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Tamiya /32nd scale F-14A Black Knights edition


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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away........

Hello folk. Apologies for dredging this topic up but I've made a re-start on this build and wondered if I should update this thread?

Hello, congrats for your superb work,

I will be starting an f-14 tamiya black nights 1/32 soon and can say that your work with it is awesome, I have learnt a lot about your build,

Congrats again.

Regards

Thank you chuso25. I'm glad that this project has given you some ideas.

I'd like to see your build. Did you make a thread anywhere?

Any progress on this beauty Guy?

Jens

Hi Jens, thanks for the gentle nudge. At last I've managed to get my a55 in gear and pick this project up again.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of this when you get back at it.

Steve

Lol. Hi Steve, many thanks for the kind words. Apologies for the delay in responding but I'm back to it so see below for a small update.

When we last saw this topic I was stumped by the auxiliary air bypass vents and their interiors. I made a start by cutting one wall to size but the geometry of the remainder had me perplexed. I could n't figure out how to create the box for the bypass vent when it was necessary to fit it around the scratch built stuff I'd already made.

After years of ideas simmering away on the back burner (including attempting to modify those beautiful Zactomodels resin parts for the Trumpeter kits) I just jumped in!

Before I knew it I had a pair of rough boxes glued together.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20002_zpspqy4gkas.jpg

These are crude but provide a basis for extra detailling.

Using my preferred medium of wine bottle foil I added rivets and strengthening ribs here and there.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20003_zpshinj1lz4.jpg

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20005_zpsd2gnch19.jpg

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20008_zpsic0tpjy2.jpg

So I've made a (re)start. There's plenty more to do on these but at least I'm back in the saddle.

Before I go, here's a peek at where this assembly sits in the mainframe.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20010_zps6eqng208.jpg

I hope it's not another three years before I can get back with more.......

Edited by geedubelyer
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Excellent news, Guy.

This was one of the builds that got me motivated to start my (unfinished) F-14B. I used your idea of including an index in my build thread.

Maybe we should have a race to see who will finish first. :rolleyes:

I'm looking forward to following your progress.

:cheers:

John

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Excellent news, Guy.

Maybe we should have a race to see who will finish first. :rolleyes:/>

:cheers:/>

John

Hi John, sounds like fun! :)

Just so long as you give me a head start..... ;)

Hi Andrew, hi Chuck, thanks for stopping by guys. It's good to have your support along the way. Not sure that I'll have anything new to offer but I'm glad of the company.

I would n't have thought I'd be rusty as I have been modelling but wow, this was a challenge.

I've almost forgotten how to add tiny details and I need to re-acquaint myself with my fine motor skills I think. Hopefully things will come back to me as we progress.

I primed the boxes after adding some more detail with foil then began to tackle the pipework and hoses.

tn_bypass%20vents%20002%206_zpsm8qfsevk.jpg

This is the starboard box as it seemed less complicated.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20005_zpsc2svudhj.jpg

I've also formulated a contingency plan in case things go pear shaped.

Let me introduce plan B:

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20011_zpsqkfecbmn.jpg

;)

A set of resin intake covers by Quickboost. I discovered these on a recent trip to Hannants and could n't resist them. If the intakes are passable these may end up being used as window dressing/props for a diorama.

Next up, the port side vent box and the bypass door actuators.

More soon.

Cheers.

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Hello Guy,

Long, long time no see...

Glad you are back to your build. I hope to see her complete in all her glory one day.

Still I hope you won't give it up for other builds. ;)

Amazing job, as always though.

Cheers and happy modeling!

Alexander

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Glad to see you back at it, keep up the great work.

Steve

Hi Steve, thanks man. Glad you like it. I've just spotted your big(ger) 'Cat. That is some awesome work right there. I shall be tuning in to your build from now on.

Hello Guy,

Long, long time no see...

Glad you are back to your build. I hope to see her complete in all her glory one day.

Still I hope you won't give it up for other builds. ;)/>/>

Amazing job, as always though.

Cheers and happy modeling!

Alexander

Hello my friend. Hope all is well with you and yours. Great to see you again after all this time.

I can't promise that my motivation will last through to the end of the build but I'm going to try Alexander. I've been trying to get back to this one for some time but was put off by the geometry and complexity of these bypass vents when added to the scratch built gear bay extensions and those vents alongside the forward fuselage that I made earlier. At last I decided to just get stuck in and thankfully they came together surprisingly quickly.

Today's update is similar to the last in that it details the bypass vent box but the port one this time.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20012_zps2fk0bnkg.jpg

There seem to be more pipes in this side than the other. In reference pics there is sealant applied to the wall where the pipes emerge. I simulated this using filler painted dark grey then dry-brushed with brown.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20016_zpsonhexeie.jpg

Finally a shot of the two together.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20017_zps302any7f.jpg

It's difficult to get a photo into the vents to show what can be seen but I'll keep trying. I'll probably have more success in due course when I glue the intakes together. For now, the next job will be to fabricate the rear bypass door actuator rams. These two are identical and I'll be back with pics of my attempts before long.

Cheers.

Edited by geedubelyer
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Hello my friend. Hope all is well with you and yours. Great to see you again after all this time.

I can't promise that my motivation will last through to the end of the build but I'm going to try Alexander. I've been trying to get back to this one for some time but was put off by the geometry and complexity of these bypass vents when added to the scratch built gear bay extensions and those vents alongside the forward fuselage that I made earlier. At last I decided to just get stuck in and thankfully they came together surprisingly quickly.

Finally a shot of the two together.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents%20017_zps302any7f.jpg

Cheers.

Hello Guy,

Impressive as always. Very neatly done and looks lively.

I think you eventually have time to make a deep plunge into this build, though it will take much time that it's so superdetailed.

I hope your job (I mean what you are doing for life) is secure and everyone at home is OK.

Cheers and happy modeling!

Alexander

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Thanks guys.

Glad you're enjoying the progress Steve, cheers.

Hi Alexander, things are good thankyou. I hope that everything is good with you guys too.

Hi Marcel, thanks man. It's been a while has n't it? :whistle:

Managed to get the bypass door actuators fitted.

tn_Tomcat%20bypass%20vents.%203_zpspzyjiggl.jpg

The wash looks stark in this image because of the flash. It's less pronounced in daylight.

The wheelbays are calling again next. I shall have to re-visit the main gear bays before I can attach the intake trunking.

More soon.

Cheers.

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  • 2 weeks later...

If it ever gets finished..... :rolleyes:

Thanks Steve. Lovin' what you're doin' on your (even) big(ger) 'Cat :worship:

To get the bypass vents fitted I need to finish the gear bays. I thought I'd finished at least one of the gear bays but in fact it's still only half done so that was a wake up call.

Now I'm back to sticking teeny tiny bits of wire into the bays to replicate all of the full sized article's pipework. I must be bonkers though because looking ar reference photos and other people's models shows me that next to nothing will be visible.... :crying2:

It's eye watering stuff and hugely time consuming.

In an attempt to give my eyes a break and to feel like I'm making at least some forward progress I turned my attention to the main wings.

The leading edge is bare metal and I used three shades of acrylic metallic grey to get the effect I was looking for.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%20002_zpsywfdoiww.jpg

With that masked off I could apply the greys.

The underside was light grey blue, the top surface pale blue grey by Valejo with some Xtracrylics medium grey to give some tonal variance.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%20003_zpsnrdgxyl2.jpg

The next step was a little salt weathering.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%20004_zpsnzl786sb.jpg

This technique gives a nicely mottled result that makes for a good base for the next round of weathering using pastels.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%20009_zpsav2uj5ce.jpg

Tomorrow I hope to gloss the wings so that I can add the decals before sealing them in and finishing the weathering. This has been alot of fun and makes a super change from the fiddly wheel bays.

More soon I hope.

Cheers.

Edited by geedubelyer
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I guarante yours will be finished before mine. Looking great. Would like a better closeup of the leading edge metal color. Looking for ideas and colors for my Big Cat, thanks.

Steve

Here you go Steve.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%203_zpsmrshg1lw.jpg

While I'm at it here are a couple more snaps.

I managed to get the wing decalled today so I could start weathering.

tn_Tomcat%20wings_zpsh83lcbtr.jpg

I'll leave it at this for now but I might do more when everything is assembled.

On the wingtip slime lights I used some thin black decal to make the lines.

tn_Tomcat%20wings%20014_zps2xhrhwen.jpg

This came from the seperation between two airframes on a 1/72nd scale Airfix kit.

The wing tip light is shaped clear sprue painted clear Humbrol green lacquer.

Back to the wheel bays next but I might just have a play with the vertical tails when I need a change of pace.

Thanks for looking, cheers.

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  • 1 year later...

Wow, just spent ages going through this but, it's simply amazing. I have two kits in my stash and was looking for inspiration. Not sure if your build has done that or made me want to throw in the towel  😁

 

Any further progress?

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