Tamiya F-14D WIP 1

Mock up have been a pleasure. The fitting of Tamiya parts is just perfect, yet have to pay attentions to the resin wings and nozzles 

K48111 F-14 F110-GE-400 Exhaust Nozzles [For Tamiya] 

Some stainless steel tubes to do some scratch build work 

K48088 F-14A/B/D Slat and Wing Flap Set [for Tamiya] 

The previous build, an AMK F-14D Super Tomcat, would be the template for this build. She would be supervising my new build from my cupboard 

Mock up with KASL hobby resin wings. Great fitting although the wings need some sanding and fitting 

The Tamiya Tomcat nose section seems slimmer than its AMK counterpart. Tamiya did a great job capturing the shape of this legendary naval flighter aircraft 

Showtime of the two cats. AMK .vs. Tamiya 

Looks like the merging moment during a close dogfight. F-14D .vs. F-14D 

Some small update: cockpit 

First step in cockpit painting: Medium gray and then .... mask and spray matt black (mixed with a drop of character white) . all paints used were Mr. Color from gunze 

Second step: freehand painting the switches on the control panels. Tamiya acrylics and Mr. Color were used  

Circuit breakers on the side and back panels are masked and sprayed with matt black(Mr. Color, with a drop of white) and then washed with Winsor Newton oil colors. 

the edge of HUD plates are freehanded with clear green 

New display stand from online shop Manual Cast Studio. 30cm by 20cm in planform size, 2cm thick. Firm and steady for 1/48th scale aircraft models to display 

The F-14 was a huge aircraft in fighter category. WIP photos with Tamiya bare airframe with painted AMK Super Tomcat 

Visors are freehanded with Mr. Color Semi-gloss black (C92) and then polished with Tamiya Polishing Compound 

cockpit finally comes together. there are still some details to be added, such as safety belt and canopy jettison handles. also needed to be added are the decals 

the FOD cover for the RIO instrument panels are comprised of two pieces. the left piece were replaced more frequently and it showed khaki like color, and the right piece just stayed in the cockpit as weathered by sun, moisture, and temperature. I painted the right piece with some earth like color with a little touch of purple, so did I painted the same color to the pilot's instrutment panel FOD cover 

Comparison between the cockpits of Tamiya and AMK Tomcat 

The next step would be sorting out the wing problems and modifying the main legs 

Tamiya has chosen a simplified way to build the nose landing gear bay while AMK went with a more detailed way. I was impressed by AMK's attention to the details so I decided to add the electric wire bundles to the left side wall of this compartment. 

Tamiya preferred to simplfy the detail to achieve a pleasurable build, while AMK chose to pursuit abundant details. The former even molded the hydraulic accumulator together with nose gear retraction/extension actuator, I don't think it right and divded it back into two components. 

The instruction sheet of AMK F-14D proved to be correct, the wire bundles added to Tamiya landing gear bay matches those in the real F-14D gear bay 

Nose gear bay assembled. I am wondering if the wires are supplying electric power to the AN/APG-71 radar and its processing units. Since power lines are vulnerable to hydraulic fluid that leaks, are they put in bundles and covered with yellowish tapes for protection? I freehanded the bundles and clips with Tamiya acrylic paints, also freehanded are the piston of the hydraulic actuators for gear and doors retraction/extension 

there are two hydraulic actuators. the one who lies inside the bay is the gear door open/close actuator, while the other one retracts and extends the nose gear by moving its strut 

On the starboard wall are the wires for brake and anti-skid control units. The units are located inside the two boxes on the forward wall 

On the starboard wall are the wires for brake and anti-skid control units. The units are located inside the two boxes on the forward wall 

Hope this aircraft-in-flight fleet would expand soon