Rhinolover Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 (edited) Hello all, Here is my latest in-flight build. I'm moving way outside my comfort zome on this one so it should be interesting. I will be using the Hasegawa F-14A 1/48 kit and FCM VF-33 Starfighter declas for this project. It will be mounted on a 16 x 13" wooden base with water created by a gel medium. I will also to add the deck and LSO platform in the corner with a few standing crew members as seen in the image. I didn't want to bore you all with the intial basic HAS Tomcat build since it's pretty straight forward so here is my current progress. Here is the famous image taken of Dale "Snort" Snodgrass making his famous fly-by in a VF-33 jet for a cruise demo in 1988. Other than the image, there is very limited information regarding the aircracft flown and what upgrades it may have had at the time of the flight. A little artistic interpretation should get me pretty close. If any one has any information or additional images of the jet I would greatly appreciate your input or direction. This is my scale mock-up of the display using the 1/48 Tomcat on the 16 x 13" base. It stands about 17 1/2" tall. Detail added to the bypass air ducts and heat exchanger exhausts vents... Wing seal plates removed and replaced with cut styrene... Air conditioning fans added behind new grates made from the aerator of a sink faucet... Kit IP coamings filed and reshaped. Covers replaced with blue painters tape coated with CA glue. Various additions added with strip styrene... Edited May 14, 2010 by Rhinolover Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blackhawk7 Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 All your other builds have been exceptional... I'm sure this will be no different!! :) Is the Tomcat's wing going to be touching the water in order to hold it in place, or are you doing to use some kind of pole to mount it?? Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomthegrom Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 WOW..this is going to be insane! Seriously. How do you build so fast is what I want to know. VF-33 is one of the coolest squadrons too! I believe the guy with his hands behind his back in the foreground is Admiral Jay bird Johnson. Epic picture and this is going to be one EPIC diorama! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leverancier Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Cool idea, can't wait to see it finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 very COOL Idea... :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 What a unique project John. I'll be watching your progress with great interest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 This one should be fun to watch ... :) I'll be tuning in ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mareku Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 (edited) That is a stunning idea for diorama It will be great fun to watch your build Edited April 17, 2010 by mareku Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mango1st Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 Hey Buddy Lookin real cool. I'm still looking for details for you. Did a mock of mine similar to your cut out, 2 foot bloody high. Keep up the good work mate Mango Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 I just happen to have pictures of VF-33 low viz jets from 1987 if that helps.... It'll take a few days to dig through the stack of prints but should be able to get them scanned by early May. Also have a good buddy who flew in -33 from 87-89. I was just going through some of his cruise shots a few months back! Of the top of my head- jets were overall dark ghost gray 36320 with all euro gray markings 35237. TCS pods but I don't remember them having the tail/glove vane ECM upgrades. While on workups and cruise, TCS had the optics. (they didn't have enough lens units back then so cruise squadrons got them and shore based squadrons had the 'bullet' ballast. Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackcollar Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 What a great idea, looking forward to see more of your work -Al Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhinolover Posted April 19, 2010 Author Share Posted April 19, 2010 I just happen to have pictures of VF-33 low viz jets from 1987 if that helps....It'll take a few days to dig through the stack of prints but should be able to get them scanned by early May. Also have a good buddy who flew in -33 from 87-89. I was just going through some of his cruise shots a few months back! Of the top of my head- jets were overall dark ghost gray 36320 with all euro gray markings 35237. TCS pods but I don't remember them having the tail/glove vane ECM upgrades. While on workups and cruise, TCS had the optics. (they didn't have enough lens units back then so cruise squadrons got them and shore based squadrons had the 'bullet' ballast. Brian Brian, Thanks for anything you can provide. VF-33 is an elusive squadron. There just is not that much sitting out there to look at. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 (edited) Here's a couple of shots in the 88-89 timeframe by my friend Smut Bush inauguration 1989: Looks like these jets had TPS data markings -brian Edited April 19, 2010 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 All of your projects have been pretty killer. This looks to be another winner! Looking forward to further progress. -JS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhinolover Posted April 19, 2010 Author Share Posted April 19, 2010 Brian, Thanks a bunch. These will be a great source of information. I see no ECM bumps which was a question I had. I read the FCM decal sheet wrong and thought that the jet in 88' would have had the new gas vents which I see not is incorrect. No turning back now thought. I'll call it builder interpretation. Glad to see the 210 jet. Apparently someone was able to track down and decuce 210 was the jet in the fly-by image. Thanks again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kurnass77 Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 Another grand project!!!! Good luck! Gianni Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 (edited) No ECM on these jets and definitely no tall Tacan. The Naca vents didn't come to the A until after ODS. VF-213 got them in 91, VF-33 got them on some jets late 92 along with some ECM... some of them still had the grill vent in 93 and no ECM. -brian Edited April 19, 2010 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhinolover Posted April 21, 2010 Author Share Posted April 21, 2010 (edited) Spent the night getting the bird up in the air. The display is tall and just shy of 18". The model is mounted on a custom cut crystal clear acrylic stand. The stand is 3/16" thick. A slot was cut in the bottom of the jet to accept the insert cut on the top of the stand. The stand slides into a styrene box, coated with epoxy for added strength, and sets about 5/8" deep into the model. The the actaul fly-by pass was made at an 85 degree bank. At that angle the model sits downward the weight allows it to sit comfortably on the stand without glueing. Unless I run into a problem, my plan is to allow the model to be removed from the base for ease of transporting. Edited April 22, 2010 by Rhinolover Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Very cool stand ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Very clever way to display such a beautiful Bird.... WOW !!! HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 WOW, what a very cool diorama. Cant wait to see more of this baby done. Great job so far! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 I know there is an echo in here, but that is wwaaayyyy coool!!! Awesome idea and I am really looking forward to the finished product! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 It's going to look terrific! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bug Bandit II Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 (edited) The crystal clear acrylic is a super way to "fly" your AC. very good idea. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress. ps Those special blue unit markings, on your model, must have been hard to copy Edited April 23, 2010 by Bug Bandit II Quote Link to post Share on other sites
xavi84 Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 OH MAN! this is gonna rule hard when it's done. Your projects just keep getting cooler and cooler. I'm almost afraid of what you're going to do after this. Keep up the awesome work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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