mcaulk

Marek, you were such a source of wonderment for us mere mortals who followed your work with fascination. You encouraged me not only as a modeller but as only one who knows suffering when death came to my door. I will miss you but take comfort knowing that you hurt no more and that you will fly and soar and reach out and touch the face of God. Bye for now buddy, Mike

Mareku, I think of you often and am praying for your recovering... hang in there friend. Mike

Bush, Have not made a lot of progress on the Tomcat project. Probably jumped back in before I was emotionally ready. Am doing some better now but school has started and that is an all consuming proposition. I will post as soon as I have something substantial completed. Thanks again for the support, it is very much appreciated. Mike

Guys thanks for the interest and the encouragement. Hope to get some paint on soon. Will post some fresh pics. Regards, Mike

Chuck, That guy had to be no more than 30 feet off the deck! What a rush. Thanks for the pics and inspiration. A project like this is less like a sprint and more like a marathon... I need the boost. Thanks, Mike

Jesse, You are right on regarding weathering around the steps. I've spent the last hour scrutinizing dozens of Cat pics an nearly 100% show substantial wear and grim around the port side steps and surrounding fuselage. Thanks for the input. Mike

Am growing weary of detail work... what I really love is painting hope to get to the paint shop this week. Would love to end up with something like this.

The stock engine tubes are a tad small in diameter most noticeable where the nozzles meet the tubes. Rather than disassemble the monster and fabricate new ones I set about to find some acceptable work-a-round. The solution was in the kitchen cabinet... Crystal Light! As it turns out the little cups that the mix comes in are pretty close to the nozzle size and they are molded with a double lip which helps minimize the step in size. Who knew. This pic show the nozzle with and without the Crystal Light fix... although not perfect it certainly helps. One final pic from above showing

Here's an overall view from above.

Added some wing gasket detail using stock plastic.

Gregg, Both are welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to offer kind words. They mean much to me and the rest of my family. Sincerely, Mike

Marek, I'm so sorry to learn of your illness. I will be praying for you to be cancer free and make a complete 100% recovery! We need you around a lot longer so hang in there! Mike

Patrick, Thank you so very much! Mike

Gary, Thank you for taking the time to express care, concern and hope. We are a Christian family and have confidence that we will be with Jamie and Lillian when we inevitably leave this temporary world. Don't pretend to understand why this happened but I know that even heaven is a better place because my son and granddaughter are there. Thanks again,

Chuck, Thank you for the response and inspiration. Your salt weathering reproduces what these jets really look like better than anything I have seen to date. To many models have a pristine almost toy-like appearance. How did it occur to you to use salt? Regards, Mike

Major, Thanks for the understanding words. I can't imagine how people get through things like this without faith in God and the support of others who have too had to bear the unbearable. Thank you, Mike

Chuck, I already have a question. The forward fuselage has been painted, lightly weathered (dry brushing) and Tamiya smoke in the panel lines and sealed. I sealed it with Testors flat finish right out of a rattle can. Do you think this coating is sufficient to hold up to the salt application? Sure don't want to start over. Regards, Mike

Chuck, Thanks for the support and encouragement. Jamie was a great kid and the little girl was just perfect. A very sad time for my family. Hey, I am considering your salt weathering technique which you worked to perfection with the Grim Reapers CAG bird you did last year. http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/rh/articles.php?id=16567 As you know the Tomcat TPS paint scheme became a mess in very short order at sea and your system captures that look like none I have seen. Having never done it I am a little intimidated so I may have a question or two. Have about a week of work before

The vents on top of the fuselage required lots of scraping to give them a more convincing depth. This is the kind of chore that demands mind numbing repetitious effort but adds to the illusion and therefore worth the energy expenditure.

Here is another comparison shot of the stock and modified nozzel.

Darren, In early October my middle son Jamie was killed just outside Nashville in a car crash. 4 weeks later my 3 month old granddaughter Lillian just stopped breathing in her crib. You never get over something like this but you have to carry on and I'm trusting with God's help and the "normal" of being absorbed in modeling will help. Thanks you for asking. Mike

The stock JSI Tomcat comes as an A with the Pratt & Whitney engine nozzles. A now defunct after-market company made a fairly credible resin replacement for the GE F-110 nozzles. They however are not perfect. They are to large and to straight. The real thing is more rounded so being the fanatic that I am I picked up a couple copies and modified them the old fashioned way... scraping, sanding. They came out pretty good but the final proof will be after they are painted. I will include a shot with the 2 side by side.

The engine shrouds on the B/D had a row of fasteners around the entire circumference. These appear to be some sort of silver/aluminum recessed screws so I have to drill out these points about 24 per engine. I'm thinking I'll probably punch some thick foil and insert these in the drilled holes. Will post the results good or bad.

This shot highlights some of the panel line corrections and rivet enhancements. Threw in a 1/144 F-14A to show how big this thing really is! Another shot with a little 1/144 F-100 Super Sabre perched on the Cat.

Guys, It has been awhile since did any work on the big cat. We lost 2 children in less than a month and I am just getting motivate to work at the hobby. Hope to finish the project this summer before school starts so here goes with a first installment. Not quite finished with panel line and rivet detail but getting close.