Parabat Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 Fantastic work as ever. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 (edited) Just about finished the Tomcat. Just have a few paint touch-ups & stick on the nose probe. Geesh, even these little guys want me to hurry up. :rofl:/ Edited May 8, 2016 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Great work John, I'm very much looking forward to the final reveal. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) Well she’s finished! Here’s a few pic’s showing some of scratch building projects completed on this build; Chin Pod, Gun Muzzle, & Nose Gear Strut: Yaw String, Windscreen Rain Vent, & Cockpit Canopy: Cockpit: ECS Exhaust Louvers & Plumbing: ] Weapons Pallets & Air Conditioning Fans: Fuel Tank Pylons, Main Gear Struts, & Missile Rail Adapters: Arrestor Hook Mechanism: I've included more photos of the completed jet in the next post. Edited July 28, 2018 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) … and here’s a few of the completed Tomcat; Stay tuned! Thanks for looking. Edited July 28, 2018 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 What a stunning job, that looks awesome. I do like the 'clean' no-tank look and this is an excellent model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 One of the best Tomcats I've ever seen! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 Thanks guys for your comments.. They're much appreciated. Once I get the display stand finished, I'll take some better photos (hopefully) & post them in 'The Display Case'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Boy, is that one to be proud of. Beautiful build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 WOW, beautiful job John !! All your hard work paid off, she looks awesome. Can't wait to see the display. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsahling Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 Congrats on finishing, looks nice, a long time in the making :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 (edited) Thanks Steve & dsahling. Yes, it's been a very long time. I worked on the Tomcat as a winter project off & on for 4 to 5 months for each of the last 6 years. Wow, that works out to approx. 2 full years. The Hasegawa kit has its issues, but overall I enjoyed the build & it was usually easy to keep motivated. Edited July 28, 2018 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomthegrom Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 That last photo is STUNNING. The little details are amazing, the gun port, TCS lens, Drop tank pylons. You smashed this one out of the park. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 I like it,congrats from me too! :)/>/>/> Well, honestly, it looks to me like a freshly sorted plane from the factory... If that was the goal - then - perfect! But for a Tomcat, i think this is quite surrealistic. There should be some more weathering, darker rivets, soiled areas... And the decals look very clean, sharp and contrasting. The engines/intakes area is quite dirty, while the wings are quite clean. The RBF tag on the missile looks wrinkled, like it`s not affected by the gravity :)/>/>. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 (edited) On 5/14/2016 at 2:18 AM, tomthegrom said: That last photo is STUNNING. The little details are amazing, the gun port, TCS lens, Drop tank pylons. You smashed this one out of the park. Thanks Tom. Much appreciated. On 5/14/2016 at 6:14 AM, my favs are F`s said: I like it,congrats from me too! 🙂 Well, honestly, it looks to me like a freshly sorted plane from the factory... If that was the goal - then - perfect! But for a Tomcat, i think this is quite surrealistic. There should be some more weathering, darker rivets, soiled areas... And the decals look very clean, sharp and contrasting. The engines/intakes area is quite dirty, while the wings are quite clean. The RBF tag on the missile looks wrinkled, like it`s not affected by the gravity :). Thanks for your feedback & comments. This jet did receive special paint treatment (see my post http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=207998&view=findpost&p=2785123) Squadron VF-74 - BeDevilers was disestablished on April 30, 1994, after 50 years of service. I tried to replicate how VF-74’s F-14B, BU No. 162919, Modex 101 would have looked in 1994. It has just received a new coat of camo paint on the top & sides ready for the squadron’s decommissioning ceremony. The squadron received a concession to full color markings on 101 (the CO’s jet) as a farewell gesture to VF-74 prior to its disestablishment. The underside of the aircraft was not repainted, except for anti-corrosion spot painting. The underside of the actual plane remained very dirty after the USS Sarratoga cruise in 1992. The ship was an oil burner causing the squadron’s aircraft to get very dirty. Apparently, at times, the ship did not have enough fresh water to wash its aircraft. Here's a pic I included earlier, as well. The RBF tags look a little wrinkled due to the wind in my den. :lol: Edited July 28, 2018 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomthegrom Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 By the way 162919 is my favorite f-14 and you have made it look superb. Looking forward to the finished display. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 17, 2016 Author Share Posted May 17, 2016 (edited) Hi again! I finished the display stand for my Tomcat. Yahoo!!! I purchased an 8”x24” pre-finished shelf from Lowes for the display base board. I cut the length down to 15 ¾” (I’ll show you why later). Then, using a heat gun, I removed the veneer off the cut off end piece, and re-glued it onto the cut end of the 15 ¾” piece. I found a number of concrete tarmac images on the Internet, & printed out the one I liked the best. The tarmac image was cut to size and glued onto the display board. I made a nameplate for the display using Photoshop and glued it to the display board, as well. The F-14 was mounted on the display using small gauge copper wire inserted in both the display board & holes drilled into the F-14’s main wheels. Wheelliant Navy Wheel Chocks (painted orange) were glued on at the main gear wheels. Here’s a few photos. The Tomcat on the display board: I left the little flight crew free standing so they could be removed or repositioned. Now, here’s why I chose an 8”x15 ¾” display base. You might recall, earlier I built a display case to keep the dust off the model. The 8”x15 3/4” display board fits nicely inside the case. A bonus is that the display board can sit on top of the display case, and the case can do double duty as a display stand. Well, this project is finally finished. The only thing left is to post some pic’s in the ARC Display Case section (Link to Display Case thread). Finally, I’d like to use this opportunity to thank all of you who offered advice and comments regarding this build over the last six years. I owe you a lot for helping me make this build as accurate & detailed as possible, and for keeping me motivated to finish this build. Thank you all! Edited July 28, 2018 by JohnS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Parabat Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Very nice, great idea with the display case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 An awesome work of art my friend. I have enjoyed this immensely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Nicely done John, the display looks fantastic. All those hours of research and hard work really paid off. Steve " TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY !" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted May 18, 2016 Author Share Posted May 18, 2016 Thanks guys! Much appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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