galfa Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 (edited) Two questions, both about very old Tomcat stuff. - Was ever possible for the glove vanes originally mounted in the forward part of the wing glove to be extended while the plane was parked on the tarmac? - I couldn't find any decals sheet for the F-14A VF-1: 158979/"NK100", an early Tomcat camouflaged in the dark variation of the famous Heather-Ferris splinter scheme. Any advice about where I can get the needed "00", "100", and national insigna? Edited September 12, 2018 by galfa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 I found this on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-48-Microscale-Decals-F-14A-Tomcats-2-VF-84-Ferris-Scheme-Complete-48-57/142918109030?hash=item2146954766:g:8zMAAOSwvV1bZ8YP:sc:USPSFirstClass!53211!US!-1 It has 158978 for the airframe number or whatever the proper term is (brain not working, old age). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
glorystomper Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 BuNo? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 I am by no means the Tomcat expert but I can tell you that the only photographic evidence I have seen of the glove vanes deployed is in-flight. That is not to say that they cannot be while on the ground, i.e. maybe for maintenance? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 46 minutes ago, glorystomper said: BuNo? That's It (I think)! Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galfa Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 7 hours ago, glorystomper said: BuNo? According "Home of M.A.T.S." (www.antf.net), both VF-1 and VF-2 had one each of their Tomcats painted in the Heather-Ferris scheme: VF-1: 158979 "NK100" VF-2: 158985 "NK200" Both BuNos are confirmed by web photos. So, giving an 8 instead of a 9, Microscale BuNo is wrong but that is not a big deal (MSTOR thank you!). What worries me is that Miscroscale 48-57 is a over thirty years old sheet probably disintegrating once droped in to the wather. Do you know about any other option? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, galfa said: What worries me is that Miscroscale 48-57 is a over thirty years old sheet probably disintegrating once droped in to the wather. You could give them a coating of Microscale Liquid Decal Film. That would hold them together. None of the decals for that scheme are very large so it shouldn't be a problem. From the photo there seems to be no yellowing, which would be my main concern with old decals. P.S. I was tempted to buy those decals myself as I always wanted to do a ferris scheme F-14 (or F-4). That's how I knew where to look. Edited September 5, 2018 by Mstor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Test a decal that you won't be using from the sheet. Put it in some warm water and see what happens, if it breaks apart, do like galfa suggested and use the Microscale Liquid Decal Film. A good friend of mine uses it all the time on older decals and it works like a charm. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 I have that sheet and used decals from it. It held up surprisingly well. The Microscale Clear Decal film will solve all your worries, though. I've used that on decals I knew would crack, and they worked perfectly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 1 hour ago, A-10 LOADER said: do like galfa suggested and use the Microscale Liquid Decal Film Dat were me 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galfa Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 7 hours ago, Mstor said: P.S. I was tempted to buy those decals myself as I always wanted to do a ferris scheme F-14 (or F-4). That's how I knew where to look. Hey, take a look here: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10114632 In addition to the correct BuNo, Hasegawa is giving the canopy rails crew names. Now, how to get one ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 2 hours ago, galfa said: Hey, take a look here: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10114632 In addition to the correct BuNo, Hasegawa is giving the canopy rails crew names. Now, how to get one ? I found one on Amazon, in stock, only $351.51. Shipping's cheap though, $5.98 from Japan. 😬 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 3 hours ago, galfa said: Hey, take a look here: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10114632 In addition to the correct BuNo, Hasegawa is giving the canopy rails crew names. Now, how to get one ? Well, it turns out I am a forgetful, dumb, old fool. I have this kit! Duh Its been sitting in the basement. Stole the early beaver tail and gun vent from it to convert my Tamiya kit. Thing is, if I want to do the ferris scheme airframe, I need to find another early beaver tail and gun vent, which I have, but it is in the original Wolfpack kit with the early full color VF-1 decals that I am saving in case I never get updated VF-1 Wolfpack decals fitted to the Tamiya kit. There is a decal maker that is said he was going to do it, but its priority keeps slipping and slipping... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aircal62 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Also see DMXdecals new VF-1 decal sheet. It does not have the Heater Ferris scheme but has other useful items. The Microscale decal was produced when the Fujimi F-14A kit first hit the market in 1979. The markings were taken from I think a KoKu Fan photo and a drawing, plus some additional input from Chuck Heatly. At the time there were no names on the canopy rails but were likely added fairly quickly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galfa Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 I guess the Heather-Ferris camouflage was painted over the white and gray scheme. Any chance that in that process, the red areas between the slats and the wings were oversprayed as well? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, galfa said: I guess the Heather-Ferris camouflage was painted over the white and gray scheme. Any chance that in that process, the red areas between the slats and the wings were oversprayed as well? In the photos I have they don't show the underneath of the slats but the they show the underneath of the spoilers and it is still red. Edited September 13, 2018 by Mstor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Just for clarification, it was the Heater-Ferris scheme, named after "Heater" Heatly and Keith Ferris, the artist. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aircal62 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Yes, jointly developed by Cdr. Chuck "Heater" Heatly and Keith Ferris. I remember visiting Top Gun back in the day, and meeting/visiting with Cdr Heatly when he was with Top Gun and discussing disruptive paint schemes and he showed me several models painted in the Heater-Ferris scheme in various colors (grays, blues mostly) as well as some other ideas, such as the false canopy. He presented me with a strip of airframe aluminum about 8 inches wide and 24 inches long painted in the four colors used on the F-4's of the reserve squadrons. The Tomcats were painted in different grays. The colors were on the outer surfaces only, all flap wells etc were left as before as those areas were specified in safety regulations to be painted in certain ways and colors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Back in the day I bought both of Cdr. Heatly’s books, “The Cutting Edge” and “Forged In Steel”, still have them. Excellent photography of USN and USMC aviation in the ‘80s https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-C-Heatley-III/dp/0934738173 https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Steel-Marine-Corps-Aviation/dp/0943231000 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 The Cutting Edge was what got me hooked on NavAir. Top Gun was fun, but The Cutting Edge sealed the deal. I'm building a Tomcat right now using DXM decals of VF-1 that are the same as in the book. VF-2 will be coming shortly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 13 hours ago, Darren Roberts said: The Cutting Edge was what got me hooked on NavAir. Top Gun was fun, but The Cutting Edge sealed the deal. I'm building a Tomcat right now using DXM decals of VF-1 that are the same as in the book. VF-2 will be coming shortly! Darren, you wouldn't be, by any chance, building a Tamiya F-14? Reason I ask is that I would like to know how well the DXM decals for the vertical stabs fit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 2 hours ago, Mstor said: Darren, you wouldn't be, by any chance, building a Tamiya F-14? Reason I ask is that I would like to know how well the DXM decals for the vertical stabs fit? I'm not, but I can cut out the tail markings of the early scheme and see how it fits. I'll let you know how it turns out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Darren Roberts said: I'm not, but I can cut out the tail markings of the early scheme and see how it fits. I'll let you know how it turns out. That would be greatly appreciated. On the outer tails, the nose of the wolf should just about touch the bare metal (or Coraguard (sp?)) leading edge and the curved back should just graze the hinge line of the rudder, without having to move the decal down too far on the tail. With all of the decals I have seen so far, you have to move the decal down too far in order to meet those requirements. On the inside markings the "NK" should like up with and be at the same angle as the hinge line. Also, on some sets these decals are way too large from top to bottom. I am sure you have pics and already know this stuff, but the tail markings on every other early VF-1 set out there do not meet those basic requirements. The old Microscale (or was is Superscale) set comes close but they are printed in a strange bright, almost day glow, red. P.S. When I e-mail DXM a number of months ago they said they were making VF-1 decals that were fitted to the Tamiya kit, but on the released sheet they claim to fit just about every 1/48 scale F-14 model in existence. Edited September 14, 2018 by Mstor Added addition info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 On 9/12/2018 at 9:13 PM, habu2 said: Back in the day I bought both of Cdr. Heatly’s books, “The Cutting Edge” and “Forged In Steel”, still have them. Excellent photography of USN and USMC aviation in the ‘80s Cool! Just added The Cutting Edge to my to-be-read book pile. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 On 9/14/2018 at 10:45 AM, Mstor said: That would be greatly appreciated. On the outer tails, the nose of the wolf should just about touch the bare metal (or Coraguard (sp?)) leading edge and the curved back should just graze the hinge line of the rudder, without having to move the decal down too far on the tail. With all of the decals I have seen so far, you have to move the decal down too far in order to meet those requirements. On the inside markings the "NK" should like up with and be at the same angle as the hinge line. Also, on some sets these decals are way too large from top to bottom. I am sure you have pics and already know this stuff, but the tail markings on every other early VF-1 set out there do not meet those basic requirements. The old Microscale (or was is Superscale) set comes close but they are printed in a strange bright, almost day glow, red. P.S. When I e-mail DXM a number of months ago they said they were making VF-1 decals that were fitted to the Tamiya kit, but on the released sheet they claim to fit just about every 1/48 scale F-14 model in existence. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here you go! The Tamiya tape represents where the Corogard leading edge is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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