Scalemates F-14 Tomcat group build 2020
Comments
22 1 June 2020, 02:35
Clifford KeeslerThank you for your kind words and encouragement, Slavo,Jim Roland and Patrick. It means a lot coming from you guys. You all are hard acts to follow. LOL. I'm glad you like it.
2 June 2020, 02:14
Clifford KeeslerThis thing is a PIG!!!, I wound up with almost a 3/16 inch step between the bottom fwd fuselage where the nose wheel well and cockpit join. I don't know how I am going to fix it without using 1/2 a tube of putty and wiping out all of my gun vent and fwd lower fuselage detail.
5 June 2020, 23:20
Michael HickeyRead this about the Hasegawa kit, you might transfer some ideas to your Academy kit;
hyperscale.com/featu..onstructiondwa_3.htm
6 June 2020, 02:22
Clifford KeeslerThank you all for your kind word and encouragement. Much appericated. I have built 2 of these kits before and did not run into any of these problems. So got me. But I will not be defeated.
7 June 2020, 16:37
Danieloh, missed this, you did an awesome job in getting this all together 👍 used about 10% of the putty I needed it seems😢
And a beautiful cockpit!
9 June 2020, 21:31
Slavo HazuchaThis looks really good - but I always had the impression in all swing-wing models, the wings (or wing-stubs 🙂 ) have to actually be in before the north & south sides of the fuselage joins... How does this kit solve this topic?
10 June 2020, 10:15
Clifford KeeslerThank you Roland, Daniel and Slavo. @ Slavo, I cut the meshing gears off and slot the wing so it can be slid over and snapped onto the locating pin, after painting and decaling are done. The wings will still move but not together. I usually display my "Cats" with the wings in the over sweep postion. Which is usually how they are when parked. My Hasegawa D will be built with everything hanging out. Got the wheel wells and intake trunks painted today, more pictures soon.
10 June 2020, 20:55
Nathan DempseyNice work so far Clifford. I like that trick you did with the wings.
13 June 2020, 00:17
Clifford KeeslerThanks very much Nathan. I use that trick on all of my Tomcats. except for the ones that the wings are already slotted.(Hasegawa). I also cut the horz. stabs off my Revell ones. It makes it easier to work on the aft fuselage and nozzles.
13 June 2020, 00:37
Jos JansenClifford, it's great to see how you solve the wing problems, so many tips & tricks in this GB ... awesome! Looking forward to your next step/phase...👍!
13 June 2020, 11:01
Thomas Bischoffanother Tomcat! Cockpit does look nice - I understand it's completely OOB?
13 June 2020, 11:47
TreehuggerInteresting solution to the wing hinges. I will have to try copy that if it isn't too late (I've already started fiddling with the parts).
13 June 2020, 13:50
Clifford KeeslerThank you Jos, Greg, Thomas and Treehugger. @ Thomas, it is OOB except for Scale Aircraft Conversions metal gear. SAC used the plastic gear from my kit for masters for their metal gear set. So they sent me the first set of metal gear. I had orginally planned on using a bunch of aftermarket stuff, but decided to save that for a later build. So yes basically OOB.
15 June 2020, 19:59
Clifford KeeslerP.S. nose and intakes sanded, and canopy masked. Ready for primer.
15 June 2020, 20:00
Donald Dickson IIWell, you seem to be getting along OK. They sell Tamiya white in those larger bottles dont they?😉
19 June 2020, 03:36
Clifford KeeslerIt got a coat of Grey today, finally. I use the 23ml bottles of Tamiya paints. It is that there is just so much of it that is white.
19 June 2020, 20:55
Slavo HazuchaSome cool progress 👍 - what will the final config be - you can´t have them all on😉
22 June 2020, 17:39
Clifford KeeslerThank you Slavo. The loadout on this one will be typical F-14 load. 4 Phoenix, 2 Sparrows and 2 Sidewinders. Next one will be either 6 phoenix and 2 Sidewinders, or 6 Sparrows and 2 sidewinders. I also have a "B" model Bombcat and several "D" models.
22 June 2020, 20:13
Greg BakerI've got this kit recently (well, the bombcat version), so it's great to see you unlocking its potential.
23 June 2020, 01:38
Clifford KeeslerThank you very much James, Nathan and Greg. Your kind words are much appericated. Hope to finish painting the exhaust cans this evening.
23 June 2020, 17:45
Clifford KeeslerWell another set back on this one. Painted the exhaust cans, and all was well until I tried to add a little Tamiya smoke to the ends of the nozzles. The paint was to thin and ran on me, so I tried to clean the runs up. But all I did was take the paint off down to the primer. So now I have to repaint the nozzles. So will try that again tomorrow.
24 June 2020, 03:21
Donald Dickson IIIve done similar a few times. I just curse a lot, scare the dogs, get some more coffee and fix em up. LOL
25 June 2020, 00:03
Sergej IClifford, I too had to resand and repaint the cans. I am sure they will be great, do share when done! 👍
25 June 2020, 06:39
Clifford KeeslerWill do. I started clear coat this morning, hope to start decals tomorrow.
25 June 2020, 18:04
Sergej IClifford, where did you get your reference for 54A's? Never seen them with yellow radomes, just gray or sometimes white...
26 June 2020, 18:27
Clifford KeeslerIt is from a U.S. Air to Air weapons decal sheet. It gives 3 different color schemes. 1 is white with a radome tan nose. another is white with a gray nose and the third is gray with a white nose. If what I painted is incorrect, I will repaint the nose gray. Thanks for letting me know.
26 June 2020, 19:21
Sergej IJust noticing, pitot tube in stash is of later Alpha... the 159434 had the "old" triangular one...
[img1]
27 June 2020, 21:58
Clifford KeeslerThank you Daniel. @Augie, I thought I had seen them with Tan noses also, but looked them up on line and all I could find was gray or white. So no big deal. @Sergej, I am going to use the kit one. I have decided to do this one OOB. I stuck all the aftermarket stuff back in the stash.
27 June 2020, 23:34
Sergej IClifford, I completely understand, OoB on the new Academy tool in 72nd is already more sharp and exact than I ever saw in that scale. I too will use stock nose point, would be totally waste to spend money on an aftermarket one. 👍
28 June 2020, 05:20
Konrad -Hi Clifford it seems there is a cat build I've missed...
Very nice work mate, it seems it will
be a heavily armed one 😉.
28 June 2020, 05:58
Slavo HazuchaI think I saw a tan nose on a Tomcat somewhere, long time ago. Not sure if it was a photo or a model, just a blurred memory 🙂 With all the F-14 related knowledge circulating here, that's really not worth much i guess... 😄
Progress looking good - cool markings indeed 👍
28 June 2020, 07:52
Clifford KeeslerThank you Sergej, Konrad, Slavo and Roland, I started the other decals today. This set of Academy decals just don't seem to want to lay down right. A lot of wrinkles on the vertical stabs.
28 June 2020, 23:31
Slavo HazuchaThought the wrinkles were a temporary state... 🙁
But I am sure you will navigate through this little calamity to a satisfactory end!
30 June 2020, 20:58
Sergej INice progress, Clifford! I will have to put my smaller scale Pukerdog on hold for three weeks (Iceland vacation 🙂 ), so by the time I'm back, yours will be elf on the shelf! Document weathering, really looking forward to see that... 👍
30 June 2020, 21:32
Patrick HagelsteinIt might sound counterintuitive, but keep hitting the tails with Microsol, eventually the decals will snuggle down.
1 July 2020, 14:05
Clifford KeeslerThank you Sergej, Patrick and Roland. @ Slavo, I finally did get the decals to snuggle down. There are a couple of small wrinkles, but overall not bad. I will try and get the rest out.@Sergej, enjoy your vacation mate. Be safe. @ Roland, that it has been. A royal pain. What I do not understand is that this is the third Academy F-14, I have built and I did not have the problems with them that I have had with this one. The first one was their "Miss Molly" boxing, the second this boxing. I am thinking this is an earlier boxing. I bought this one first, but built it last. I don't know. LOL.
1 July 2020, 15:29
Gary DahlströmExcellent work! Cockpit detail is a marvel. Now you've made me want to check my deep stash, I think I have this kit.
10 July 2020, 23:21
DanielHey, wouldnt say that as it is a completely different approach, I really like the puking dogs look. But Pic 7 reminded me of mine😉
15 July 2020, 16:31
Jos JansenNice progress Clifford, turned out to become a real stunner! Great builds on this GB...👍
16 July 2020, 05:18
Clifford KeeslerThank you Jos, I almost gave up on it a few times. I am glad you like it.
16 July 2020, 21:54
Clifford KeeslerCalling this one finished, except for clear green on forward windscreen center panel.
16 July 2020, 22:54
Clifford KeeslerThank you very much Augie, Nathan and Gary, your kind words really mean a lot. I was a bit discouraged with this one for awhile, but it turned out ok in the end. I still have time to do another one for the group build. Just need to decide between a VF-213 Black Cats "A" model or a VF-31 Tomcatters "D". Or maybe a VF-2 Bounty Hunters "D". Any recommendations? LOL.
17 July 2020, 02:00
Donald Dickson IIExcellent job sir!!!!
Well, if I ever actually get to mine, I am doing the non rabbit Vandy 1. Why dont you do the Black Bunny?
17 July 2020, 02:38
Konrad -Absolutely awesome looking cat Clifford 👍!! Congrats to this great looking build!
17 July 2020, 04:41
Slavo HazuchaThis turned out very nice indeed Clifford! - the paint job and finish really carries the spirit of early Tomcat photos 👍
17 July 2020, 05:49
TreehuggerCongratulations, well done. 🙂 I am a little stuck atm, annoyed by tweaking the nav lights. Have to fill in the initial holes I made and, try be more careful. 🙂 At some point I thought, maybe I'd just forget about doing anything about the nav lights, but then I realized I had already started drilling holes in all four places. 😄
Some more photos and a little more light on the model would be nice to see.
17 July 2020, 08:21
Clifford KeeslerThank you very much for your kind words, Donald, Michael , Konrad, Slavo, Roland, Treehugger and Guillaume. I am humbled by your remarks. I am glad you all like it. @Donald, that is a good idea, I had not thought of that one.@ Treehugger I will try and get some better photos. I am sure you will work out your nav lights. I remember reading you were drilling yours out, and I thought of doing the same but then forgot about it. LOL. Can you use Micro crystal clear to make your lens or did you fill the hole with clear plastic?
17 July 2020, 15:05
Gareth WindsorSmashing the builds out Clifford. Another great build and nice to see a clean early F-14.
17 July 2020, 16:17
James CIt may have caused you a few head aches but the result was worth it. Looks awesome Clifford. Nicely done. 👍
17 July 2020, 20:06
Sergej IGreat model! My 1/72 version of the pukin dog is still on hold, greetings from windy and rainy Iceland lol. Some vacation, let me return to my bench!!!
17 July 2020, 21:49
Sergej IActually more than the result itself, I am enjoying the progress of each of you mates, with ups and downs, then a shiny endproduct... reads like a crime novel hahah
17 July 2020, 21:51
Clifford KeeslerThank you very much Sergej, it was indeed a journey. Sorry to hear your vacation is wet and cold.
17 July 2020, 22:10
Daniel👍 for engaging this kit and coming out victorious! second 👍 for the result, a real defender of the fleet from the golden days of naval aviation, nice!
19 July 2020, 19:37
Clifford KeeslerThank you very much Daniel, your kind words are much appericated. It does not hold a candle to yours, but I am glad you like it. I hope someday I will come close to your and Slavo's ability with oil weathering. It is a skill I have yet been unable to understand let alone master.
19 July 2020, 21:39
Slavo HazuchaOld kit, old brush, an open window for the treacherous fumes (especially when using the "odorless" thinner), some towels & cotton swabs and an open mind to experiment...😉
20 July 2020, 09:57
Daniel👍 thats all it takes, open window and mind is most important^^ Easiest technique imo for navy stains: black oil, brownish oil, blue and white oil, semi-gloss lacquer surface, make dots with a toothpick, take the ugliest, stiff brush you have, moisten with thinner (I use lighter fluid) start dabbing at the dots with more or less moisture and watch the magic unfold 🙂 lots of fun!
for more texture just start dabbing with dry blunt objects later. Cotton swabs etc🙂
20 July 2020, 10:31
Clifford KeeslerI will give it a try on my next Tom Cat, as it will be a D model more than likely, and in the 3 tone grey tactical scheme. I am trying to get the Mig-27 finished. May try some oils on it.
20 July 2020, 20:34
Sergej IHaha Slavo I know what you mean with "odourless" thinner. Had a severe diziness once, after oil experimentation.. when I looked into mirror my eyes were just wildly turning for some ten minutes lol...
22 July 2020, 16:13
Clifford KeeslerYea you have to be careful breathing that stuff. I used to build R/C model aircraft when I was younger. We used silk and dope to cover them with before they came out with the iron on coverings. I spent many an hour with my eyes going round and round. Smelly stuff. LOL.
23 July 2020, 01:25
Gary DahlströmI still have a couple jars of Aero Gloss kicking around. Every so often I pop the top and use it as air freshener. *Good times*
23 July 2020, 18:43
AugieI did aeromodelling in air cadets.. doping balsa aircraft.. I swear I was the one flying after that.
23 July 2020, 19:45
Clifford KeeslerI do not know if you can even get Aero Gloss, or any kind of dope anymore. I have a whole stack of balsa and tissue models.
23 July 2020, 21:25
Sergej IHere we go, Cliffort, first cat-dog is on her feet. Beautiful! 👍 Bar is set, I will get back to mine after August. Still need to pick up a package of corona in Greece lol, hopefully I get the state-sponsored 2-week bench time.
3 August 2020, 21:57
Clifford KeeslerI will be looking forward to seeing your excellent build completed.
7 September 2020, 23:57
Project info
Group Build
Scalemates F-14 Tomcat Group build 2020
1. May until 31. December 2020
1. May until 31. December 2020