fleet of F-102s, you need this reference.

~Aaron Skinner, Editor of FineScale Modeler