F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

Hey all,

I have the dreaded 1/48 Revell/Monogram F-14A that I am currently building and would like to get in as well if it is not too late. I will be doing it in VF-41 ( I believe it's the Black Aces) and can also use all the motivation I can get as well. This will not be a contest winner by a long shot, I'm coming back to the hobby after a long absence, have the wife and 3 teenagers so I can empathize about family issues and not getting enough time to build-I don't even have a bench, I must "borrow" the kitchen table and make sure to put everything up when I'm done. Talk about a motivation buster! Anyways I'm already along in construction, cockpit is done and installed and I am ready to close up the fuselage and do the putty/sanding routine. This wil be entirely OOB except for decals. If I'm in I'll post some pics, if it's too late I'll hang back and learn from reading the thread. I'm already learning alot so thanks to everyone!

Wies , I do plan to build a VF-33 bird, just not for this group build. That aircraft, along with an VF-102 F-14, F-18s from VFA-82 & VFA-86, an A-6E & EA-6B from VA-85 & VAQ-135 respectively, an S-3B from VS-32, & finally an HS-11 SH-3H will be my CVW-1 Group Build of sorts. I took some pics of CVW-1 & the America during Fleet Week ‘91 in NYC, just after it had gotten back from Desert Storm. Ever since then, I’ve been collecting what I need to build the air wing. I’ve got 92% of everything I need to build the whole wing, with the missing 8% being that there is no injection molded 1/48 E-2C. I’m sure I’ve seen some VAW-123 decals in 1/48 somewhere (Collectaire, I think). Now all I need is the time, which, because I’m in the military & looking at a return trip to the sandbox, is never really enough to get good, productive modeling done.

Chris Ishmael

I have enjoyed reading everything that is going on in your GB. I can't believe that nobody wanted to tackle a VF-33 Starfighter. They were the first cat squadron on the East Coast to be dis-established. I was a proud member of that squadron and am truly going to miss the cat.

I have been trying to work on my own cat at the house. You guys are doing a great job. Keep up the great work and keep the cat alive.

Thanks for those pics, Chris!Those are way better pics than at the site I referenced. Bert likes! Now I'm definitely stoked and can't wait to start applying paint and decals.

Mitch is jealous! A and B models have all the cool markings.

OH well, I could do that if I wanted...as it is, I'm doing a Pukin' Dogs, they never flew the D model (so I hear). So my build will be a "ficticious" or "what if".

MA, FS 15044 is Gloss Insignia Blue. FS 35044 is Flat Insignia Blue.

Bstrump, that VF-11 a/c is a good choice. I took some pics of the current VF-11 CAG bird, which is not the same aircraft on the 2Bobs sheet, but the markings are nearly identical. The dark areas are gloss insignia blue. Take a gander.
.








This was the nose art on the GAC bird. The other two VF-11aircraft that I photographed that day had this exact nose art also, but with no color.


That nose art will be forthcoming from 2Bobs Decals in the future. I sent Mr. Roberto Sanchez (one of the 2Bobs) these same pics & I recieved an e-mail reply this past Friday. I look forward to this sheet, as its a rare occasion that you get to build an aircraft that you actually have seen in person.

Also, I'm thrilled that the completion deadline has been extended. I havn't worked on any models in over a month due to work & family obligations.

Those pics have been resized. If you want the full size pics, drp me an e-mail.

Chris Ishmael

Chuck: AMEN! to that. My wife and I had an agreement when we first got married, "Never let the sun set on an argument or grudge." In other words, if we have an argument at 10:00 at night, it's settled before we kiss each other good-night. As far as So. California being a "paradise", I understand that most of the time you've got great weather and beautiful scenery. But you've got mudslides, earthquakes, and Los Angeles, on the "down side". Here in the midwest, we have hot, humid summers, hot- and cold- winters (roller coaster temps), and tornados. I've heard that you take "the good with the bad"...our good here is relative economic stability, and being geographically isolated from LA Ha ha. Just kidding around about LA.

Jon: No, that's a BIG-A** dog! He still is...we sold him to a lady with a female Dane, and two acres of land. Caesar was still "intact" when we sold him, she wanted to breeed her female.

bstrump: What is the color name of 15044? I was just looking at a bottle of Testors MM enamel titled "insignia blue" (flat, I don't remember FS number), that's what I'd use.

Have a good day y'all!

Of course you can, though it may not be up to me, but the end date is now in June. So start building. What unit are you planning to depict? And please show us some images as you progress. Welcome to the GB.

Chuck
Fly Navy

Is it too late to get in on the build? If I can, I'd like to do the academy 1/72 F-14A. My first modern fighter, and my first time trying an airbrush, so this should be interesting.

Great to read about the end date for this GB. Thank you Jesus!. Mitch, step back take a breath. Things will be just fine. I'm at the point to start painting this kit but with the rain of the 1st half of the century we are having at the moment here in So. California it has been a challenge to do any airbrushing. Just too much moisture in the air.
As I sit here and type another Winter Storm warning is being issued at this time. Pretty heavy stuff with sinkholes in sun Valley, the 101 Fwy is flooded in Hollywood at the Santa Monica Blvd exit. Meanwhile south of here in Orange Co., a young 16 yr old girl is killed when a mud slide hits the side of here home while on her computer! and she was on the upper level where you think she would be pretty safe! So needless to say So Cal is not such a paradise and not so sunny lately! More rain is expected through Wed, with the worse coming all day tomorrow. As if we've haven't had enough already. Anyhow, the most important thing is family. Give them a hug tonight and don't go to bed angry!
Trust me you won't wake up any happier otherwise.

Chuck
Fly Navy

QUOTE: Originally posted by MA Cooke Ah, bstrump, I had my eye on that one, the CAG bird from the "Red Rippers", too. I read somewhere that the tail and canopy area are black, but they sure do look dark blue. If I were doing that one, I'd paint it dark blue.

You have a keen eye and I lke it when people agree with me. I am going to paint them dark blue, FS15044 in fact. That's the colour TwoBobs quote and they get their info right from the squadron. Colour photos on the sheet show it to be blue as well. To the paint shop!

hiya guys- I didn't get to bring any of my stuff with me to Chicago so I thought I'd check in and see how things are going. I'm glad things are better Mitch. Sometimes we just got to have those moments. Dude, that's one BIG dog!
Well, I'm eager to get back- I have some free time at the end of the week. Maybe that'll entail some bench time too.

Ga.modeler...not to be nosy, and if it's too personal, just say so; is this a step-child situation, or a foster child situation? My oldest two are my step children, and my wife and I have certainly had issues with their "biological father" from day one...actually, she's been doing battle with him before we even met.

I don't want to intrude...if it's too touchy just say so.

Ah, bstrump, I had my eye on that one, the CAG bird from the "Red Rippers", too. I read somewhere that the tail and canopy area are black, but they sure do look dark blue. If I were doing that one, I'd paint it dark blue. But I'm not, am I? I'm doing VF-143, the infamous "Pukin' Dogs". And trust me, I had a 170 lb. Great Dane who got into everything, I know a bit about puking dogs. There are times I miss Caesar...he was the biggest wuss! You could just say his name in a stern tone, and he'd hang his head like he'd just caused a nuclear meltdown. He was such a gentle one....here's a photo of him:



And here's one of him, standing up to me...I'm 5-10, and he's clearly a big one...



OK guys, I'm all better now. I needed to vent last night...after my wife and I had a big argument.

Y'all take care.

well can i join the group on the ol burnout. with whats been going on the last few weeks and still to come i have a total flameout. the cat is in various parts and some of it has been painted i know how it is with kids my 13 year old neice has been a handful these last few days and its only gong to get worse this friday as we go back to court for a custody fight maybe after this friday i can get things back to some normal around here and get some quality modeling done.

im all for extending the finish date. i just cant meet the finish date, school is crazy

Sorry about the foul language guys....

I am very, very frustrated to say the least. I have spent 15 minutes in the last 2 weeks at my workbench...and it's gonna be another week before I can spend any more.

No, nothing got smashed, nothing got thrown away. I get very overwhelmed, and sometimes "say" (post) things that I later regret.

No model airplanes were harmed during my latest crisis.

wow i havent been here for one day so many things happened

happy to see u guys. About the due date well wat can i say . at least there is time for the tough to get going.
talking about trading kits , anyone has jolly roger F14 B 1/48 (Hasegawa)? been looking for this kit for awhile now.
Mac Cooke:
Sory to hear of your younger days incident, like trump. it really send chill to my spine when i heard this. My Gf feel slip down while she walk and blacks out .this happned couple of years ago. she might have lower bone cracks , still hurt when sitting down. But your case is a sad story sorry to hear it , so now u need to check up on once in awhile ? Anyway take it easy on the kids and pls don throw anything away man.

Like everybody im strugling with my cat too been trying to mix the paint over n over again .......
as i do not have gunze paint and it is not for sale here. Iim stuck with my old stock of tamiya paint hope i can do something next week. oh gosh

Yes armorman, the Hasegawa 1/72 kits are excellent. They have their issues, too, but spending a few extra moments on fit means a lot less time on putty. Make the trade.

MA Cooke, my friend , I don't really know what to say except that is why I refuse to get married and have kids. If it's not one thing, it's two things.

Well, ahem , I have some progress to show you tonight on my Hasegawa 1/72 F-14B. I had to make a few mods to the kit to bring it up the latest standard. ECM blisters were added to the wing shoulder area and the rear cockpit was modified by adding the control stick for the LANTIRN pod and replacing the radar screen with a square MFD. I used the Hasegawa weapons set to add the LANTIRN pod, adapter pylon and updated Sidewinder rails. So here's some pics I shot before it heads into the paint shop.



As you can see, the kit was not without it's fit problems, the biggest being the fit of the forward fuselage to the rear. Also, there was a little bit of putty required where the intake trunks meet the side of the fuselage and where they join to the rear. No big deal though. Here's a link to The Home of MATS and some pics of what it will look like.anft.net/f-14/f14-photo-03.htm It's VF-11 Red Rippers' CAG bird. Scroll down to "VF-11" and look for AG-200 with the dark blue tails. Looks real sharp with the dark blue tails and canopy surround.

I think the new finish date will be good. I'm struggling to get the motivation to work on my kit. But, as long as I do little bits of work here and there, I'm sure I'll finish eventually. My build is still going along slowly, and I might do some more adding of PE to the thing tonight.

I go out of town for a couple of days and gee whiz.... hey Mitch, like pingtang, I don't know what to say other than I am not dealing with the kids but work is ripping me apart. This week has totaled 87 hours of work. Deadlines have me at my edges. It's Sunday night I just got back from St. Louis and tomorrow I have to go to Detroit. No kit time AGAIN for a couple of weeks. Stressed, yes, but I am not going through half as much as you have to, bud. From what you have told me through communications you have your hands full with your kids. Definitely sad to see you go and wondering if pingtang and uscusn have a hell of a solution:
****AMMENDMENT TO ORIGINAL RULES!!!!!!****
This build's finish date has been extended until June 1, 2005. I don't know what I was thinking but I think this could alleviate some stress. So.... fellas do yall think that will help?
Mitch, bear with us pal, maybe this can help and you can put the kit away for a while until things settle down. I've seen your build progress and I really want to see the finished product.
I know, guys, that these kits are not exactly easy to assemble and require more attention than most. My good news is that I finally got the new sprue from Academy and the old one is packed up. I hope to get some time mid-week to work on it. My middle name is slow as you know what....
So.... I gotta check the biz-mail and get packed. Have a good week and if anyone has photos to update lets see 'em. BTW, are the Hasegawa 1/72 Tomcats any good? A buddy wants to trade a 1/72 F-14D 'Bounty Hunters' for a 1/72 EA-6B that I got a while back. bstrump, which 1/72 kits are you working on?

Don't know what to say to that mate. If you are serious, I'll be sad to see you go.

BTW... Anything you want to get rid of, just send it my way .

Geesh....I try to squeeze in 15 BLEEP minutes of bench time and my wife is crying about needing help with the kids.

I give up.

I BLEEEP quit.

I'm putting all my kits up on e-Bay, and anything that's in progress will be smashed to hundreds of bits.

I'm BLEEP sick of it.

OFF TOPIC

FIREHOUSE?? I had a subscription to that mag for several years back in high school (mid-1980's). I was always trying to come up with witty quotes and captions for their monthly "caption the funny photo" contest, or whatever it's called.

I've had surprisingly little trouble with my back, considering that I'm very overweight. I still have the Harrington rods in; they rebuilt my vertabrae out of pieces of bone from my pelvis, this was an 8-hour surgery. And they fused L1 vertabrae to the one right above it. Then they put these two rods in, they're tied on to vertabrae above and below the inury point, to sort of "transfer" loading away from the weakened section. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks, and couldn't go to school for 3 months. I've got this scar from the top of my ****** all the way up to just below my shoulder blades area...looks like a flattened worm.

I was coming down a ladder and just lost my footing, fell about 10 feet. Three firefighters saw me fall, I remember hearing "Oh s**t he's falling" as I fell, and a very loud BAM! when I hit. I was wearing full bunker gear (or "turnouts"), Nomex hood, helmet, Scott air-pac, everything. The air pac was totally full, and I landed so hard that it bent the valve on the bottom of the tank. As soon as I hit, those three firefighters that saw me fall were on me, they grabbed hold of me and one said "Don't move, you may have messed up your back or neck, don't risk a spinal cord injury." How prophetic. Later on, they emptied that air pac, and with a light blow from an ordinary hammer, totally broke the valve off. I was almost a rocket.

Needless to say, I don't fight fires any more. And I don't care for ladders...my last job had me making a few visits to power plants, and I can't tell you how scared I got climbing 50 or 60 feet up in those caged ladders...my sphincter muscles are tightening just thinking of it.

And I don't like grated stairs, or stairs on the outside of buildings. I had to climb down some open, grated stairs at a power plant, outside, we were up 150 feet inspecting some equipment on an SCR (pollution control stuff). I was hyperventilating when I got to the bottom. I had no trouble walking around on grating, where you could look down between your feet and see straight down; but the stairs were tough.

MA Cooke, my back hurts just reading that! Ouch!!! I like the slime yellow, too. In fact, I like all departments that dare to be different. Not too long ago, I saw a rig painted Metallic Purple! Looked sharp. While you're at your neighbour's fire station, ask about a magazine called FIREHOUSE and have a look through it. It's full of photos of different rigs that should give you all kinds of ideas for your model.

I am with USCUSN that maybe we should extend the finish date a bit. I am in a slump too and trying to get out of it. I have built a couple of 'one nighter' subs that will look cool. But I just needed to finish something to say that I did. I had about 5 kits in various stages of completion. I also did the F-86E. To everyone that posted pics, great jobs!!!! Can't wait to see all of these things finished.

OFF TOPIC: bstrump - I just read your profile, and I forgot that you were a volunteer firefighter. I was a fire explorer in high school, and was participating in a small training fire (burned a small farmhouse to the ground), and fell about 10 ft off a ladder while coming down off the roof to ventilate. Landed as if sitting on ground, feet out in front. I suffered a severe compression fracture to L1 vertabrae, front half of it was in pieces, and it was jammed up into the vert. above it, and pulled backwards out of place about 3/8" of an inch.

The orthopaedic surgeon, and the neurosurgeon, both in their late 60's, told me that it was an absolute miracle that I wasn't paralyzed from the waist down. I actually had a small piece of bone lodged in my spinal cord. The neruosurgeon had to get my parents to sign a release before he'd remove it.

Anyways.....I like the "slime yellow" color, it's more visible in daytime and night, and at night the red lights reflect off it more. Red is actually harder to see at night. But, as much as emergency equipment is lit up, it's color is really not too important.

bstrump-Go ahead and show your F-14's, geez man, a couple of guys on ARC have completed a couple themselves. We wanna see your work. So don't be bashful. Believe me it can be a motivator.

Chuck
Fly Navy

QUOTE: Originally posted by MA Cooke bstrump...planes are going to take a backseat for a while?? Such heresy.... Actually, I have an AMT model of an American LaFrance Fire Engine, it makes the Hasegawa Tomcat look like a "snap-tite" kit. I've been mulling over starting it. But, it's going to be a significant "scratch build". My neighbor is a firefighter, and I'm going to go visit his station when he's working and take a boatload of photos for reference. And I'm going to paint it "lime green" or "lime yellow", too. Now to a firefighter, that's heresy.

Actually MA Cooke, I'm one of the few in the firefighting community that likes the lime yellow. It's audacious. Some of the reds I'm seeing lately make me puke. ALF had one at last years spring training seminar done in "Oxblood"

As far as progress on the GB, Tomcat #2 is ready for paint. So maybe in a couple of days after I've made more progress on the Merc, I'll get to painting it. As I've already finished one, I'm not in a hurry. Besides, I don't want to show everybody up by finishing two before anybody else has even finished one.

I've mentioned this before, I would like to remind the GB leader on this endeavour. March is way to soon for a Tomcat build to end. Some can crank them out quickly despite the complications. In my opinion we need to extend the end date. This is not a simple WWII single eng easy to build kit. Like the real F-14, it is a complicated kit. No matter who the maker is and what scale it is. Even without Aftermarket bits. I was in a groove but unexpected delays and other events have kept me from progressing as I wish. Tough to get one done in 3 months much less a pair of them. Maybe we can vote on this. Whatever the outcome. I am have a grand ole time!

Chuck
Fly Navy

Sorry I've been laxed, not burned out just not enough time to do anything. Really have only the weekends to work on the various projects. And never fails when the weekend does arrive so does the rain. On the Fujimi F-14A, since I will display this with the wings swept back. But instead of cutting the Fujimi wings and close up the flaps, I just got the Academy F-14 in the mail and for the heck of it test fitted their wings to the Fujimi kit, perfect fit so I will use them and save the Fujimi wings with the dropped slats for a future project.


Also went ahead and did a preshade using various blacks and dk grey. Was hoping to do some more this weekend on both Tomcats. But with the rain and temp being below 60 fahrenheit, it is hard to paint at that temp. Beside had to change the convt top on my BMW as well before the interior got ruined with all this rain.

Those little slices on the top is not for venting!....So I've had my plate full.

Chuck
Fly Navy