Micro Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Well, I'm going for it. I had planned to build the Tamia kit for the second jet in my 2-jet build. But I already have the Hasagawa kit and I think I've learned a few things after my last build to make this one go a lot smoother. This jet is going to sit next to my VF-124 Tomcat. It's going to represent the time frame from when the 124 was decommissioned and VF-101 took over at Miramar. I'll be using the Furball decals, Eduard seats, Quinton 3D cockpit set, and DW 3D printed landing gear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 Seats done. I used the Quinta risers, ejection handles, and lap belts repurpose as leg restraints. The photoetched Eduard 3-point lap were more accurate and thus used. I also used the placards that came with the Eduard seats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BastianD Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Great piece of work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted February 28 Author Share Posted February 28 Thanks, Bastian. Working on the cockpit tub now. I'm using the kit tub with the Quinta 3D decals. Scraped off all the raised details from the molds. Laid down Tamia dark ghost Gray which matches the Quinta set. The fit of these decals is absolutely superb. They go right into place. They are pretty glossy so they need a flat coat after being applied. I'm masking off the glass portions because they have a really nice shine to them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 Beautiful ejection seats and instrument panels, Micro! : ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kellyF15 Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 Didnt the F-14D have duplicate controls? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted February 28 Share Posted February 28 1 minute ago, kellyF15 said: Didnt the F-14D have duplicate controls? I don’t believe any of the F-14 models had dual controls. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 16 hours ago, kellyF15 said: Didnt the F-14D have duplicate controls? Negative. The RIO has no flight controls in his office. The stick on the LH console is for the Programmable Tactical Information Display ( PITD ), the larger lower screen and, the center stick is the Hand Control Unit ( HCU ) for the radar and missile fire control systems. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kellyF15 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 I must have been smokin something Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomthegrom Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/2/2023 at 3:30 AM, A-10 LOADER said: Negative. The RIO has no flight controls in his office. The stick on the LH console is for the Programmable Tactical Information Display ( PITD ), the larger lower screen and, the center stick is the Hand Control Unit ( HCU ) for the radar and missile fire control systems. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" I believe the LH control stick is for the LANTIRN pod and the first jets to have those used the fishbowl screen not the square PTID. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 (edited) 6 hours ago, tomthegrom said: I believe the LH control stick is for the LANTIRN pod and the first jets to have those used the fishbowl screen not the square PTID. Correct and, it still sync's up with that screen, TID or PTID. Steve Edited March 6 by A-10 LOADER Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 Quick update. Working on the instrument shrouds. The kit ones are a little too chiseled and unrealistic. So I'm taking some Tamiya putty send with lacquer thinner and creating a more fabric look by dabbing it on the shrouds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Looking very good. Love the result You have with just the putty on the aft IP coaming. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted March 10 Author Share Posted March 10 Thanks, Thadeus. Slowly but surely moving along. Forward fuselage assembled. I didn't like the plastic piece fitted to the SSP so I took some ultra fine wire twisted it and created a cable. Drilled out a section for the HUD projector. Filled it with chrome paint first then clear green. Next step is to touch up the comings and build the HUD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 Added the piece under the shroud for the HUD camera, and the hood camera itself with a little piece of styrene. I ordered the HUD for the Harrier from Flying Leathernecks. Modifying it to fit and look like an F-14 HUD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 The putty fabric looks great and that HUD looks amazing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Micro, This is some outstanding work you’ve put into your D-Cat. Every update from the bang seats to the HUD is top notch. Eagerly awaiting your next update, Mr.Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Looking good so far. FYI, the HUD had two pieces of glass in it. You need another one at the front edge of the frame. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 Thank you very much gents. I'm flattered. Steve you were absolutely right and I appreciate you reminding me. I just took a picture at the end of the night before I completed the HUD. That little delicate thing took a few months off my life. It's now got its second piece of combiner glass. Now I'm starting to add the scratch details around the cockpit including ECS plumbing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Looks great, I love it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Nice. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Those Quinta decals look amazing!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Micro Posted March 18 Author Share Posted March 18 Thanks, Sernak. I agree. They are absolutely phenomenal. Still in disbelief at how well they fit the panels once they are sanded. So just a note about the lack of updates. I was detailing the cockpit with some wires and plumbing and had an accident. The forward fuselage slipped out of my hand and the whole thing fell to the floor. I don't even want to take a picture of the damage that was done. The forward windscreen cracked and the HUD was destroyed. I've been taking time to process that because it really hurt my soul. I'll start up with the repairs in the next few days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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