Spook Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Hello guys! A few words about the build....The kit used is an F-14A Tomcat by Fujimi in 1:72 and it will represent an aircraft of VF-154 Black Knights (BuNo:161276) during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. I know there are quite a few real-life Tomcat guys in here so any mistakes you observe just ... shoot!:D/>/>/> The excellent decal sheet by Fightertown Decals will be used (72005) while the cockpit and exhasuts will be replaced by the Aires resin sets. (7293 and 7184) Work began in the cockpit area by sanding down the resing tub. Aires provides the area where the pneumatic actuator for the canopy exists, as a seperate piece however it is quite shorter than it should be thus a bit of evergreen has been added to extend it. Weirdly enough in the Hasegawa resin tub the piece has the correct dimensions. In order for the cockpit to fit correctly, the following areas (noted in red) have to be sanded down. For a modified, precision strike capable -A Tomcat, I added the PTID and the LTS stick on the back cockpit. Form what I've seen no resin sets in 1:72 come with the PTID rather the older TID is being provided so one was created form evergreen plastic. Same applies for the LTS stick. Cockpit tub was painted with enamel Dark Gull Grey FS 36231 by Model Master while small details were painted using Vallejo colors. No ejection handles have been placed yet for fear of losing them until the end of the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 A characteristic found in Bombcats is the BRU-32 ejector rack on the ADU-703 pylon fitted on the weapon rail stations 3/6-5/4. I haven't decided on the aircraft load out yet, thus all 4 weapon stations have been improved. The two aft stations provided by Fujimi are squared in shape so I modified their forward section shape in order to become more curved. All that remains is to rescribe any details lost due to sanding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 I've also decided to include two LAU-138 BOL rails isntead of using the two LAU-7 rails provided by Fujimi. Evergreen plastic was used. Few more details: -The beaver tail was modified a bit by adding evergreen plastic as the fit with the aircraft body was pretty bad. -The holes for the fuel tank placement, on the air intakes have been covered with stretched sprue. The fuel tanks will be fitted on them later. -The reinforcement plate in RIO's step has been added. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Some details were also added on the landing gear bays using thin copper wire and stretched sprue. For the wiring running along the length of the bay, the wires were temporarily attached to Tamiya tape and then small pieces of evergreen were glued on specific places to add on detail and also hold the wires together. Each group of wires was then glued using cyanocrylate glue on the kit wheel bay areas. The TCS (tactical camera system) is provided by Fujimi seperately and was modified a bit. After using a drill to open a hole in it, a small piece of sprue was glued inside to represent the sensor. The area inside was painted black and the sensor chrome silver. The hole was filled with Humbrol Clear Fix to represent the glass. To be continued..... Any feedback is welcome. Thanks for looking guys! Andreas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Looking good Spook. I don't believe the A's had the reinforcement plate around the RIO's step just the B's and D's did. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 (edited) Hey Steve! Thanks! If you look closely on the real photo in the initial post you will be able to see the reinforcement plate. I am not aware if certain BuNos had these implemented but I've seen it on -As as well. Continuing with the model, it was riveted a bit: While i started adding details: RIO's instrument console Nose landing gear GPS antenna Hasegawa GBU-12 (Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons: VI US Smart Bombs 35011) Edited August 28, 2015 by Spook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 (edited) The Fujimi front wheels will be replaced by the Hobby Boss ones (seen below), as they are (in my opinion) the most realistic looking in 1:72nd scale. LTS Thanks for looking! Edited August 28, 2015 by Spook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taggor Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Hello Spook! Thanks for sharing the many tips on this build. I especially like your work on the GBU-12 thermal coating. I very much appreciate the tip about using Mr. Surfacer to depict the thermal coating on the GBU-12's. Would you say that the same effect could be obtained with larger scales using this method? It looks great on the 1/72 ordnance. I would want to use it on 1/48 scale ordnance. I also wanted to ask about the black framing on the windscreen. Did you pre-paint the inside and the outside? Or perhaps just the inside? I am working with the windscreen on my own project and I am collecting idea's. The center pain tinting.... did you do that from the inside as well? Everything looks great and I am looking forward to more of this work. -Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share Posted September 5, 2015 (edited) Thank you Mark! Would you say that the same effect could be obtained with larger scales using this method? Actually I think it is a bit off for 1:72 scale but I can live with it B)/>/>. I guess it would be even more appropriate on larger scales. I've seen it being used to represent the walkways of a 1:32 Tomcat (and for the GBUs on the same model i guess) (Model by Kai Wolter): http://www.combatedgeproductions.com/scalemodeling/f-14/inprogress/f-14_inprogress.htm http://www.combatedgeproductions.com/scalemodeling/f-14/inprogress/pics/29b.jpg http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad269/Combat-Edge/1%2032%20Tomcat/24b.jpg and Mr Hobby Dissolved Putty being used for the coating on 1:32 GBUs (Model by Masa Narita): http://www.carrierbuilders.net/articles/20050710_Narita_F-14/Tomcat/photo_frame.htm http://www.carrierbuilders.net/articles/20050710_Narita_F-14/Tomcat/F14D_186.JPG http://www.carrierbuilders.net/articles/20050710_Narita_F-14/Tomcat/F14D_188.JPG Maybe using larger quantity can yield the appropriate results but I haven't tested on larger scales myself. I also wanted to ask about the black framing on the windscreen. Did you pre-paint the inside and the outside? Or perhaps just the inside? I am working with the windscreen on my own project and I am collecting idea's. The center pain tinting.... did you do that from the inside as well? Both were painted using an airbrush, on the inside of the windscreen only. The tint is a mixture of Tamiya's Clear Blue and Mr Hobby's Clear Green. Hope it helps! Andreas Edited September 6, 2015 by Spook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlienFrogModeller Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Oh My...well done...looking forward to more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Very impressive considering this is 72nd scale. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taggor Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Thank you Mark! Actually I think it is a bit off for 1:72 scale but I can live with it B)/>. I guess it would be even more appropriate on larger scales. I've seen it being used to represent the walkways of a 1:32nd Tomcat (and for the GBUs on the same model i guess): Maybe using larger quantity can yield the appropriate results but I haven't tested on larger scales myself. Both were painted using an airbrush, on the inside of the windscreen only. The tint is a mixture of Tamiya's Clear Blue and Mr Hobby's Clear Green. Hope it helps! Andreas Kai, thanks again for sharing these tips. The links and your explanation have been very helpful! Your work is very inspiring and I hope I can add some of your techniques to my "toolbox." I am looking forward to your continued progress. -Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Holy crap, I can't believe that is 1/72 scale! That is most impressive work my friend... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) Steve, AllienFrogModeller thanks for your kind words guys! Kai, thanks again for sharing these tips. The links and your explanation have been very helpful! Your work is very inspiring and I hope I can add some of your techniques to my "toolbox." I am looking forward to your continued progress. -Mark Thanks and good luck with your build Mark! One thing though.....I am not Kai Wolter :D/>/> and these are not my models on the links. :D/>/> I would hope....:D/>/> Michael thanks! Hope to see more of your work in ARC! Andreas Edited September 6, 2015 by Spook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spad Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Considering the scale, you're doing an amazing job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taggor Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 One thing though.....I am not Kai Wolter :D/>/>/> and these are not my models on the links. :D/>/>/> I would hope....:D/>/>/> Andreas Sorry about that Andreas. Middle Age moment! Haha. -Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Incredible job so far. I admire your patience and attention to detail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
polar bear Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Excellent detailing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Impressive detailing!!! You have made me stop everything I'm working on right now in order to enjoy your build!!!!! Keep up the good work!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Very nice! As beautiful as the kit is, even straight OOB, it surely benefits from these extra details. I added some on mine, but you seem to have gone even further. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 You can do this at 1/72? :jaw-dropping: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lyash Igor Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Great build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 (edited) Hey guys! Thank you all for your kind words! Continuing with the build, after a basic pre-shade, the model was painted with the colors of the Tactical Paint Scheme using Mr Hobby's acrylic series: Η337 == FS35237 Topside Η308 == FS36375 Underside Η307 == FS36320 Cockpit sides Tail fins, canopy area and the part of the airframe behind the canopy should be painted with Mr Hobby's H301 FS36081. In the photos below the following steps have been completed: -Model Master enamel paint was used as a primer -Pre-shade -Basic camouflage colors were airbrushed. -Diluted H301 was randomly airbrushed on various parts of the aircraft in order to represent grime found on real Navy aircraft. -Diluted and lightened (through the use of white) camouflage colors were airbrushed randomly on the airframe in order to begin the weathering process while toning down the pre-shade however paying attention not to cover the shaded panel lines completely. Various panels were lightened up (mainly around the cockpit) completely based on real aircraft photos. Edited November 15, 2015 by Spook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 Following the excellent guide from Simone Fiorito (f12aaa), weathering was continued on the whole aircraft. For the various patches firstly H301 was airbrushed which then was covered (not completely) with H3087/H307. Once again more H301 and diluted/lightened base colors were airbrushed on random spots around the aircraft in order to get everything together and tone down the various patches created previously. AIM-9s were painted using H308 for the main body, Model Master Black+ Metalizer Titanium and Alclad Magnesium and Aluminium for the head. The LANTIRN was painted with H301 while the numbers and the section before the head were masked and painted with H308. The main body of the GBUs received similar weathering process to the airframe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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