F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

Progress report: got inside seamsof intake duct-to-trunk filled and sanded, waiting for 2nd coat of Future to dry (testing for smoothness) before I paint white. Got beavertail joint to fuselage filled and sanded.

Wings assembled, less forward slats. I'm going to do those in NMF, and leave off until AFTER plane is weathered and final sealing.

Can't wait to get aftermarket cockpit set...anyone got a Black Box or Aires set laying around they don't want?

Hope you all are having as much fun as I am.

Don't be bashful Daniel- I've seen your work, pal.
MACooke- accuracy is up to you, I'm in more for the fun and historical good of the project.
I have decided just to scratchbuild any detail and go for a good build.

Iv always loved the Tomcat its one of my personal favorites. When it has its wings back it looks like a totally different plane I just can't get over the Lines on that Jet!!!!!!!

if anyone gets the history channel they have on the tube right the history of the F-14 Tomcat its 620 eastern time

to bstrump: thanks for the tips!

Heck, I may end up using some F-14B or -D model decals, because they've got colorful markings that I'd like to use.

But I'm sure that would arouse suspicion amonst the GB police.

Another question: what are the major differences between an A model and a B model Tomcat? I know that the engines, and hence outlets, are one difference.

Anyone got a 1/48 -B or -D model w/ spare parts they don't want? Anyone got piles of cash lying around they don't want??

MACooke: A razor saw would be best to remove the dielectric panels from the beaver tail,IMHO. Since you have a kit designed to be an early Tomcat, to get the late beaver tail, you'd have to either scrounge the proper parts from somewhere or you can fill the piece you have with epoxy putty and then file it to shape. Actually, you could just remove the dielectric panels and leave it as this would be correct. This was an interim production change for a small group of Tomcats up to BuNo159024. So you could model Cats in the "lower viz" scheme of overall Gull Gray from the early eighties. Since you want to do later Cats, you'll have to make the change I described to be accurate. But I don't think there's any accuracy police on this GB , so you might as well leave it and have some fun! Hope this helps!
Not much progress to report today. I'm still cleaning my bench of other projects, including my "pre-GB" Tomcat project, which BTW, just got it's coat of Gull Gray. Tonight, I should have the black areas painted.

Uh, guys, that last post was a JOKE!

armorman: Typically, how many people place their aircraft on a display base? I've seen quite a few that look like a tarmac, or a section of a carrier deck, etc.

I was thinking of displaying my bird on display at an airshow, with a blue wood viewing deck. I don't know, that may be too corny.

I know - I'll put it in a parade, a famous parade, like the Rose Parade. Or New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade, or Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...oh, the possibilities are endless!

i had another look at the way he built up the base, and i dont think thats an undertaking that im willing to undertake - so i might just print out a piece fo paper and glue it to a wood board. It ought to be good enough. hahaha, im saying all this when i havent even broken the plastic parts bags of the kit !

to bstrump: Thanks much for the link! I'm getting cross-eyed from staring at the computer screen so much.

Anyone have any ideas on how to cut off the "notches" on the beaver tail? I read on the site bstrump sent that those notches were the location of the dielectrics. The drawings show that w/ the dielectrics removed, there is not a blunt end, but a tapered end. How to replicate that ??

I may leave the notches in.

armorman: How accurate do we have to be, as far as whether the particular bird we want to mark does or doesn't have dielectrics, or a particular ECM antenna, or this or that, etc. ?

The intakes are a bear! The ducting seam was the toughest part...once the duct is in the intake trunks, that's not so bad. It looks as if the forward part of the trunk, the long "pointy" part, is not going to fit well to the fuselage section where the #1 intake ramp is located.

Maybe mine will be modeled as being hit/damaged by a SAM...those trunks do not fit well at all!

Mate, that's the reason I didn't end up going with a black box cockpit. The landing gear detail that is moulded on the bottom of the tub would be too hard to repair. It could probably be done, but I'm just too lazy. If I did do it, I'd probably cut the wheel well detail off the bottom of the tub and make up the box with the rest of the walls of the well. I'd install that seperately to the pit and do alot of sanding to make it all fit.

The academy pit is pretty bare. I don't know if I'll go to the lengths that you are talking about. I'll try doing some creative painting and scratchbuilding and see how it looks. I have an old kit that I built ages ago so I might rip it apart and do some experimentation. I think it'll be an OOB effort, I'll just do the best that I can with this kit.

BTW, I don't think I'm an incredible modeller, but thanks for making me feel good about my skills for a minute or two.

okay, you guys are going to think I am nuts but I have 'shelved' the black box cockpit. While it fits in the Hasegawa just as snug as a bug in a rug it does not however fit all that well in the Academy kit that I have. I just can't get it to sit properly without trimming too much off and then having to rework the front gear bay. So, I am saving it for a Has 1/48 D that I sold to a friend whose wife told him he had too many kits and voila- he wraps it up and gives it to me for X-mas. Very lucky- I gave him an Tamiya 1/48 Mustang that I had in the kit stash.
Anyways- with all that said, I am using the kit supplied cockpit (very okay-not great) and I have the first coat of paint on it. I guess the highlight now will be those great resin seats and whatever scratchbuilt detail I can muster because it looks naked in there. I am thinking about cutting away the panels, sanding them really thin, and reattaching them over strip styrene. I know pingtangs got the same kit-
what do you think, Daniel? You are an incredible modeler so looking at that tub do you think that is feasible? I'm looking at it now and I think I am answering my own question. I don't think it can be done gracefully. I'd be better off sanding the detail down and adding scratchbuilt detail on my own. I have all night to mull it over because the paint is drying now anyways. Kinda sucks but I guess the Has kit will be a real looker when I get to it.

You guys will probably think something is wrong with me,when I tell you I have not started my Tomcat yet,I am trying to get this Ferrari finished before I start anything else.I have a bad habit of not finishing anything when I start it (model wise),but alas the Ferrari is almost 1/2 way.....so I won't be far behind.I will probably start on it while I am waiting for the color coat to dry on the Ferrari.Anyway...just thought I'd drop a line and let you in on what's going on with me.
You guys be sure and post some pics as soon as you can.....

Later on.......

hey guys just wanted to stop bye and check the Boards im off to model building land Ill talk to you guys later!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, I have not done much today but I am hitting the bench in the next few minutes. So far: Cockpit tub and seats sprayed with resin primer- their dry and ready for some work* Some adjustments made on the cockpit tub as the fit was a little off but nothing major* The gear are painted and I am going to apply some detail maybe now.
Reggie- after looking at that aircraft carrier base I decided against it. If you look at the website www.naritafamily.com and check out the F-14 Dio and how he built it it seems easier and cheaper to do it that way. I went ahead and squat the front gear using some aluminum tubing so my decision is made on the catapult pose.
So how is everyone else coming along? I figure with three months it gives us time to really do it right. It'll take me 2 and a half to do this cat the way I wan't and then I'll spend the rest working on the carrier deck etc. By the way, bstrump I used the photos from that web site for the front gear. Excellent suggestion! I might actually tackle the intake trunks since you mentioned it. I want them nice and seamless so.... I'm off to build. Later fellas! Oh, yeah- IS EVERYONE HAVING FUN NOW!!!

I got all the PE parts in my pit last night. Starting the drybrushing and detailing of the seats. My canopy has the danged seam also. May start the aft fuselage too. Lots of parts and possibly filling and sanding. Need to chip the ice off my hands though, only 5F degrees. May also shoot all the white parts.

i started my f-14d the other day, by putting on the primer. the f-14a is a deal i got off ebay about five years ago and the pit is already done. i have been doing some research on the yf-14 and i think i am going to try to do the one outside the naval museum. it dosen't have the red stripe decals unless somebody knows where i can get some of those. i am going to try to super detail the d model, so it may not be ready at the end date.

To MACooke: the only help I can offer on your search is to try here anft.net/f-14. This is probably the best F-14 reference around, IMHO, and they have an awesome photo gallery and a great "links" page to various other F-14 sites, official and unofficial. Hope this helps.

Some progress to report on the build. Basic cockpit assembly is finished and the wings and intake trunks are assembled. That's it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MACooke And glue?? Remember the worthless white paste from elementary school...you got it! None of my models stay together, at all.

That's great, what a way to save money ; you buy one model and you built over and over again, at least twice a year

"Safe zone"? I have a 3 year-old and 19 month-old...the only tools I get to use are 1st grade blunt scissors! And NO pointy files, either.

And glue?? Remember the worthless white paste from elementary school...you got it! None of my models stay together, at all.

OK OK, seriously, my children stay away from my desk, but I still put all my sharp and/or pointy tools away before I leave the desk. I'm back off to the basement, to work on those danged intake ducts....

Do you meen that moldline ? Mine has it too. That shouldn't a be problem, just sand it off, and than polish your canopy again.

I had to do that with an Academy Su-27 too.

anyone know were i can get a replacement canopy for the cat. the kit one has a long middle line down the middle and i know thats not a accurate one. the kit i have is a hasegawa speical production thanks rob

Don't ask, just trust me. I'm that bad with a saw. My wife still won't let me use fresh, sharp blades in my Exact-O knife. MACooke.

So I guess, you're in the safe zone when it comes to working in the house ?

QUOTE: Originally posted by reggiethedorf holy rusted metal ! MAcooke - im in GMT +8hrs thats hongkong time, and im 30 days short of sixteen

reg:

Holy young whipper-snappers! I got a son older than you, he turned 16 back in July. I will be 36 this March...no, I do not feel old, I act like a 6 year-old most of the time, so my wife tells me. My kids think I'm a fun dad, they take me seriously when needed, but I'm (mostly) not a stodgy, uptight dad.

As to the Tomcat, I'm stuck on the intake ducts. I tried filling the seams on the interior of the ducts, but my stupid fat fingers forced the joints apart, so I had to re-glue and re-putty the seams. I ended up thinning Squadron white putty w/ alcohol and "plastering" the entire duct interior. Once I test fit the duct into the intake trunk, and that onto the bottom fuselage, you really won't be able to see much of the ducts anyways....D'OAH!!

I think I'll NOT cut out the "notches" on my beaver tail, I saw an F-14A photo with the tails intact. I'm dangerous with a saw. If I try to cut the tail notches out, trust me, the cockpit will be all butchered up. Don't ask, just trust me. I'm that bad with a saw. My wife still won't let me use fresh, sharp blades in my Exact-O knife.

I found decals that I think I'll buy, they're F-14A's "Afghan War Heroes", VF-41 Black Aces. I'll do the CAG bird, "Anna". Now to find photos of the real plane. Anyone have suggestions as to where I can find these?

Geesh, this is taking FOREVER!

holy rusted metal ! armourman that is exactly what im looking for but mama mia its 30 dollars ! thats as much as i paid for the kit ! way outta my league. im thinking of maybe scratchbuilding a simple one, without the blast doors. i think ill worry about that later, but i gotta get cracking on the actual airplane first. unfortunately that wont happen until my aunt and uncle go back to the states and move out of my room so for now im just working on my X-wing.

MAcooke - im in GMT +8hrs thats hongkong time, and im 30 days short of sixteen

edited for atrocious spelling

QUOTE: To bstrump: Oddly enough, I really don't care for the F-14 in the 70's gull grey / white paint scheme. I wanted to do one in more modern "low-vis" colors, but w/ some semi-colorful markings. I'm looking at decals now, trying to decide. I love to weather the "ghost grey " Tomcat. I'm gonna have fun with this one!

MACooke- Mate, I feel exactly the same as you. I've never liked the look of colourful, glossy and clean Tomcats. I like them in low-vis markings and nice and dirty. The clean ones just look too, well, clean. I'm also looking for a set of decals for my cat, I might go for one in low vis markings and with black tails.

To everyone else- I managed to pull my cat out of its box this morning and do some work on the pit. I'm doing some detail painting, mostly all of those black instruments at the moment.

Today as with all swing-wing jets I started first with the wings. This is Fujimi's 72nd scale kit which is excellent and is on par with Hasegawa's. Both offer fully deployed flaps and slats, depressed or normal stance front gear struts and a little PE action for the cockpit. Fujimi also has two engines you can build separately and put on the stands for display nice touch for those interested.
Only painting done today were all the white components, landing gear, interior bays, intake trunk and interior door panels. Dark Gull Grey for the cockpit area. This I will build up into a VF-32 Swordsman,F-14A, Desert Storm 1991.
Images to follow as the build progresses. In the meantime I see a bandit at 30 miles out and need to prosecute the target. See ya while a spin up a Aim-7 Sparrow.

Chuck
Fly Navy

QUOTE: Originally posted by bstrump I don't have the 48 scale kit but in Hasegawa's 72 scale Wolf Pack kit, the beaver tail is moulded to represent the early production tail. The notches you remove turn it into the "interim production" beaver tail. So it sounds like your kit is supposed to represent early Tomcats. Not a bad thing because you get the most colorful schemes!

To bstrump:

Oddly enough, I really don't care for the F-14 in the 70's gull grey / white paint scheme. I wanted to do one in more modern "low-vis" colors, but w/ some semi-colorful markings. I'm looking at decals now, trying to decide.

I love to weather the "ghost grey " Tomcat. I'm gonna have fun with this one!

QUOTE: Originally posted by MACooke armorman: I've got a question - are we going to keep posting here, or start a new one? Everyone else: I'm building the Hasegawa 1/48 F-14A, and the instructions have you remove notches out of the very rear section of the "beaver tail", step 20. Does anyone know why this is? I'm off the the Aircraft Resource Center to look at walkarounds. A Tomcat freak be me!

I don't have the 48 scale kit but in Hasegawa's 72 scale Wolf Pack kit, the beaver tail is moulded to represent the early production tail. The notches you remove turn it into the "interim production" beaver tail. So it sounds like your kit is supposed to represent early Tomcats. Not a bad thing because you get the most colorful schemes!
BTW, eveyone, no progress to report on my "official" GB kits, but the kit that I started ahead of time goes to the paint shop tomorrow. It'll be marked as VF-21 Freelancers' CAG bird, Desert Shield 1990.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ipms33206 Man, I should have looked at all the parts for the F-14 much earlier!!!!! The main canopy has a very ugly seam that runs the whole length!!!! Now I am going to have to try to polish this thing out. You can feel it with your finger. Now why would a very high quality model company allow this on their kits???? Just venting!!

That seam is there because Hasegawa used a two-part mould to get the proper double-bubble shape to the canopy and the proper cross-section. It's the only way to do it, other than vacforming. It is a little bit of a pain to polish it out but Hasegawa's way does result in a better looking canopy, IMHO, and a better looking model. Polishing it out is actually easier than it sounds.