tomfomes Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 (edited) SAC metal landing gear arrived this week. The details are nice overall, basically a copy of Tamiya's original part. Some areas require additional work, but the top of the nose landing gear was just so bad (holes were filled with the metal) that I decided to do a small operation between the two. Also it is a very soft metal and some parts came bended, so you have to be careful manipulating it. The metal effect on the landing gear piston (after some polishing) is definitely worth the headaches. Edited November 11, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 Hi all, not a big progress done over the last few weeks, but at least something. I have added some details to the intakes bypass area (correct me if I'm wrong naming this): Started to work on the intakes and engines, but this still needs some corrections, so I will post more photos later: Also detailing of the nose gear is finished and ready for painting: Cheers, Tomas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Very nice progress so far. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 (edited) On 6/17/2020 at 10:38 PM, Fighter84 said: Hi Thomas nice paintjob! to your questions 1. yes 2. Tomcats never used the AN/AAQ-13, only the AN/AAQ-25! The typical loadout at the last cruise 2005 was: 1x AN/AAQ-25 1x AIM-9 1x GBU-12 + 1x GBU-38 or 2x GBU-38 here some references 3. any type cheers Correction, F-14s used the AN/AAQ-14 which came directly from the F-15E which is longer than the AN/AAQ-25. 😉 Edited July 15, 2020 by Andrew Maverick Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hammerhead11 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 Following with interest, your plumbing and scratch work is exceptional. Need to study this when I eventually build my Tomcat. -Brett Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) Thanks all for the nice comments! Here is some further progress, the nose landing gear is done - not great / not terrible. Still need more experience airbrushing these Tamiya gloss acrylics - pain. I am always struggling to get nice smooth finish with these. Anyway, I can live with this and finally I can start the fuselage assembly! In addition I have also painted the rear wheels. For the tyres I have used some Mig pigments and I think it worked out quite well - see for yourself. Thanks, Tomas Edited July 19, 2020 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Everything looks great to me, keep it up ! Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sodasorb Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Great progress. I can’t wait to see the finished Tomcat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 Hi everyone! I am back after a very long time and hopefully this time I'll finally finish the model. So I have finalised the intakes and quite happy with the result. Sorry for the low quality photos. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 The next step was putting the fuselage together and finishing up details on the main landing gear bays. I have used metal wires + some details from Eduard Exterior set. After this I have sprayed the bays with Tamiya Acrylic Flat White and after covered it with Tamiya Acrylic Clear coat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Very nice and clean work, looking forward to seeing the final result! Arnaud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 2, 2021 Author Share Posted November 2, 2021 (edited) Thanks Arnaud. Small update, I am planning to build the VF-2 jet (below) instead of VF-213 like originally intended: What I am planning to use for this build: Tamiya 1/48 Grumman F-14D Tomcat Eduard Brassin 1/48 F-14D Cockpit Eduard Brassin 1/48 F-14D Wheels Eduard Brassin 1/48 AIM-9M/L Sidewinder Eduard Brassin 1/48 GBU-12 ** Eduard Brassin 1/48 GBU-16 ** Kasl 1/48 F-14D Exhausts Master 1/48 F-14 Pitot & AOA SAC 1/48 Grumman F-14 Tomcat Landing Gear Fightertown Decals Grumman Tomcat F-14A/F-14B/F-14D Data and Weapons ANYZ models decals. ResKit 1/48 BRU32 with ADU-703 Bomb Racks * Update 11-Nov-2021: * Finally I have decided not to use ResKit bomb racks, because these are too short and original Tamiya ones look more precise. ** I am still deciding whether to use these items, the original parts have nice details and also are slightly different size. I am probably gonna trust Tamiya they got the dimensions right. Edited November 11, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted November 2, 2021 Share Posted November 2, 2021 Enjoying the build pics and added details, Tom! The wheel wells and landing gears look the business! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted November 3, 2021 Share Posted November 3, 2021 Very nice work Tom. That's the exact scheme I'll be doing for my other 1/18th scale JSI Cat. She passed thru Ahmed Al Jabber AB in Kuwait during "OIF" while we were there in 2003. Take note that this jet, 163894, did not have the reinforcement plate around the RIO's boarding step. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 4, 2021 Author Share Posted November 4, 2021 (edited) Thanks Steve. Can't wait to see progress on your 1/18 Tomcat 🍿 I need advice on instructions. I am planning to build the "C" scheme as picture below. But I am planning to equip it as per the "B" option: In the step 29 the instruction is to install these parts (M25 & M26) for the "C" option, but I am not sure if I still have to install it when I am equipping the jet as per "B" - see above. Thanks for help! Edited November 4, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 Parts M25 and 26 are just blanking plates installed when the AIM-7's were not loaded. They may or may not have been installed, I don't think you could go wrong installing them or leaving them off. They have no bearing on Option B. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 Parts M25 and M26 are for TARPS configured F-14A and B's, they are never used on F-14D's. Leave them off for an F-14D. hth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 10, 2021 Author Share Posted November 10, 2021 (edited) Thanks for the advice gents! Slowly making progress.. The masking of the canopy inside is a tough job. Outside part should be easier, but that's a problem of near future. Edited November 11, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted November 10, 2021 Share Posted November 10, 2021 That is a very nice project You have going. The last pics don't show for me though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 2 hours ago, Thadeus said: That is a very nice project You have going. The last pics don't show for me though. Same, the pics don't show up. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted November 11, 2021 Author Share Posted November 11, 2021 (edited) Sorry about that fellas, I am not sure what happened. I have tried to reupload the pics, please let me know if you can see them now. Also, in the meantime I have added some extra detials to the canopy using Eduard photoetched parts and some scratchbuilding. Edited November 11, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Boy that canopy looks really good, nice work ! The previous pics are now viewable. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Fantastic superdetailing! I feel nervous looking at the canopy glass touching the mat : ) I guess it's protected with Future? Superb shine -- and you did a good job with the seam line sanding -- no visible marks at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 Thanks gents. I didn't use any protection for the canopy apart from the masking tape. Some progress made after a little break due to work. I've done some masking of the cockpit and wheel bays using masking tape and Micro mask. After this the painting has started. I am using 3rd gen of the AK acrylics, mainly because they have a set for US Modern aircraft, which has all the shades of grey I need for the F-14D. For the first coat I have used the AK acrylic Grey primer. Thanks for watching. Tomas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted December 7, 2021 Author Share Posted December 7, 2021 Hi all, I need an advice again. 1. What is the color of the wing pylons for the VF-2 scheme? I know the Sidewinder pylon is AS-16/26 as per instructions. But the rest? I assume same as the bottom of plane AS-26, but it is not clear from instructions. 2. As per instructions the tips of the front phoenix pallets are different color then the rest, AS-16. Is this correct for the VF-2 cag bird scheme? Thank you! Tomas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.