F-14 Tomcat Group Build idea...

Looks like we're getting a good turn-out for this GB now. Have we got a list of everyone taking part? Welcome to the fun Audiophile121.

Resin is a two part material (a resin and a hardener are mixed together). Resin molding doesn't have the limitations that injection molded plastic has (like mold seperation lines and ejector pin marks). It is also alot easier to tool up for, you don't need the machined metal molds that are needed for IMP (you can even make your own molds and use store bought resin to mold parts). Parts usually come on pour stubs which can be cut-off.

Like armorman said, Black box is just a company that makes resin parts. There are numerous aftermarket manufacturers like Aires, True details and Jaguar. BB and TD cockpits are usually all resin, but Aires are mostly resin with Photo-etch details.

Resin pits are designed to simply replace a kits cockpit, but it never works out that way. You always need to do alot of sanding and test fitting. Normal plastic cement won't work on resin, CA (super) glue works best.

I think all of this info is correct, someone tell me if I'm wrong.

Just bought Revell's 1/144 Tomcat... I might join in, if I may...

Dominique you are more than welcome.

pingtang, you are on the money

Thanks Reggie! I haven't built a Tomcat in nearly 25 years... The last one (and first one too!) was the old 1/48 Revell kit... Yuk! This 1/144 offering is more detailled than that old big beast...

However, I have now 3 Rafales to finish too, on top of a number of smaller projects... Time is a problem... Obviously, I need to sleep less...

Hiya fellas... how are those Rafale's progressing dj? You are most certainly welcome to grace this GB with your incredible skills! I have been looking for that Revell Rafale you recommended but I have had no luck yet... maybe I'll get lucky on ebay. I have a list of everyone and I just need to add a few more names to get it updated. I think we are at around 20 people or so! Quite Impressive... is it January yet? BTW, pingtang you hit the nail on the head. While I'm here... if anyone here uses Testors MM Enamels what are you guys mixing them at for airbrushing? I'm thinking of switching to Tamiya Acrylics.

Armorman, thanks for the welcome. I updated my Rafale thread in the aircraft forum, mostly for your benefit, re. the other 1/48 Revell kit (Rafale M).

Thanks for the update dj- looking good!

QUOTE: Originally posted by armorman While I'm here... if anyone here uses Testors MM Enamels what are you guys mixing them at for airbrushing? I'm thinking of switching to Tamiya Acrylics.

When I use MM enamels, I thin them with humbrol enamel thinner. I'll just add enough thinner so the paint looks thin enough. They are my favourite enamels, but I prefer acrylics. The problem with Tamiya is that barely any of their colours match FS or RLM colours. But apart from that they are good. I use Tamiya colours for basic colours (flat black, red etc), but for FS equivilants Gunze-Sangyo acrylics are best (They spray smoother too).

Thanks for the info pingtang... lately it's seemed like the MM enamels have been thicker than usual even with the same stirring technique that I have been using for a while. I heard the same thing about Tamiya from the guy at the LHS. I'll see about trying more of the Gunze stuff. When I have used it before it went on really well and was on the mark on color accuracy.

Is it January yet? My 'Cat is making noise on my shelf...

I like the Gunze Sango colors too, but I can only get them by mail order. The local, and only LHS, only has Testors MM enamels and Acrylics. The next larger town east of here may have a LHS that has them but it is a 2 hour drive each way over 2 mountain passes. Squadron and other mail order houses are my best option. The LHS here has some great models and tools but the paint selection is sparse.

My LHS only stocks Tamiya and MM Enamels as well. Squadron is where I go as well for the stuff I cannot find.

QUOTE: originally posted by armorman Is it January yet? My 'Cat is making noise on my shelf...

My cat's doing the same thing. It doesn't leave me alone. We'll have to get a countdown going, only 70 or so days to go now.

My LHS only stocks Tamiya and Humbrol paints, so when I get a chance too, I go for the long drive north and stock up on Gunze and some left-over stock of Aeromaster paints. And when I go for the even longer drive north, I'll get some Pollyscale and MM paints. I hate living in a town where the only HS is a toy store.

That does suck, pingtang.

QUOTE: Originally posted by armorman Is it January yet? My 'Cat is making noise on my shelf...

mine is under my table where i do homework ! the agony !

Mine are out in my shed. Out of sight, out of mind. I still am thinking of them though. This will be a cool GB. I am going to build 2 'B' cats and 1 'D'. We will seehow building 3 simoutaniously will go! I have done 2 but not 3!!!!

Mine is under my bed. No there is not a mine under my bed, but my Academy cat is waiting patiently under there with the other half of my tiny collection (the other half is an academy Titanic) of two kits. It keeps calling out to me in the middle of the night "build me, build me, build me......", or maybe I'm just going nuts and am imagining it, which is probably more likely.

Mine is calling from my 'kit closet' and I am thinking about building the Revell-Monogram at the same time... so far i am adding the black box to the academy kit and converting to an F-14B and I will do the RM-F-14D OOB with a few scratchbuilt stuff around the cockpit. I am so ready...

i wager that by the time we end the build, the number of posts posted before the build started will equal the number of posts posted after the build started.

Whatever he said!!!!!???????? Can't wait for this one to get going. I need to make some serioud progress on my A-4's. Have not touched them in a week.

Yeah, I worked on the Super Hornet today and finished getting the forward fuselage connected to the main. I had a nasty gap in the front that I am beginning to putty. I decided not to fold the wings. Built the front gear and a few other odds and ends. Photobucket is not accepting new members at this time so I'll email photos to you tomorrow evening Mark. After all the bragging I spouted about this kit the nasty gaps around the forward fuselage have shut my mouth. I don't design them so I'll shut it. You been working on anything reggie or are you still up to your eyes in exams?

QUOTE: originally posted by reggiethedorf i wager that by the time we end the build, the number of posts posted before the build started will equal the number of posts posted after the build started.

I'll take that bet, what odds are you giving. I could stand to make some money.

armorman- If you want to upload some pics, you can put them in my photobucket album for now. I'd like to see some pics of your super bug. Just email me if you want to, and I'll send you the details.

I saw where Photobucket is not taking new 'free' clients. But $25 a year for some cool extras is not bad. And one of them is no ads! May just do that. I can use that for my photo business as well.

QUOTE: I'll take that bet, what odds are you giving. I could stand to make some money.

a bottle of jonsons klear comes to mind since i know it isnt available in australia.

QUOTE: a bottle of jonsons klear comes to mind since i know it isnt available in australia.

And I'll send you a kangaroo, as I know they're not available in singapore. Don't know whether that's very legal though.

make sure you put a big enough stamp on that one semi-seriously though, wanna organise some kinda modelling supplies trade ? heck, it dont even have to be modelling supplies !

Thanks pingtang!!! I'll email you when I get home from work later this evening- I really appreciate it!

reggie - That would be alright, I'd like to get my hands on some of that Johnsons klear. What would you want in return, I don't know of anything that's available here, that isn't available there. Like you say, it doesn't even have to be modelling supplies.

armorman- no worries mate, Do you know how to get the images from photobucket onto the forum? That's one thing I forgot to put in my email. Just in case you don't, all you have to do is copy the line under the picture in the album called IMG, and paste it into your message. Make sure you include the [ img ] and [/ img] bite.

I have been looking on EBay and there a ton of F-14 kits on there now. You need to put in F-14A to see most of them. But use F-14 and F-14D for your searches. I have not seen any of the Revell 1/32 kits but there are a couple of the Tamiya kits.

I'm checking them out now! Thanks Mark!