F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

That looks great bstrump. I like the shading on the grey, how did you do it? Thanks for the pics.

Dang bstrump- I can only hope my 1/48 comes out anywhere near as good as your 1/72. Very nice work! Excellent weathering on those panels!

Steve, Daniel and Jon, thanks for the kind words! The weathering was done like this. First I lightened the base coat with about 15% white. Then I oversprayed straight FS36440 in random spots to simulate the spot priming that always gets applied at sea. Next came the wash and wiping that off added more contrast. Finally, I ground up a pencil on some sandpaper and applied the dust to the model randomly with a brush and blew off the excess.

What a great build! Your weathering system seems to work well. I am contemplating doing something similar. We are all going to have some great looking Cats!

Thanks Mark! Yes, we are going to have some great looking Cats and I can't wait to see them all!

There is some fantastic news!!! The week begins anew and I have some good bench time planned for this week and weekend!!! After having a two week drought I am eager to get back in the game and seeing everyone's work I am inspired.
bstrump, Mitch, and uscusn- I really appreciate the photos you guys have been sending in and keeping us updated.
Steve- I've seen your work on the ARC site and it's incredible.
pingtang- as much putty and sanding as I have put in so far this kit still seems to be a good one.

BSTRump : yours is 72 ? wow i tot it was a 48 nice cant wait to see the finished cat

sorry guys i should have put some photo in here but anyway i on the way of getting a camera . hopefully a cheaper one

well better to work on the cat again thanks guy for all the photos.

Jon - I still like this kit too, I'm just a bit sanded out at the moment. And I'm having alot of fun with my Honda RC211V. Once I've finished that, hopefully within a week, I'll pull the old cat back out and start sanding again.
bstrump- I want to give something like that a go on my bird. There's just something I don't like about pre-shading. So I might try post shading this time, it might give me some more control over the outcome.

Hey everyone, I've been offline for a while .... but when the F-14 GB was still an idea, I posted about wanting to participate.

I got the Revell-Monogram 1/48 F-14D for my birthday (January 21) and have made some good progress on it, but have mostly been concentrating on my F-117 for the Stealth GB (it's amost done!).

I finished the cockpit this morning, and it doesn't look as good as some of the Cats I see on this thread but I'm still learning how to properly thin my paint so oh well. I'm very satisfied with my results so far. Anyway, enough rambling, now that I'm back in the game with my computer I was wondering if I could be considered a participant of the build with my project. Hoping to receive some good news.....

On a different note, however, the pics I've seen look GREAT. Huge cudos to everyone who's shared their progress!!

aaaand on another note, I was thinking about doing this model and giving it to my uncle when I'm done with it. He's a higher-up at the Naval Air Station in Key West and does stuff he's not allowed to talk about, but I've been looking around lately for records of what squadrons have been stationed there and when. I want to doll up my bird as a plane that is either there now or has been in the past ... my search has thus far been fruitless, but does anybody have an idea on how I could go about this? Thanks in advance---

Welcome Audiophile! Worry not whether your bird "measures up" to anyone else's. If you are satisfied, that is what matters. I look forward to seeing your progress photos, I'm sure everyone else does, too.

Bert, that Tomcat is looking "OUTSTANDING", as simple as I can put it. I agree that it looks as if it's a 1/48 model. Wow. You may give The Great One (aka Steve Filak) a run for his money...we all know how I practically worship his 'Cat. Ha ha.

Hey everyone, I say we have a contest or something. First 'Cat done (probably bstrump), most colorful 'Cat, last 'Cat done, most expensive single bird (probably mine, since I'm going through not one, but TWO Hasegawa 1/48 'Cats)(and a BB cockpit)(and I haven't bought decals yet), best OOB build, cheapest OOB build, best scratchbuild, best paint job, best landing gear, best armament, best canopy, heck we can come up with as many categories as there are entries.

Prizes? No prizes, just "bragging rights". Maybe a "patch" to affix to your signature.

Have fun everyone!!

Thank you, Mitch. I appreciate your kind words and I'm glad you like the Cat. Very shortly now,it'll have some claws and be ready to prowl. BTW, I'm making steady progress on the F-14B and I should have it ready to paint in the next few days. I can't wait to start putting on those Red Ripper decals from TwoBobs. It sound sounds like everyone is making good progress as well and I can't wait to see more pics!

...and another category: "most 'Cats built" (again probably bstrump).

Ok, a bit of progress update. I've been harping on other issues, 'nuff of that.

Here's my overall progress...I know, ONE wing painted? Well, 1 down, 3 to go.



And that horrible seam between the bottom "filler piece" and the lower forward fuselage is much less of an issue now. This was the good side...



...and this was the bad side...



That huge "canyon" that existed in front of the windscreen is now more a ravine.



I'm using this frosted windscreen to test my progress. I'll scavenge the windscreen from my hangared -A model.



OK, those of you not totally bored w/ my photos, thanks for sticking around. I'm anxiously awaiting my next couple of hours of bench time. I'm getting close to shooting the whole bird.

Comin' along nicely! You're doing an excellent job of handling all the fit problems. And man, that pit looks good!

Looking good Mitch. Looks like that filling and sanding is coming along nicely. I like the pit too. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the compliments...should I say, encouraging words? I keep getting very frustrated, there's a problem area here or there, and when I get that to where I think it's taken care of, something pops up somewhere else, not unlike that awful carnival game "Whack-a-Mole".

Right now, I'm satisfied with everything, except where the intakes come to a point, at the very leading edge of the intakes. Each side has come unglued at least twice. I've reglued with CA glue, filled, and usually when I'm sanding "POP" there it goes again. "Whack" with my sanding stick, take care of that mole!

This is what I feel I'm going most of the time. And I want to build another one of the Hasegawa Tomcats? Somebody examine my head....

I found the plane I want to model...I think the actual plane is a -B model, but I'm going to mark my -D model as this bird anyways. It's the CAG bird from VF-143, the infamous "Pukin' Dogs".





I'd like to do a black-tailed bird, but I just love the Dog's mascot, whatever that winged beast is.

I found the decals at Squadron, from Aeromaster.

MACooke,
It looks like you are making some good progress there, and I like your choice of squadron decals.......as to the condition of my 'Cat, I ordered an Aires ' -14B' cockpit along with the Aires wheel wells that Steve mentioned on the ARC site from Great Models,and wouldn't you know it....I ordered some other Aires stuff for an F-16 and they didn't have it in stock at the moment....so they are holding my order till they get it in. Like Homer Simpson says...... DOUGH!!! (slapping my forehead)



Anyhoo.......I like your idea on the GB contest MACooke...I really like the idea of having a badge made up of the appropriate award.Perhaps a badge with a pic of the 1:1 component (i.e. cockpit,gun,landing gear) included in the badge? It is an excellent idea that I think would put a fire under those of us that are sandbagging. Gee.... who would that be?!?!?

Armorman: I agree with all of the above postings about your project.....I too thought it was a 1/48 scale bird...all I can say is that thing....is the 'Cats meow !!!

Audiophile: Come on in !! As you can see there is some definate building going on in this GB.Please feel free to join...you have already completed more than I have!!

Well you guys take care...will be looking for some more progress pics on here this weekend.
Later on..

Thanks for the welcome into the GB :) I may not be ultra-talented but nor will I disappoint!

So far I've painted the cockpit ModelMaster Gunmetal enamel (not the gunmetal metallizer - I've found that this color is a REALLY good substitute for black when you have the liberty). I did the seats pretty well in my opinion but they have yet to be cemented into the cockpit itself. The landing struts, cable hook thingy, and wheel bay doors have all been painted white.

I took some pics tonight on my obsolete 2-megapixel camera, they're pretty blurry though so I'll wait until Friday to post my pics - I'll see if I can't borrow my girlfriend's really nice 6-megapixel camera, shrink them and post them.

Hey guys! I just noticed the slash through MACooke's name. Is he gone or is he just assuming a new identity? I hope he hasn't left the forum.

QUOTE: Originally posted by bstrump Hey guys! I just noticed the slash through MACooke's name. Is he gone or is he just assuming a new identity? I hope he hasn't left the forum.

was wondering the exact same thing.

According to his profile, MACooke's account is no longer active. Hopefully he's not gone for good, and will come back again. Don't know what's going on.

When things go wrong, they F@@@NG go wrong!!!! Here I am getting ready to paint the area around the cockpit (canopy sill) a nice NATO black and I notice two major uh-oh's. number one: it's broken- I didn't notice until I started to paint it. Number two: The nose cone is one size too small, and has bad mould marks around it as well.
I am not a happy modeler... If I order a replacement from Academy it'll take a month. I can't do without as I am not going to scratchbuild an open nose cone. The sill I can fix, I think. It's missing a 1/8 in. section that can probably be built from evergreen styrene. Or, I chuck this thing in the closet and start on the Revell 14D. I am not stoked about that because I'll have to sand and rescribe the detail because it's all raised. And I suck at scribing. I will have to rescribe the front fuselage anyways as the recessed lines stink on this part of the kit. Talk about being bummed out. Any suggestions anybody?

QUOTE: Originally posted by MACooke Good God! people, will you all quit with the groveling, and falling over yourselves apologizing?? "Forgive me" and "I'm sorry"...geeesh! What happened to men having kahunas? What happened to men meaning what they say, saying what they mean, and to H-E-DOUBLE-TOOTHPICKS with what anyone else thought? (Keepin' it clean!) Steve, you're one of our thin blue line, get in here and bust some heads! Taze someone! Show 'em the law!! "Take 'em downtown!" If I have offended anyone in any ways, TOO BAD! C'mon guys! Let's all laugh, and build some Tomcats! Yeee-ha!! I just love these "smilies".

I too noticed the slash through MACooke's name.......I wonder what happened? I just hope he wasn't banned because of the above posting....I enjoy reading his posts.


Armorman: I hate to hear about your bad run of luck....it seems that there is nothing more disheartening than to find critical errors just before or right after you paint. Today sucked for a few of us... I hope you are going to be able to work things out.Let all of us know what you plan on doing.

Later on fellas.......

Armorman- Sorry to hear about that run of bad luck. What exactly do you mean by the nose cone being a size too small? Is it just a molding problem? or was the wrong nose cone put in your kit? If you really want it, I can maybe send you the nose cone off the one I built years ago. The model has just about fallen apart, but the nose cone is still good. It just has a rather thick layer of badly brushed on paint on it. If you want, I'll see if I can find it. It might take a while to get there from Australia though.

hi gusy sorry to hear of armour man thing maybe u can wait for pingtang replacement. it is sad to let go of the cat.

nice pic macooke . wherever u are hope u can see this.

hope i can post some pics as well.

Hey fella's...I'm not gone. I just had a bit of...uh..."technical difficulty".

But notice I'm now "MA Cooke"...I gotta start over, I'm "snap-tite" again. D'oah!

Ah, I just found the F-14 that I want to model, exact markings, exact grime, paint colours, all that....(I like the way the Brits & Aussies spell words...like "litre", "colour", etc. so I'm going to randomly use those spellings)






C-ya!

Mitch

Hey MA, the symbol on VF-143 aircraft is of a mythical griffon. You know, head of a hawk or eagle, body of a lion, blah blah blah...

You are right that VF-143 never flew the D, but like you said, have some gumption & build what you want.

Chris Ishmael

I want to give this model to my uncle when I finish it .. he works on the Naval Air Bases in Key West and Boca Chica. I've been trying to find information on what squadrons have been stationed there in the past (and are there now) because I see F-14's flying drills all the time when I'm down there so I know they have 'Cats down there.

I'm running into brick walls every way I try to get this information, though, and it's slowing me down because every additional day I don't find out is another day that I can't paint the exterior so as to get everything in place under the belly, or order decals or anything of that sort.

Maybe I'll just paint it my own color scheme and homemake some Conch Republic decal logos to put on it .....

Welcome to the forum MA Cooke . It's always good to have new members .

QUOTE: Ah, I just found the F-14 that I want to model, exact markings, exact grime, paint colours, all that....(I like the way the Brits & Aussies spell words...like "litre", "colour", etc. so I'm going to randomly use those spellings)

Mate, that's the only way to spell the word colour. You Americans get it wrong every time. That colour scheme looks good too, nice and easy.

We'll be congratulating you on getting to box-stock status soon.

Now, slightly off topic. Here is a picture of my paint room pal, Harry the Huntsman. He usually keeps me looking over my shoulder company while I'm painting. But now he is inside the house above my computer.



Now, back on topic. I actually pulled out my cat today and had a look at it. I'm starting to plan the re-scribe job on the forward fuselage section. Gotta keep my mind off that filling and sanding somehow.