F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

LOL!!!

okay, "Houston we had a problem..." I can't seem to finds the fine needle for my airbrush. So as a result I painted the pre-shade lines and the darker panels. There is a similar one in the reference book I have but we'll see how it comes out. Also, here is a pic of one of my ejection seats. There are the PE belts and such but that's the last step of my build. Probably all the work for today- I gotta watch my Tar Heels smack around Iowa State. (hopefully) seeing the upsets that are going down... Later!

Geez, armorman, you've been a busy boy this weekend! Lookin' good!

I've been lucky and saved up all of my spare time. Actually, I had a couple of weeks of vacation I had to take so ta-da. We'll see how much i can get done this week!

Here is my build so far. Sorry for the horrible quality of the photo but all I have is a cheap Wal Mart special for a digital cam. Primer is on and panel lines are pre-shaded. Hope to shoot the color tonight. We will see. Verticle fins are black as well as around the canopy.

lookin good Mark! Ah, I can see the end now.... Then I'll break out the Has 1/72 F-14D.

Osjohn : sadly tamiya din mentioned anything on the FS numbers. ( that why i felt strange for my cat as im not sure how correct is my color) . I use the mix ratios and refer from the box photo. compare them and then change the mix ratios until i feel it is well look ok. But the photo may have light discrepencies. sighs. did u have gunze paint ? maybe they are more accurate.

sighs again im the office now, we still using window 98 , so i cant view most of u all photos. i check it out again at my home computer.well at least it there will be a impressive suprise awaiting when im back home. im sure most has done some attractive paint scheme , i cant wait to see it.

Mark, that is lookin' good! Actually, you're pic quality is pretty good. I just wish it was larger.

Looking good everyone

I've painted the seat cushions and sides. Will tackle the belts and buckles once that dries. Will post some pics once assembled and after a little dry-brushing.

I've also glued the wings together.

Sadly I think I have no choice but to choose a position for the wings and add them in. There is a "bar" that connects the two wings and plastic bolts that need to be melted in place for the wings.
The bar ensures that the wings move insync btu painting them and futuring will probably cause problems?
No way I can add them later. Oh well would have been nice to have "swinging" wings.

Wind has been blowing badly so can't airbrush so the rest of the cockpit is on hold.

Question, what colour are the leather covers I've seen in cockpit pics?

Sentry, no I haven't used Gunze paints.

Had enough sun yesterday to get some detail painting in. Bare metal area at the rear of the airframe and the black trim on the canopy framing on both Cats and while I was at it a Tornado also. Didn't have my camera with me. But will post images later today if time permits.

Chuck
Fly Navy

Jeez osjohnm- I've been to Cape Town! I stayed in Camps Bay and traveled all around. My brother in law and good friend are from Jo'burg. I've spent a lot of time in SA watching rugby and drinking Windhoek!

osjohnm: those covers are usually canvas, and they vary from plane to plane. If you go to the aircraft resource center (www.aircraftresourcecenter.com) and go to "walkarounds", there's an F-14 listed with "(plenty of cockpit photos)". Go there. The one featured in this one has a boot that's actually a purple color.

I did mine in a couple of variations of olive drab mixed w/ medium green...you can do just about any color - green, tan, grey, you name it. (My 3 year-old daughter suggested pink.)

Hey Mitch ! How's the T-Bolt coming? Is the kit a good one? I've got a photo of my cockpit progress from the one I am working on, on p45.

Good looking progress everyone.

armorman How are you gonna stick wings in? I noticed that you haven't installed them yet, do you have a special technique for doing it? I'm sort of experimenting with mine a bit at the moment, so any tips would be handy.

Jon: I'm actually going to have three P-47's done at one time, all 1/72. Two are Hasegawa (a bubbletop and a razorback) and one is Revell of Germany (bubbletop). The Has. bubbletop I started way back before the F-14 GB, then it got shelved. I got it painted, then didn't like the look of Tamiya chrome silver for NMF. I'm going to use Swanny's method of black Krylon as primer and Alclad.

They all fit very well; I am not doing any cockpit detail. These three builds are sort of "polish up" my seam repair and painting skills. The cockpit detail on these is skimpy, anyways. I'll post pics when they're painted.

As far as the F-14, I finally got the landing gear detailed. On the main gear I used 30 GA copper wire I got from work as the hydraulic lines. The "bands" or straps around the struts are masking tape painted silver, then cut into very thin strips. Pics below.

Thanks bstrump, I think I will be doing the white tail version of the VF-41 black aces. Check the pics I sent for the decals, not very good quality but it will give you an idea. I'm on dial-up tonight and it sucks so I will sign off for now, looking real good Armorman!

QUOTE: Originally posted by armorman Jeez osjohnm- I've been to Cape Town! I stayed in Camps Bay and traveled all around. My brother in law and good friend are from Jo'burg. I've spent a lot of time in SA watching rugby and drinking Windhoek!

LOL....would never have expected to here that in a modelling forum.
It really is a small world.

Nice wheel mitch , it seems i paint mine wrongly as the lower part of the hydraulic is blue oh dear i better change it.
i din do anything latedly will be out of town for meeting with customers sighs may drag another 5 days.

i seen your commaches John . its nice.

Just this photo for now. i just slot in the wings and tails for a look at it. but not glue yet . later may using pastel color dilute with water to draws the lines.

Sentry: nice looking paint job!

Here is a site where I downloaded a lot of photos of F-14 landing gear...that's where I saw that the lower portion of the hydraulic lines are blue:

http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-gearmain.htm

And I didn't totally do it the right way. Oh well...I'm (mostly) satisfied with it. That's what counts.

Sentry!!!! Jeez, that is looking amazing! Nice job on the paint.
Pingtang- I dry fitted before closing it up and they still slip right in. I cut off the mechanism. I'll keep my fingers crossed just in case ;)
Nice work on the gear, Mitch! Looks great from here.
Well, fellas, my next build time is Thursday so I'll keep you posted.
osjohnm- SA is a beautiful place. The Drakensburg- the Amphitheatre- was beautiful. It is my favorite part of SA. Every time I am there I go hiking.

Hi all

I painted the seats and cushions with a brush but I wasn't happy with the outcome so I stripped the paint. Hopefully spray them tonite, weather permitting.

The USS Truman Battle Group almost came to Cape Town. Heard today that the visit has been cancelled. Nobody knows the real reason but it seems as if my government wasn't forthcoming.

Was hoping to see some VF-32 birds flying over or possibly up close and personal.

Does anybody know which F-14 squadrons were involved in OEF and OIF or if there is a site with that info on?

okay fellas, you asked the secret of attaching the Academy F-14A's wings after the fuselage has been sealed up... I found the link a little while before I started building the kit. I figured this was easier than explaining it. Darren must have an endless collection of Tomcat's. Thanks to Darren for coming up with it!
http://aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal2/1901-2000/Gal1904_F-14_Roberts/gal1904.htm

Well folks, I think I was able to finagle my way out of having to move.The more I thought about it,the more I disliked the thought of moving to Memphis.So I got off my dead arse and went looking for a new job...and thank the good Lord,found one within a week.It will pay twice as much as my last job...but I will definately be gone longer.I am basically telling you all of this, because with your permission, I would like to re-join the GB. ( I know...I know, I hear you guys saying...MAKE UP YOUR MIND ALREADY !?!? Anyway...I am motivated now..more than ever,since I don't have to worry about how I am going to eat two weeks from now.So how 'bout it? It looks like alot of you have been making some really good progress on your builds and I envy you to say the least.Let me know what you think....Later on!

Sentry!! wish colors you use for your paint?


Other question. In what configuration I can use a TARPS, i mean weapons configuration?

Thanks!

A68TRANSAM- OF COURSE!!!!!! Welcome back and congrats!

Scott, as if you never left, so saddle up and finish your Tomcat!, We expect a progress report on our desktop this weekend!

Chuck
Fly Navy

Several images finally to post tonight from last weekends progress. Was able to paint the rear fuselage area Alcad Steel before installing the vertical tails.

Masked off the canopy before we go ahead and paint the black framing.


Just before installing the vertical tails I went ahead and masked off the Steel areas. Experience with this kit will make it easier to mask at this time.


Looks like a Tomcat. Finally I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this one. The Revell F-14D well it needs a little more TLC.


Sneak peek of my Desert Storm Tornado, a much older build that I will finally get back to.

Next this weekend with Easter upon us, will hopefully will get some build in between the easter egg hunt, Easter services and the rest of this blessed holiday.

Chuck
Fly Navy

My 2nd kit the Revell F-14D it about the same stage as the Fujimi, but this will be far more of a complicated build. Robbing the drop tanks out of my Fujimi 48th scale kit, since the Steel Beach resin ones are not available at this time. Also still need to do some more work on the fuselage and may have to rescribe the nose. Otherwise nothing unusual for a Monogram/Revell kit.
As I did with Fujimi 72nd scale Tomcat, I painted the rear nozzle area Alclad Steel, which to me looks a little too light. Looking at other Tomcat reviews and photos show this area to be much darker. For the Delta Tom.


I may have to do this area with maybe Gun Metal Metalizer.

With the canopy installed, masked the framing is painted MM Flat Black.

Drop tanks, Aim-54 Phoenix, Aim-7 Sparrow and a pair of Sidewinders. Need to get a Lantirn Pod and a pair of GBU's. Which means no Phoenix.


Still a ways to go with this, thank God we have till June. The Fujimi F-14 should be done hopefully by mid April. May even build one more. Love the Tomcat but it is a rather intensive build. May opt to do a simple build to relax a bit. Yeah right!

Chuck
Fly Navy

uscusn the cats are looking great! Did you have any trouble with the fit of the canaopy on the Revell kit? If so how did you fix it?

The windscreen was ok. If i were to display this with the canopy in the closed position I would have an issue as it doesn't sit very well. However, it will be opened and have Eduard's detail set for the various PE detail bits that will be added to the canopy and windscreen. These parts will be added after painting and decaling as part of the final finish phase.

Chuck
Fly Navy