F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

Hello everyone!

I too have not made any progress. I have been very busy with work and family obligations, and I am sort of stuck in a rut with this kit. I'm at the panel line stage and can't decide wether to use a sharpie (never tried it) or just paint them on by hand. I know I don't have the airbrush chops to spray thin lines yet. Also, I'm not really sure if I will get all of the preshading right since this is the revelogram kit with raised lines and I'm not going to sand them all and rescribe-sorry, I'd rather just spend the money on a real kit then do all of that! Osjohn, I say do what feels right to you and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. When the hobby isn't fun I just back off and do something else and come back to it later. Or, I'll just start a new kit or shudder!- I'll build a tank or two! If you guys have any modeling tips for preshading to help me get off my --s and back to the bench I sure would appreciate them! Take care all!

No need to appologise my freind. I think we are all having some issues with these kits no matter what company they are made by. Even the Hasegawa and Tamiya kits have issues. The 1/72 of mine sure does. I have to strip the paint off of mine due to a problem with the paint. It was gloss and I didn't notice that before I sprayed and it ran everywhere and just about hid all the panel detail. I have the oven cleaner ready and I may do that today in between everything else.

Hi all

The kit almost hit the wall for the 2nd time this weekend. First time round I had fight with the badly molded plastic wheels from italeri. Hence the tyres and my hands were covered in glue.

This morning the landing gear decides to break off and I can't remove the piece of plastic or get to it with sandpaper without performing open heart surgery on the kit.

I've actually had it with this kit, if I ever by another modern aircraft kit from Italeri, would someone please shoot me!

I must be honest with everyone and say that I really have no motivation to continue with this kit. But after calming down I've vowed that this won't end up in the dirt bin.

With that in mind I'm going to close the gear bay doors and build the kit in the wheels-up position. Hope nobody minds.

I've also decided not to waste the CAM VF-154 decals on this kit, I'll use the VF-32 decals that came with the kit.

I will buy a REAL F-14 kit from Hasegawa later in the year and use the CAM decals on that. Hmmm......metal landing gear, vinyl tyres.....

Hope nobody minds me changing my decal option and please accept my apologies for ranting and raving.

What be up everyone???? I found our thread about half way down the second page! I have not had any time to strip the F-14. I have been working about 60 hours a week. And now with summer about here, I will be doing more overtime. Oh well, I will get to it. I may take a few days off and do nothing but model.

some says its blue john , hmmmm
u can try go to ARC and check on the walkabouts . I was also wasnt the exact color , i might as tint it with clear blue though...

I just coated the cat with matt varnish some parts only.
hope will get a pic in here soon

Hi Sentry

I was looking at the Badger 155 and 100Lg, the Iwata HP-CS and the Harder & Steenbek Evolution.
Since I'm going to Europe in June on holiday I was hoping to pick one up but I've decided to wait until the end of the year to get another airbrush.
Probably order a Badger online from the US.

I'm hoping to add the phoenix pylons and few other bits onto the kit and then to laydown some paint. If everything goes according to plan I should hopefully have some pics up by the weekend.

Question for everyone, is the front centre panel on F-14 canopies still green?

did u mange to decide wat type of brush u wan to use John ?

frankly i may side on the iwata brush , i have 2 -150 brush but it broke down .
now i use an taiwanese brush ( look like a copy from iwata )

if i get a chance i may opt for one iwata brushes

anyway i heard the Badgher did do some good for some , maybe im a lousy user of it .
maybe u can try the badger first since i think it is cheaper for price of the things it does.

Greetings everyone

Glad you made it back in one piece armor, trust that your liver is still in one piece.

Not much to report on the 'Cat, being filling gaps with new technique the LHS showed me. Instead of applying the putty, then applying acetone with a q-tip and then sanding, you mix the acetone with the putty before application. Then you paint it on, depending on the gap you just mix the "thickness" to meet your needs.

I've hit a bit of a "rough" patch with the kit, just doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere.
But I'll bounce back eventually.

I've been motivating myself by doing some airbrush window shopping although in retrospect looking for a needle in a haystack is easier than choosing an airbrush.

Plan to order it online or pick one up in Europe when go on holiday in June.

John

hello fellas!

I have fully recovered from the trip and lets just say that it was a hell of a time. What goes on tour stays on tour eh? Something like 17 beers a day avg/person before we went out! Got back Sunday and it's taken me three days to remember my name. Hehe. Anyways, thanks for all of the congrats fellas. We are really excited and looking forward to the honeymoon when it'll be time to chill out.
Hey osjohnm- Thanks for the reminder! Two of my groomsmen are from SA and lets just say I think yall wrote the book on partying!
Glad to see you back Chuck!!!! How are things going?
My name is Jon and I am a kit addict! The F-117 arrived while i was gone sentry and for the dollars a hell of a deal. Still shrinkwrapped!
I will say I am looking forward to after the wedding when I can get back to the bench. I need that 'mantime'.
Mark's advice is golden! I have seen his work on the IPMSUSA website. Trust me- he knows his stuff. Same with sentry- we've seen his progress so far and it's amazing.
Keep the progress posted and rejoice- an extended finish date!!!

I think ipms is right . i try to darken my panel lines by painting mixed paint onto it . it tunr out to be a be a bit heavy. i should preshade it by airbrush

good luck john

I vote for the black/gray wash. The black marker can be a bit on the heavy side. I also sometimes use a drafter's mechanicle pencil after the painting is done. It is just a matter of personal taste. Good luck!

Hi all

The intakes are on and the sanding and filling has begun.
Actually looks like a 'Cat now.
Also realised that one of my seams is on an actual panel line so I've sanded it down to a certain degree but will leave the rest behind.

Not sure if I should highlight the panel lines with a black marker before painting or try a black/dark grey enamel wash. What do u guys reckon?

Just manage to get the decal done, now use varnish top coat the cat, first time i use this stuff. anyone use artist varnish before on models? is it any good ? i mean i don have any flat coat here so i substitue for varnish ...

welcome back mitch , i got the 14 B jolly too wat a beaut....

Hi all

Thanks for the extension, haven't touched the kit for ages.
Atleast now I have more time.

armor,...just a reminder, your name is Jon....

Armorman,

Best of luck to you and your bride! Yeah I may becoming a kit collector verses a builder-I guess we all have growing stashes eh? Well with the airshow tommorrow and Mothers day the bench may have to wait a little while longer...I'll try to get some good pics of some F-15's tommorrow!

Hi everyone.

When the tax return comes, I'm trying to buy two kits from a source in northern KY....an F-14B Jolly Rogers (OOP) and another F-14D. Heck, I should be able to get one done by Aug. 1....and all I have left of my F-14D that I was working on is some small bits of the Black Box cockpit.

i got another 48th scale hasegawa F14 plus cat again , also bought a black box lantirn conversion,

yes this is really cursed game we all played

good luck on the wedding armor

Hey roejn, that F-15 kit is a beaut. They did a nice job on that one. It's so hard to say no, eh?
THANKS Mark! It's getting closer... my batchelors is this weekend in Savannah Ga. I hope to remember my name on Monday...

Great! Maybe I will have a chance to finish after all! I know how you feel about the kit buying binge.....I'm fighting this strange urge to buy the Acadamey Huey UH1, and I just picked up the Revell Germany f-15, tis a curse it is!! :-)

I know how it is about shouldn't buy more kits. But what if somebody sends you some? I just got the Atomic City 1/12 Mercury Capsule kit from my buddy in Seattle! And this is after he sent me the Academy 1/32 Hornet. I will be busy after the F-14 build. I have to go get the Easy Off to strip the paint off the beast. Armorman: Congrats on the marriage. I wish I could join you all in Atlanta, but that is a bit too far for me. Let's get these kits done!

It has been awhile. After a big move and things packed. I was hoping to finish the one F-14 by the 1st of June, but it is taking longer than I thought getting situated. An Aug 1st end date would be welcomed and would ensure that the Revell D kit would be completed as well. Regardless I will try to get things unpacked and try to get the VF-41 cat finish as if we are still set for the 1st of June.

Chuck
Fly Navy

armorman, I will probably show up to the IPMS one of the days in Atlanta. At least, I plan on it. I actually live south of Atl in Griffin.

thanks bstrump... i hope can get it finish fast too.

anyway im ok with th AUG thing, as i believe i would not be finishing it before june . i think the F117 is ok ,i got one itareli one. My man armor u really know how to get kits by the cents , judging from the price it worth the kit fren..

I like August 1st as a finish date. Even I should be able to finish by then. I've got two builds that I'm doing for a comp at the end of May. So June 1st, I'll start working on my cat again. Gives me two months to finish it.

August?! Maybe I will have time to do a third ...
senry, your cat is looking awesome! Can't wait to see it done.

AUGUST 1st IT IS!!!!! Excellent idea and it helps me out tremendously. Remember what I said about not buying anymore kits? Well, I just grabbed the Tamiya 1/48 F-117 off of Ebay for 18 bucks- anyone built it? Positives and negatives? Looks like a beaut- especially when I add the Black Box cockpit to it sometime in the very distant future. I gotta quit buying kits! When I get to Atlanta with or without the Tomcat I'll go nuts. Good thing the wife will be there to keep me grounded. Anyone else going?

With my current work schedule, I know I will be late. And with the paint issue I have to strip now. I am all for pushing back the date. I think we were all a bit on the optimistic side with these kits. How about August 1st?

Yeah I will probably be late as well, but will try to get her done. I have a lot going on at work this month, travel at the first of next month on business, so not much bench time I'm afraid. Maybe we can extend the finish date?

thanks reojn , armour , daniel . well i hope i can do better on the paint work though

armor i did rescribe some the lines in the foward fuselage . frankly i use the wrong tool . i use the hasegawa rivet scriber tool , i end up having some deep lines over the area and need to thin down and sand over again n again. only later i know there is other type of tools silly me.

i still in process of doing some of the decal. hope u enjoy your wedding armor . wish i can have one now ....

better late than never, right Daniel? perfection takes time!