[:)]Hello all,
Here is the Tomcat I’m building for a friend. Its the Hasegawa 1/48 kit. It will be finished in VF-84 Markings and posed on a carrier deck display base. I’ve got the main airframe finished and got the undercarridge on tonight. Here is how it looks now.
If thats how it looks now… can’t wait to see it later[;)]… when its done cause it looks great so far.
Darren: I love the panel line work…amazing! I’ve always been a prop fan, but seeing work like yours is awefully tempting to build a jet or two. Keep th updates coming.
Outstanding progress! I sure your friend will be pleased beyond words.[:)]
Eddie
Nice work so far! How was/is the build? The carrier deck base you refer to is pre-made or are you making it?
Looks awesome. Its going to been an eye catcher for sure.
[#toast] Fine Great job there! Enjoy seeing you put the detail to the pilots as well. [tup] The photos look like you didn’t over-do the weathering, and the stencil detail looks complementary and not over-powering. Your friend should be pleased to display this promently. [8D]
You should post over on the F-14 Group Build going on. We all can use more ispiration on our builds… [:-^]
That looks like a pretty good looking model. I like the ‘Jolly Roger’ scheme on the F14.
[:)]Thank you all for your kind words.
Starbuck,
this is not the easiest kit I’ve ever worked with. This kit is one of the original toolings and it has some fit issues, later kits were updated to improve the fit problems. However, this is still the best F-14 you’ll find in 1/48 scale. My biggest problem is the main gear wheels/legs joint. The fit between the two parts is terrible, so much super glue and setting time is needed otherwise, the wheels tend to slant under the weight of the model. I have had to reset the wheels this morning, its a pain in the backside to do , but it works.
As for the base, its homemade. This is a “mock-up” of how I intend it to look when its done. All the badges/plaque are represented by paper cut outs at the minute, I still need to paint the deck figures and stain the wood edge, but this should give yoiu an idea of what I have in mind.
I see you have some wood-working skills too. [bow] Very cool! Is that all one piece of wood(?) with moulding glued around the edges? What did you use for the tie-down points? Are you making a custom catapult as well?
This really is going to look incredible when finished. I can’t wait to see the end result. Your friend is going to go nuts!
[:D] Thanks Starbuck[tup]
I cannot take all the credit for making the base- its home-made with the help of a good friend of mine who has a very expensive milling machine, I get the wood and cut it to size, he puts the nice edge on it. It is all one piece of wood.
Tie down points are marked out then drilled and then I stick plastic tie downs into them. The tie downs are “invisible buttons” found in a local sewing shop my wife frequents. I have made a catapault out of wood as best as I can, you’ll see it in the finished pics.
I’m really glad you like what I’ve done so far, thanks for the encouragement.[;)]
nice work so far tango,if i may i built a catapult shoe out of a block of wax you can really get the detail in better than with wood but you can also use soapstone but great job so far and also at squadron you can buy tie downs in the appropiate scale and they look really nice as well
Thanks for the info, I did’nt think about using wax before. Have you got a picture of it? I’d be interested to see it.
Tango 1 Looking mighty and Jolly. Can’t wait to see her finished. What time period are those markings from?
Aaaaahhhh…I wondered if anyone would ask that! The markings will be early 80’s. This build will not be strictly accurate though because the serial no. I’m building did’nt have the white flaps/hoz. stabs. There are there at my friends request, still I think it’ll look nice when its done.