Revell 1/48 F-14A Tomcat....(WIP) UPDATE!!! NEW PICS!!!

That is looking really good! The Control panels look awesome! I still can't do that, how the heck...! If that is the MM metalizer steel, it might pull off if you have to mask anything, so you might want to be careful with that. The only thing I will say against it is that the seat is way to dark, and the interiors of most modern jets is dark gull gray. I'm not picking, just telling you for future reffrence so when you do that big F-16 MM has just about all the colors you will want/need. Everything is looking really good James!

She looks good from here. Looks better than mine its still unfinished dought it will get there eaither

Great job on the detail for the control panels and consols.  As others have edited, the correct base color for the cockpit should be Dark Gull Gray (MM offering).  I really like color of the CRT screens you mixed, gives the illusion that they're turned on.  I have tons of references, most however have been from the web.  The injection seat can be salvaged, your base color green is a bit dark but with a good dry-brush technique you can get it to look acurate.  Here is a photo of the F-14's GRU-7A seat.  So far so good!

hey plastic...thanks for the picture of the seats. i had already painted the seats a grey and the green sorta can be seen. its a bit lighter than in the pic but overall it looks good.

one question? do you paint the plane before or after its all assembled? cause its telling me to install the cockpit but the upper fuselage isnt painted yet.

jamesber wrote:

one question? do you paint the plane before or after its all assembled? cause its telling me to install the cockpit but the upper fuselage isnt painted yet.

This is just what I do, and probably what most people do. I usually paint after I have all the main componets on the airframe. Wings, uprights, radome all that stuff that make up the main body, that way you can clean up any bad joints and you don't have to paint it several times. You can paint before, but if you have to putty you will end up sanding some of it off and repainting. It just depends on what you are planning to do!

jamesber wrote:

Yeah i think the seat is a bit too dark. That would fit more in a WW2 plane i think. The steel is actually testors. What is MM? Model masters? As far as the F-16....im following the colors by the book. Thanks for the kind words eizzle.

MM is model master, which is testors. Instead of using steel, an exterior color, use gull gray. It's in a big rack at your hobby shop where the military (FS) numbers are. I've got one Q though, Why spend $160 on a 1/32 model, as it will be your 2nd. No offence! but it seems like you should practice on some airfix or other old models before. Even though I didn't!

Metalizer is an airbrushed metal colored lacquer that gives a good metal look.

MontanaCowboy wrote:

jamesber wrote: Yeah i think the seat is a bit too dark. That would fit more in a WW2 plane i think. The steel is actually testors. What is MM? Model masters? As far as the F-16....im following the colors by the book. Thanks for the kind words eizzle. MM is model master, which is testors. Instead of using steel, an exterior color, use gull gray. It's in a big rack at your hobby shop where the military (FS) numbers are. I've got one Q though, Why spend $160 on a 1/32 model, as it will be your 2nd. No offence! but it seems like you should practice on some airfix or other old models before. Even though I didn't!   Metalizer is an airbrushed metal colored lacquer that gives a good metal look.

Well as far as spending that much on my first model....ever since i saw that i knew i just had to have it. Probably wont get built for another 4 or 5 months at least. I will be painting this plane mostly with an airbrush except for the smaller bits.

Im going to my hobby shop today to get light gray(which is supposed to be the plane's main color) in a spray can so i can at least paint this plane and not wait to get an airbrush(moneys kinda tight!!). I also need to get primer in a spray can(i might not even use it if i dont feel its neccassary) and i need a clear coat in a spray can. everything else will be hand painted.  If i do this i might have this plane done in a few weeks.

Update:

I glued the wing halfs together and sanded them so they fit perfect. Now i just need to paint the wings and the body so i can begin putting it together. Pics soon.....

PS- cockpit is almost fully done and i think its coming out amazing!!

James, for reference, check out this site http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/.  Click on gallery, then go to jets, then scroll down to the F-14 listings.  There area  great many beautiful F-14 kits there, including 13 of the Monogram kit you're building.

For more info, click on forums, go to the jet modeling forum, & do a search for "monogram F-14" or something with  F-14, Tomcat, etc.

Chris Ish

Chris_in_Japan wrote:

That is really comming along nicely!.. I am now starting to guess that the Revell kit is the same as the Academy kit? Cockpit tub looks identicle!.. Look forward to your progress! Chris

Hey again!! Havent been on here in a long time. Didnt really finish any more on the models but im thinking of starting up again. Ill post new pics soon!!

It's coming out sharp.  I built this kit for a friend of mine about 10 years ago or so and I still remember that it wasn't a "shake and bake" build...

Definitely post more in-progress pics.