F-14A “Queen of Spades” ( COMPLETED )

bvallot

Cool. Glad to hear it. Would you recommend any AM for the Tamiya cockpit or cans and such??

 

I  use pe or resin parts only if the details are weak or missing. IMO the Tamiya cat is kick ass fantastic as an OOB build.

Cool. Glad to hear it. Would you recommend any AM for the Tamiya cockpit or cans and such??

bvallot

Very cool PJ! She's looking dressed to kill. Is there a favorite kit for the Tomcat you favor in this scale?  I've heard mixed reviews.

 

Thanks bv. I have built Monogram/Revell, Italeri /Testors, Hasegawa and Tamiya Tomcats and the best in fit and details is Tamiya hands down. I do have two Hobbyboss Tomcats in the stash that look impressive in details but will know better once I actually build one of them.

Very cool PJ! She's looking dressed to kill. Is there a favorite kit for the Tomcat you favor in this scale?  I've heard mixed reviews.

The F14A is completed. This Italeri / Testors Kit has good and bad things.

The good:

Great fit

Recessed panel lines

Good molded details in the wheel bays

The bad:

No nose probe, had to drill out a hole for a am pitot tube

No interior canopy details, no rear canopy deck in kit, used a piece of left over pe metal to hold the canopy open.

Pit details including seats have weak details. I used a resin pit and seats for better details.

Gun blast door has the incorrect shape.

Provided missiles are undersized and lack details. I used missiles from the Hasegawa missile 

set.

Thanks Greg.

Just gave the Queen her claws. She is almost done.

It never ceases to amaze me how much decals add to the wow factor of model. Holds very true on this one.

Really looking good, Ernie.

keavdog

Ordinance looks great!

 

Thanks John. I ditched the kit’s missiles and used the ones in the Hasegawa set. Some stripes are hand painted others are decals.

Ordinance looks great!

Flight Line Media

plasticjunkie, You have guts man! Way to go on tacking a Testors kit! Wow. It looks incredible too. One of the nicest Tomcats I have seen actually. I know some retired F-14 pilots. What a bird that would have been to fly huh? I can't wait to see the final product. Seeing this beauty makes me want to buy a Tomcat, albeit Tamiya's or AMK's F-14. I built the Monogram one and that was enough for me haha.

 

Thanks Andrew. I’m building two of them and I like them better than the old Revells even though the Revell pit is way better detailed. 

If you want a great Tomcat then go with a Tamiya hands down, you will love the quality.

bvallot

Nice Tomcat PJ!! Definitely a favorite subject of mine. Happy to have you share your tricks for getting her dressed up. Looking forward to seeing that ordinance hanging from the racks =]

 

 

Thanks bv. Indeed a great site to see her racks  dressed up and loaded. Stay tuned.

Nice Tomcat PJ!! Definitely a favorite subject of mine. Happy to have you share your tricks for getting her dressed up. Looking forward to seeing that ordinance hanging from the racks =]

Just completed decaling the AA weapons. They need a shot of clear flat and will be ready to be mounted on The Queen.

Thanks Joe. This has become my go to method for getting tonal variations in the paint. The clear gloss has subdued the marbling and spotty effect but will be a tad more visible once I spray clear flat. Now I’m working on painting and applying decals to the missiles.

That whole marble/ warble pattern really gives military aircraft a good / worn look by breaking up the paint variations. Pretty much the only approach I use any more. I did take it a step further on my 262 by darkening the panel lines in addition to the marble pattern and it seemed to turn out well. 

Looking good on this build Ernie.

Decals and Flory wash applied to pop recessed details

Getting the weapons ready for paint and more belly staining/griming

Decals are starting to dress up the Queen. Lots more to add specially tiny stencils to both airframe and missiles.

mustang1989

Really liking your painting method Ernie!! Man that looks good!!! 

 

Thanks Joe. Started on the decals this evening and will post an update soon.

Really liking your painting method Ernie!! Man that looks good!!! 

TheMongoose

Now I like that - enough weathering to be noticeable, not overdone. Going to be a carbon copy of the picture. Should look really great as you finish up the decals and pull it all together.

 

Thanks mongoose. In the picture as you zoom in can see some discoloring and grime. I have been unable to find any additional pictures of the Queen during this deployment so I winged it.

Now I like that - enough weathering to be noticeable, not overdone. Going to be a carbon copy of the picture. Should look really great as you finish up the decals and pull it all together.

Weird duplicate

The  Queen got her weathered color coat and red fin tips.  The decals will be next. 

PhilliePhan79

Nice work masking the front.  Marbling seems to be the perfect choice for Navy jets.  Gives it that sun faded salty weather look.

 

Thanks, I still need to adjust a couple of angles up front. Like you said, the marbling technique gives that uneven finish seen on the later Navy schemes. Even though the Queen looks clean in the picture sitting on the flight deck, zoom in and you can see that patchy finish non the hull grey paint.

UnwaryPaladin

Really looking good, your masking skill is impressive! 

Love the Tomcats, have only built them in 1/144. 

Joe

 

Thanks Joe. If you want to try building a really nice kitty then I suggest the Tamiya cat. It goes together so easy and the details are super. It's a bit more $ than the other brands but well worth every penny.

Nice work masking the front.  Marbling seems to be the perfect choice for Navy jets.  Gives it that sun faded salty weather look.

Really looking good, your masking skill is impressive! 

Love the Tomcats, have only built them in 1/144. 

Joe

Greg

Looking great, PJ.

Who doesn't love an F-14? I can't believe I've never built one.

I'm interested in seeing how your marbling is progressing. Neat technique..

 

Thanks Greg. This technique requires more effort and patience building up the color coats but it really works at giving that worn dirty look. It breaks up the solid color look into lots of tonal shades.