F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

Looking good roejn. That cockpit looks nicely painted.

Now onto taking better photos. First off, see if your camera has a macro mode for focusing. Most cameras should have it. Macro mode will help you alot in taking better close-up pics. While you are in macro-mode, don't zoom at all. It will hinder the cameras ability to focus. Also, work with a higher F-stop number (around 5-7). That will halp the camera focus on more than one point in the image instead of just focusing on the closest thing to the lens.

here's some articles on what I mean:

Depth of field
Macro-mode

There's alot more of those type articles here:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/

hope that helps you.

Thanks pingtang. I appreciate the compliments and I will definitley look at those links to try to improve my photos. I have already fixed the tail cones thanks to ch47guy and will try to get her buttoned up tonight. :-)

Roejn- So far nice work on the cockpit on the Revell kit, your Digital at 4 megapixels is very capable of providing great images to post on this site. Rule of thumb for images is a minimum of 3 meg. My Olympus is a 3.2, and with the Macro setting has been fine for the images I've posted so far. The advice from Pingtang is right on. Once you get the hang you'll be fine.

weis89-Yes I was still in when the Navy combined the SK/AK rate into one. Oh well I wonder if the Hasegawa F-4J is still on display there at NAS Meridian? Built that back in 1985. Shows how old that 48th Hase kit is now!

Chuck
Fly Navy

nice work roejn. U are a brave soul to tackle the mono cat. i did it once but i fail so i try has instead . but it will be a good model if built tough n solid. keep on it bro

here a bit pic for my landing gear








the gear strut is not shining enough have to redo it again

this is also the first time i use dagital cam too roejn. i think ping got some pointers there thanks

Sentry,

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I have my camera set at the highest quality but I cannot seem to find the macro setting. My daughter has a nice Sony camera so I may just use hers instead. Your landing gear looks great! I'm not sure I have the skills to do the wire thing yet. I've got my bird buttoned up last night so hopefully I will get some time to fill the various gaps and get some sanding in. I've test fitted the nose cone and it looks like it should be very little work. I can already see some things I need to do to my landing gear now after seeing your pics, thanks for sharing your progress!

uscusn,

Thanks for the kind words and the info on the camera. I will try to play with the settings some more this weekend and see if I can figure it out. BTW, I put some pics of my first efforts (pre airbrush) in the P-38 plane of the week thread if anyone cares to see that. Take care all!

Well guys...when I signed up for this GB ,I had this bad feeling. And in the last 3 days it has come to my realization that I will have to back out of this GB. My situation with work is swinging from one extreme to the other.Basically I have been givin 2 options.
The job I have been doing has been under contract,and as many of you know that does not always mean steady employment.I was told that the contract I was working under expires in 30 days and that my company has been underbid.So the only option that I have left is either find another job.(which I DO NOT want to do) or transfer to another position in Memphis,Tenn which is the more lucrative of the two since it includes a pay raise..As I see it all of this will be taking place within the next month or so..So my efforts will now be focused on trying to put all of my stuff in storage to stay for quite some time.If I can get over there and find a place to live shortly after transferring...then it won't be too bad.Right now though it looks like I will be donating alot of my income to Motel 6,at least for the first 6 months or so.Anyway...this isn't a boohoo letter..just letting you guys know what is going on.And for the record I REALLY was planning on contributing to this GB,other than just sandbaggin' along.But alot of you guys have pointed alot of things out to me in your posts regarding your build-ups.I will try to check back as often as possible...I just of course will be watching from 'Vultures Row' .Take care guys....

Later on........

Hey Scott- when it comes to decisions like that you gotta drop the fun stuff and get serious... I am sure the rest of the guys will say first of all: Good Luck! We wish only the best and know you'll be back. When things get settled and you can drag the hobby out to play give us a holler. Good Luck and say hi to Elvis for me.

Scott: Good luck and Godspeed. I have been faced with that kind of decision before and it is not fun.

On to building. I have been attacking the F-14 tonight and have made some progress. The aft fuselage is together and the intakes are built. I may not do any filling on them since this is 1/72 and the seams are way in the back and small. I did get the Hasegawa 1/72 Air to Air missile set for the Phoenix. It comes with 6 and I may use them all! Along with the 2 Sidewinders and 2 Sparrows. Next I start some wing construction. This kit actually has the wing glove vanes in it. I have to fair them over for an accurate later A. I am going to try to get to preliminary paint stage by Sunday night. We will see.

My Paasche H has been giving me fits, so my painting ops are on hold until my new airbrush arrives in the mail.

OH I didn't mention my new airbrush...I bought a Badger 155 on e-Bay, I expect it'll be here in about a week to 10 days. In the meantime, there's always more sanding to be done. Always with the sanding.....I may never build another F-14 when this is done. Geeesh....

Good luck to you Scott, sorry to hear of the sudden change in jobs. Sounds like you have your priorities in the right order though!

I just recieved my decals for VF-41 today from Great Models, along with a fresh tube of squadron green putty-guess what I will be doing next? Yeeesh! I may post some pics of the decal sheet for the heck of it. You guys have a great weekend!

Well, well, well... no build time today. Good thing the date got extended! How's everyone else's progress?
roejn- I think by the time this build is done we'll have to buy into Squadron!!! We at least have depleted their putty supply!
Maybe tomorrow will give me an hour or so... we'll see.
Yall take care!

Well, I got a couple hours of bench time in today, I can't believe it. I think I'm mostly through with sanding...

I pre-shaded the 'Cat, by hand with a yellow micro-brush.





Oh, and I've changed my mind as to which Tomcat I'll mark mine as. I was planning on a VF-143 Punkin' Dogs, but found decals this morning at Squadron that I like a bit better...a black tailed bird from VF-31 Tomcatters...here's a photo of the real thing. Black tails and black around the canopy... I have ordered these decals, as well as the Pukin' Dogs decals for a yet-to-be-acquired F-14B. I also got a Black Box cockpit for my A-7D.

Looking good Mitch! You're right, if we keep builing these things we may need to buy stock. I was hoping to get some time in today but the kids drug me off to the movies. I will say that Constantine is a pretty good flick if you need a break from sanding! Back on topic-I am seriously thinking about trying a sharpie for my preshading. I figure since I will be using acrylics over top it shouldn't bleed. If anyone has tried this and it didn't work out let me know before I have a disaster on my hands. ;-)

Well I had intended to get both F-14's that are in progress some bench time.
Got the Fujimi F-14 preshaded. Fig that we finally get a break from the unusual rainy season we are having. Dropped the top on the 3 series convertible got some sun at work. No sooner that I get home, it starts to rain again!!!. Too bad I painted any way. Don't paint when it rains, repeat ,, DO NOT PAINT WHEN IT'S RAINING! Needless to say that I got the wings painted the Lt Gull Grey using Gunze which actually did ok. Meanwhile on the Revell F-14D, using Testors MM Lt Ghost Grey 36375 for the bottom color of this scheme spattered all over the place! So much for that. I will use Gunze Med Grey for the top dark color of the Tricolor TPS tomorrow, the let it sit for 1/2 the day then mask and shoot the leading edge Aluminum. Most likely I'll use Alclad instead of MM. Images to be posted tomorrow sometime.
Mitch-what was the issue on your Passche H. I have 3 of these and I haven't had any problems with them? I've been using these for over 20 years. And I've tried others inluding a very nice VL but never got comfortable with it.

Chuck
Fly Navy

Chuck:

Ah, I hate answering these types of questions, but I gotta be honest. Why is my airbrush giving me fits? Because it can't stand up to repeated blows by a 3-lb. sledge hammer.

Why was it hit repeatedly with a 3-lb sledge hammer (is that supposed to be one word?)? I got so disgusted with trying to airbrush, and having trial after trial after trial end up with spattered paint and too much overspray, that I just got pissed, lost my cool, and beat the h-e-l-l out of it.

I must have replaced the needles and tips 3 or 4 times in the last few years...and I still couldn't airbrush fine lines with any consistency. I'm not talking hairlines like Iwata users get, I'm talking something the size of a sharp Crayola crayon...I used to be able to do that.

Either my paint was too thin, or too thick. I was either using too much pressure, or too little. I was either too close, or too far away.

There was something not quite right, in the airbrush itself. The air valve would "sputter" or "hiccup" from time to time...a little too often for my taste.

well guys no building on the cat latley. i have to do a paint striping job on mine. and reorder my decals as it did not turn out good at all .i may put this one in the box for a few and bild my f-18. that i am itching to get at.

Finally a nice So. California sunny day. And with earnest quickly made good use of the Lords day. Let's start with the VF-41 Tomcat. The preshading is completed and today will paint the wings, wing fold bladders and the missiles.


Using Gunze Lt Gull Grey, I painted the wings. Then also while in this session painted all the gear doors and other airframe components in this color as well. I keep forgetting how well this paint lays down and is very glossy so I can skip the gloss coat step.

What is apparent is the Gunze is also covers lightly over the preshading. So the enhancement of the panels appears just enough for affect.
The wing fold bladders are also painted in this case With Gunze Med Grey/Blue 35237 though a flat fed number it does dry semi gloss.


Now to let the wings set for 24 hours, I will then decal them. Then have them installed and start the final prep for the airframe. Remember these are Academy F-14 wings not the Fujimi suppled ones. Instead of ruining a perfectly good set of fully deployed wings. I can use them on a future project. So the Academy kit gets a bonus.
Next weekend will start on the airframe and the final pieces before it goes to the paint shop.

Chuck
Fly Navy

Now the 2nd kit in progress, Is Revells F-14D. This will have the tri-color TPS scheme of VF-101, the Grim Reapers.
After a day of painting MM 36375 Lt Ghost Grey as the bottom color of the wing.
I then loaded up with Gunze FS 35237 Med Blue/Grey for the top color.


After letting them sit for 1/2 the day. I then masked off the leading edges and painted them Aclad Aluminum. Just love using this metalizer. No issues with any craze or paint interaction problems with acylics.


Just a little hiccup with some paint coming up as I peeled the tape off. Which is ok, this will help with the weathering down the road when I get to that point of the build.

Now to let these sit for a day, shoot clear on the bottom of the wings with Gloss Clear, don't have to worry with the top color as it is glossy already. So decal the wings then install them as the this cat is approaching some gruesome seamwork. Not unlike the Fujimi 2nd Tomcat which is seam friendly. So next week we should have some more images as this build progresses.

Chuck
Fly Navy

Mac cooke :

frankly i understand your frustration on the passche thing, But i don mean to scare u though i been wanting to ask you on the badger as well . As i have Two badger 150. and experience the same incident as u with the passche , the badger brush keep on sputer n hicups too. is the 155 same with 150 ?

i bet the needle is not good or either the teflon is damaged. but i throw it aside now and use taiwanese made brush . seems ok to me.

Reojn : thanks , just take it slowly on the line for the landing gear if u wan to include it in. i use thin electrical wire for it with super glue. there is some reference photo in ARC. Actaully im lazy with the line as 48 scale is too small for my eyes i prefer to do it in 32nd but i just try it out on 48.

Too bad i cant see uscusn pics i try again tonight at my home computer , it must be nice . i still rubbing my gear strut on the shinning part.

Lookin good uscusn! Nice pre-shading. I painted the wires on the landing gear but that's about all this weekend. Next weekend I'll have all day Saturday and Sunday since the lady of my life will be at a batchelorette party. I am counting down the days, believe me. In- laws came into town this weekend and spoiled my plans.
sentry- I'd just like to say that your gear was looking really fantastic! Are you trying to shine up the hydraulic part? What are you using? I was looking at mine and although the rest looks great I can't help but say that chrome silver still cannot do it justice. I wonder if Alclad would work OR a MM buffing powder?
Shame you had problems with the 150 sentry. I never had problems but I use the 155 now and it's just heads and shoulders above anything else I have used. Can't say that about an Iwata- I hear they are incredible but finicky.
Dang, it's Monday and work is calling... Adios!

sentry: wow, that landing gear sure looks great! Please tell how you did it.

My daughter is in the spring musical in two weeks, and with me doing some set construction, my wife being co-chair of the costume committee, and with my daughter having rehearsals every day until the show, and with her having softball practice...I won't even SEE my desk for two more weeks.

Grrrrr....

Thanks sentry, with all of the filling and sanding to do to this bird I may not have the strength to do it! I may though, but mainly I''m just hoping to get a nice clean build out of this kit, and may try to do a little more on the next one-which will not be revelogram! I don't want to say it's all bad, it has nice detail but it's a little more than work than a person really wants to do. I still need to build up under the canopy so it sits right on the fuselage, but this will have to wait until I get the fuselage ready to paint. Hopefully I will get some time in this week to get moving forward. :-)

Nice looking progress MACooke and uscusn. Wish I could say I was making such good progress. I haven't touched my Cat in the last two weeks. I need to get inspired to start work on it again. It'll happen one day, and I'll start again, just have to wait for inspiration.

Some nice progress being made here! MA Cooke, uscusn, sentry, thumbs up!!
Tomcat number two is just about out of the paint shop. The main paint scheme is done and the dark blue has been applied to the canopy, tails and ventral fins. All that's left to do is the apply the spot priming and then it'll be ready for decals. I'll try to post some progress pics in the next few days.

I just had a sick, sick, just absolutely ill thought: of building TWO (2) Hasegawa 1/48 F-14 kits for this GB. I'm negotiating with an acquaintance for an F-14B Jolly Rogers Santa Cat kit, and I had the brief notion that two kits could be built by June.

The shuddering that I experienced, the deep, bone-shaking chill that started at the base of the spine and traveled up my back, literally rocked the very foundations of my existence. I was a quivering, helpless being for a brief moment, before sanity re-took the reigns of my life.

No, I'm either going to build two Has. F-4E's or two F-15E's (one Revell, one Monogram ProModeler).

thanks everyone. nice plane too Uscusn cant wait to see the later stage.

Amour : the paint im using is Mr metal color from gunze 211. the chrome silver. It does fine with my burner cans but when i paint it on my gear hydrualic it seems dull colored ( even it is chromed ) then i came about a magazine scale aircraft modelling it mentioned it need to be POLISHED ? oh dear i don know about it actually when i use this color. i never try alcad though maybe it be better. I scratch some part of the hydraulic though when sanding it . Now when i polished the gleaming part i see some of the scratches sighs
The 150 brush i has i dip it in commercial thinner to long and it damaged the teflon in the inside , but i cant get it now so the AB sit there only. previuosly i use the single action 250 that is fine until i sold if of . oh well my lucks gone

Mac cooke

the wheel wells doors i use extend sprue to make the hydraulic actuator , the landing gear line i use wire . For the wire placer, i cut little bits of plastic cards and glue one by one bit of the card with super glue , i then glue the wire slowly on the plastic card ( the tiny placer/holder )

Frankly i try many atempt to make it though sighs

i prefe to try in 32 scale .

reojn : before i stop on my mono Bird i did try to sit the canopy too , i use hair dryer to flatten it a bit onto the cockpit , but not too hot . i think it be ok don worry the mono bird is nice if complete go for it man

Hi Guys! Here's some progress pics of Tomcat #2, the F-14B of VF-11. I have a little bit of touching up to do but for the most part, it's ready for decals. It's done in the TPS using all three official colors and FS15044 Insinia Blue for the canopy, tails and ventral fins. No pre-shading on this bird. All the spot priming is done just like they do it on the real thing.





I can't wait to start applying decals to this kitty-cat! Later!

Wow, bstrump, those blue tails and canopy area sure look black...

Is it just me, or is it the lighting in our photos, but almost every single Tomcat model looks to be one color of grey, sort of a dark ghost grey overall. Even when I painted mine it looked that way.

Nice paint job bstrump. The spot priming looks good, how did you do it? Can't wait to see it finished.