F-14A Vf-142 and VF-84 dual build (HB 1/48)

[J8kob_F]

Hi I’m back with a new build or builds to be exact this time I will build two F-14A from Hobbyboss in 1/48th scale. Since I saw Top Gun I always wanted a couple of F-14s in my cabinet and it was actually that movie that got me into this hobby from the beginning. I decided on the Hobbyboss after reading a lot on the internet, it would seem that about 50% hate it and 50% love them but I think it’s going to be a great build. I also have some extra bits from Eduard and Aires and the DACO book Is on the way.

I also have the furball sheet with 7 cag birds that I’m going to use. For the markings I have decided to build a bird from VF-84 (of course, who doesn’t want a jolly rogers F-14) and one from VF-142 Ghostriders . I hope that I will be able to finish them this year but we will see. I also have a couple of pictures of all the stuff and also the 7 markings available an lastly my “man cave”.

Cheers Jakob

Edited April 4, 2014 by J8kob_F

[falcon20driver]

Looks like an enjoyable couple builds. The Tomcat is high on my list of kits I need to buy/build. I'll enjoy watching this.

[Devilleader501]

If you wont be using the VF-111 Sundowners decals in the future I would gladly buy them from you. Going to be an interesting build will be watching this one.

[J8kob_F]

Thanks Falcon i hope i wont dissapoint

If you wont be using the VF-111 Sundowners decals in the future I would gladly buy them from you. Going to be an interesting build will be watching this one.

Thanks, and send me a PM with your address and such and we will work it out.

I also have a quick update from the factory. I have removed the forward fuselage from their respective sprues. My first impression is very good and both the fit and detail is great with minimal flash and great surface texture. I also like the riveting and panel lines and if it’s the “mad riveters” work then I thank him. Lastly the plastic itself is in my opinion very good, it’s not so soft as to make it hard to work with and it’s not brittle and prone to breaking. My initial impression, BUY!

I also started looking at the Aires pit which is as almost always a piece of art. My only complaint is that there is no guide what so ever to how it’s supposed to sit so I guess I will have to find some pictures showing how it sits in the real plane. If there is someone that has a picture of the part behind the aft bangseat that would be great.

Pictures:

Cheers Jakob

[Joel_W]

I've been wanting to build a F14-A in 1/48 scale for a while now, and have been undecided as to which kit to get. I've decided on the Hobby Boss F14-A, so I'll be following along with great interest. Should really be a great build doing two of the same version at the same time. Do you plan on building both exactly the same?

So far I'm quite impressed with the detail of the cockpit tubs. Please keep those updates coming.

Joel

[tomthegrom]

This will be awesome. I generally like the late 80s to mid 90s f-14s but that sheet has some beeeautiful early jets on it. Dont forget to remove the strengthening plate around the RIOs boarding step.

[J8kob_F]

First off, thanks to both of you!

Joel: I think you made the right choice deciding to buy the hobbyboss one as it really is an awsome kit. Even though the cockpit isn't as nice as the aires one they look very good too. As to the differences between the two i have just begun my research so i couldn't tell.

Tom: Yeah i agree with you on the colorful markings, have decals on order for an early VF-1 bird as well so i might just build a third, we will see. As to the strengthening plate are you refering to the panel line around the step or am

I missing something else?

Hope you enjoy the ride and i will have an update on the cockpit tonight i think.

[xavi84]

That is an awesome man cave set up, Jakob.

I'm currently in the decaling stage of my F-14 using the VF-114 markings from that sheet and they are hands down the best decals I've ever used. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of this project.

Good luck!

[J8kob_F]

That is an awesome man cave set up, Jakob.

I'm currently in the decaling stage of my F-14 using the VF-114 markings from that sheet and they are hands down the best decals I've ever used. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of this project.

Good luck!

Thanks Xavi! I'm glad to hear about the decal sheet have been wondering about the quality. Do you have any pictures of the beast? would love to see some.

So heres the update that I promised earlier today!

The last couple of days work has been mainly sanding and trying to fit the cockpit into the airplane, the first cockpit fits now, one to go. As with most Aires's stuff the cockpit took quite a lot of sanding but more on that later. First of I did some modification to the cockpit and it involved the locking mechanism of the canopy. The locking is made up off hooks on the canopy and on the sidewalls and they attach to each other. For the hooks on the canopy Eduard came to the rescue and Aires included some very nice hooks on top of the sidewalls as you can see in the picture:

What Aires did miss is that the hooks arent supposed to sit level with the top of the sidewall this is how it looks in real life so some modification await, I took the pic from the walkaround page so I hope its okay:

I began with adding some Etch from Eduard and thinned down the HB plastic so that the etch is wider than the plastic thus creating an overhang.

I also added a styrene strip to the top of the Aires sidewalls. The next step was some sanding.

And this is how it looks after some sanding, I must say that Im very pleased with the result.

As I mentioned earlier I have removed quite a lot of resin to fit the cockpit and some plastic also. When I was done I had the impression that the fit of the pit was quite good but comparing it to the cockpit that hasnt been sanded yet I realize that Ive gotten used the bad fit of Aires stuff:

See ya!

Jakob

Edited April 8, 2014 by J8kob_F

[xavi84]

Here you go Jakob!

I don't mean to hijack you thread so I'll only post one pic (albeit not a very good one from my i-phone)

[J8kob_F]

Very nice job on that F-14 and the F-4 in the background. I really like that the markings match. Is that the Hasegawa kit, i'm wondering as i am a little worried that the decals won't fit the hobby boss kit but if you have the HB one then that's sorted.

I realize now that it's a little hard to see how my modification looks like in the photos but hopefully it will be easier to see after a coat of paint. Also is there someone that knows how much the gull grey/white planes weathered? Haven't found any good pictures of it but i suspect it wasn't that much?

Jakob

Edited April 9, 2014 by J8kob_F

[xavi84]

I just googled "VF-84 F-14" and came up with s a good example how weathered they could get.

VF-84 Tomcat

As far as the Hobby Boss kit, I haven't messed with it. There was a thread on another forum that discussed the shape issues on the HB tail so you might have to modify the stripes that go on the rudder for the VF-142 bird. You should be ok with the Jolly Roger since it doesn't really go anywhere near the edges.

Edited April 9, 2014 by xavi84

[Joel_W]

Jakob,

Nice job getting the 1st Aires cockpit tub to fit. It still amazes me that it takes that much work to get them to fit correctly, when they make them for a specific Manufacture/model. I'm also duly impressed with the extra effort you're putting into the canopy locking latches. I'll be the 1st one to confess that I would have accepted the Aires version without giving it a 2nd thought.

Joel

Edited April 9, 2014 by Joel_W