1/72 Academy F-14D Tomcat-work in progress

[El-Seven]

I have built many 1/72 Hasegawa F-14As but never a D model or an Academy 1/72 F-14 at all. So I guess I will give it a try. Here is my first build of an F-14D and Academy 1/72 kit. I am not using decals on the cockpit, I’d rather paint the raised details.

[mrb865]

And off you go! good luck on your build. Can’t wait to see how it progresses.

[El-Seven]

Thanks, a bit more done, The cockpit has the seats installed, then the cockpit was glued into the fuselage halves and the nose was added to the fuselage. I wasn’t sure if it needed weight so I added 18 grams of weight to the nose.

[El-Seven]

The wings and intakes are assembled and added to the rear fuselage bottom then the rear fuselage top was glued on and clamped up to dry.

[PropDuster]

@El-Seven

I am not using decals on the cockpit, I’d rather paint the raised details.

You are certainty the wild one

[El-Seven]

Yeah, I’m a regular 72 year old retired wild man!!!

[El-Seven]

I took the clamps off and puttied a few small gaps mainly around the intakes on the fuselage bottom. It’s not really as bad as it looks.

[El-Seven]

The front and rear fuselage halves have been glued up. There were a few minor areas that needed some putty.

[PropDuster]

Comming along nicely. You got this one onthe run.

[El-Seven]

More parts added,canopy,ventral fins, fuel tank pylons, shoulder pylons, tail hook, vertical tails and dual chin pod. Just about ready to mask and paint.

[El-Seven]

I added the small probes on the forward fuselage right and left sides. I can now order the FS16440 paint and masks and hopefully start painting next week.

[El-Seven]

I assembled and painted the main landing gear legs. I bought some True North enamel paint to try and see how it works. It reminds me of the old Model Master enamels, so far. Seems to brush on nice, I do not air brush so that I can’t tell you about. Takes a day or 2 to dry and a week or better to cure…I think.

[El-Seven]

As soon as these decals arrive I can start masking for a TPS and not one color 16440 paint scheme.

[El-Seven]

Decals are here, the light ghost gray has been sprayed on the bottom surfaces.

[mrb865]

Your cat is looking really good!

[El-Seven]

Thanks, BTW I said the new paint job was a TPS scheme. It is not. It is a “low visibility” scheme of 2 colors, FS35237 over FS36375.

[El-Seven]

Dark gray top color done. Painting done, time to get it on it’s feet and add the horizontal stabs and burner cans.

[El-Seven]

Exhaust nozzles on and landing gear painted and ready to install.

[El-Seven]

I started painting the graphite black areas by the exhausts. I am trying Testors black metallic.