Build

The 3D decals are pretty neat. Feels like cheating a little.  

RIO Panel 

I used Citadel paints here 

Sticks and canvas were painted with Citadel colors 

Looks fab 

These sets come nicely protected and packaged 

The top of the cage removed 

Nose gear pieces free from the supporting structure 

The bit of the nose I have to place into the nose before it is sealed up 

The back. Exquisite details. Makes me think I might get a PE set for the gear bay, because it’s going to look sparse in comparison! 

Nose gear bay pieces, primed and base colored 

Nose gear bay assembled 

Nose gear bay 

Nose gear bay 

Nose gear. I used a chrome pen on the hydraulic shaft and tank harness.  

Nose gear and cockpit joined. 

Another perspective 

Variable sweep wings 

This is a large piece! 

Seam filled with CA 

More seam filler  

CA filler 

Seam begone! 

Wow 

Wow 

Happy with the seam removal 

Starting to look like a cat 

I’m hoping I’m not making a mistake thinking I can get this mask out later.  

Looks pretty sci-fi! 

Lines 

Mmmm. Sexy lines.  

Tomcat with airplane ears 

C M WANGS? 

Had to fill some incorrectly drilled holes. :-/ First mistake! 

Prepping a lot of sub-assemblies for paint! 

Ordinance, drop tanks and LANTIRN pod 

The smallest seam sorted out with Tamiya Fine and Finish polishes 

LANTIRN pod and canopy masking 

Canopy fixed in place with some strategically placed blue tack 

The decals are too glossy. I masked the display panels before spraying a matte coat on the rest of the cockpit.  

I like this better matte.  

If I don’t cock up the ejection seats, this will look amazing.  

Filling, sanding and scribing. Yay. 🙁 

The main gear is primed. The detail is astounding.  

Masked off and ready for paint! 

I actually enjoy masking. Is that weird? 

We're gonna need a bigger booth! 

Undercarriage done. I usually black base my aircraft, but too often I've found the volume of paint required for the marbling seems a bit wasteful. I'm going to try grey primer, marble white and some pre-shading of dark grey on the panel lines. 

Undercarriage done 

Undercarriage done 

Control surfaces, gear and sensor pod done 

Topside done 

Topside done 

Topside done 

Topside done 

Topside done 

Topside done 

Nose is clean 

Nose is clean 

Dry fit the wings and vertical stabilizers. This is a BIG bird. 

‘Cats have always been a personal favorite. I was 12 when Top Gun hit the theaters. Twelve! 

Alclad glossy black base coat on wing slats. 

Alclad airframe aluminum. Good stuff.  

Sealed with Gauzy Agent 

Dark (German) Grey pre-shading. This is my first time not black-basing.  

Next will be adding some light grey and white marbling like I normally would with a black base.  

Very pleased with the result. Hopefully this lower contrast underpainting works well with the top coat color. Which I have to decant from a rattle can. :-/ 

It’s a little hard to tell in the photos here, but the marbling is evident. Some panels are denser than others.  

Decanted the primary color (AS-16) and got to work 

In progress 

Belly with primary color 

Topside with primary color 

AS-26 decanted and sprayed on appropriate areas. Thinking next time these get attached after color.  

Weapons and pod 

Masked off for the blue! 

It’s down 

It’s perfect! 

Couldn’t resist another dry fit 

 

 

 

Painted the bare metal panels and removed the intake and landing gear masking.  

A little touch-ups will be necessary, but nothing serious 

Masking off walkways 

Very happy with walkways.

Had a rough time getting liquid masking out of the ladder recesses. Note to self: never use liquid mask in this context ever again.  

Getting closer to a clear coat and moving onto decals.  

Touching up white areas 

So fresh. So clean.  

Awesomesauce 

My neck and upper back are sad. My eyes are happy.  

I have some choices to make for the seats. I think I like the 3D printed decals for the straps and ejection handle. The PE has some details not in the 3D printed kit.  

The resin seat cushions were just too sterile and neat. My first attempt was terrible and done over the paint. Stripped down to primer and sculpted again. Heavily inspired by Luftraum72’s exquisite take on the seat from the same kit.  

Decals in progress. I despise them, but I am enjoying my first experience with Mark Fit.  

Mostly satisfied with the decals. Lost one to clumsiness.  

Another dry fit and assessment 

 

 

Moving onto ordinance details and decals 

I'm glad I'm (mostly) done with the decals on these. I hate doing decals. The JDAM and Paveway olive drab is too dark and needs some texture. Maybe a little sponge painting a lighter shade of olive? Looking forward to weathering these with oils. 

All of this stuff is ready for a clear coat to seal the decals 

Assembled the Eduard resin exhausts, which I've had painted for a while. The kit instructions suggest the only modifications necessary was to clip off the 3d printing stubs/supports or whatever they're called. I had to grind off the caps of the cone and shaft to get the whole thing to sit flush in the Tamiya kit. Did a couple washes of brown, dark grey and light grey. I'll probably also do some dry brushing later on too. 

Exhausts installed 

I love this perspective 

Ejection seats just need belts and ejection handles 

I’m very pleased with this 

Gear is in a good place. Just need to paint some of the wiring and hydraulics 

Seats are done. Really struggled with these 3D decals. Is there a solution that helps relax this material? 

Took the time to get some high quality photos of the seats 

Pretty close to what I was after. One thing becoming painfully apparent is my eyesight hasn't gotten any better since I started model-making again. 

Main gear in progress 

The detail is just amazing.  

Seats installed 

Loving it  

 

Ready for oils 

 

 

My first time using oils so ambitiously 

 

 

 

Really trying to not overdo it. I’m sure this Tomcat never got very grimy.