Brian P: Fightertown Decals

meh... mediocre work that a 2yr old could do during playtime. Come on John - time to step it up and actually do some real model building.... hahahahahahaha!! This work is mind boggling amazing. Your attention to detail and cleanliness of work is outstanding. Can't wait for more!! -brian

Looking at the online pictures for Katran - mostly 3D renders, it's hard to tell. They look great but... the open nozzles look too long (ie not fully open) and have a bit of an outward flare. The closed nozzles look too short (ie not fully closed)... not sure what's going on with their grid pattern on the shrouds. It looks overdetialed and needs the cross panel lines filled in. brian

I still haven't seen anyone get the PE exhausts totally correct. The closed nozzles don't curve all the way to the exhaust tubing like the kit parts do. Tricky to explained but there's and element of 'closed' look internally. Same with the open. No one has got the exhaust petals internal shapes right yet... i wanted the Katran parts but never seen them instock anywhere... I'll check out the link. Wish they would show the actual parts lined up with the kit part. A beautifully 3D printed piece doesn't work if it doesn't match the kit dimensions... I'm keeping my fingers crossed for these parts and really hope they do fit Tamiya! brian

I just ordered all the F-14 stuff. My question is is they say for Hasegawa/Tamiya, can they actually fit both? I thought Hasegawa was a wider diameter exhausts than Tamiya... fingers crossed for a good Tamiya fit! brian

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Those look stellar! Can't wait to get a few sets! -brian

Funny you should ask that;) working on Tamiya Tomcat sheet #4 this weekend and that been the project - figuring out how many of the last cruise VF-24 jets I can fit on the sheet... pretty much all the markings do work. The big swoosh of 201 is too tall to fit exact but if you don't need to be super exact, it'll work. Or you can split it at the thin point and reposition the top of the swoosh. The fast checks are the same, a mm or 2 too high but still barely noticeable. The new sheet will have 200/201/207 for sure. Gonna try and fit 206 and a full lowviz as well...

SWEET!! It just so happens I have a San Diego overnight Fri night and am in town until 5pm. I'll be there!!! -brian

Beautiful work! Love the look of the set and order inbound! One note, you make the gun vent exhaust grille but no NACA scoop vents? You can't have the combination that you show - 7 grille vent or standard grille vent. The aft exhaust grille only pairs with NACA vents. Cant wait to use these! Brian

They didn't have them. Whether or not the panel was there and puttied over or solid from manufacturing, I don't know for sure.

The D did not have the glove vane at all. The ECM gear (bumps on the A/B) are located internally in the D. B had them puttied over. A's eventually had them locked. Brian

At the time 146 and 147 had the newest C Hornets in the fleet. Lot XIV, iirc. I've got a lot of shots of them from work ups at Fallon and the boat prior to the Nov95 cruise. They were all low viz with no color. Brian

No decal mods needed for Fightertown 48080. VF-114 from 90/91. depends how accurate you want to be... needs rudder braces, wheels. Tall TACAN is already in the box. Jet had ECM bumps. Here's a build using them on the Tamiya. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1006839519467950&id=335133636638545&set=a.335432729941969.1073741829.335133636638545&source=48

I am amazed at the level of detail that you can do. And then I realized that every single line and detail on the kit was raised to start. Your scribing work is better than most manufacturers injection molds. I am am blown away at your level of artistry and craftsmanship. You can never post enough pictures. We'll take everything you can share. Brian

Can't wait to see the progress;)...