Tamiya 1/48 F-14A

[GusMac]

Thanks all. My wife's had it worse than me with fevers, headaches, etc but l feel like l've just had a bit of a dry cough and a bit rundown.

Good excuse to sit and watch all the rugby though! Sorry about the final score Phil but that was one of the best games l've watched in a long time. Two well matched teams giving it everything right to the end and good to see the respect between the players at the end.

[Peterpools]

Gus

Most important is that you both rest and recover thoroughly -the Tomcat will still be ready when you are .

 

[RockieYarwood]

On 2/4/2023 at 2:12 PM, GusMac said:

my wife and l have finally succumbed to covid

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for both of you!

[GusMac]

Thanks guys. Felt better today so have been doing some more assembly and almost ready for primer. Will post some photos tomorrow.

[Bomber_County]

1 hour ago, GusMac said:

Thanks guys. Felt better today so have been doing some more assembly and almost ready for primer. Will post some photos tomorrow.

Glad you’re feeling better Gus, great game, the RFU didn’t give Borthwick enough time, oh well, some good rugby year this year……..

[Martinnfb]

I feel you Gus. Have been under the weather myself. for more than a week now. not fun

[GusMac]

20 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

I feel you Gus. Have been under the weather myself. for more than a week now. not fun

Hope you're feeling better now Martin. Maybe that was your dog's idea - give you something to take your mind off how you were feeling!

[GusMac]

So, most of the main construction is done. Next step will be primer once my head empties!

The main canopy is just tacked on with PVA so I can remove and complete the bang seats etc later.

[GusMac]

PS. Prize to anyone who spots the cock-up which I'm minded just to leave.

[HubertB]

30 minutes ago, GusMac said:

PS. Prize to anyone who spots the cock-up which I'm minded just to leave.

What’s this strange recess between the windscreen and the radome ?

Hubert

[Peterpools]

Gus

Is it the air bleeds on top of the fuselage - the insides should be gloss white.

 

[Martinnfb]

Did you glue the canopy with the masking tape inside of it ?   no idea, just fishing

[GusMac]

Good suggestions guys. 

Hubert, I think it's just how the front canopy frame mates to the radome that you are seeing. The upper part of the front fuselage there is included as part of the canopy which actually leaves a really nice join. Again, clever Tamiya engineering. 

The problem actually is that I've built the wrong AIM-9s. These are the later ones which I think must be for the D kit. Only difference is the front fins so I will probably just leave them. 

[Peterpools]

Gus

Got me!

 

[PanzerWomble]

This is shaping up nicely. I bought one back in 2017 and was a bit in awe of it on opening the box. The last 1/48 Tomcat I tried building was the 1988 Academy one about 20 years ago , which was so poor ended it up getting binned . 

My pal convinced me that "I hated building aircraft" which was kind of true at the time and should sell it on  .....which I've since regretted.

Your build is getting my interest back in tackling this one again .

[GusMac]

I'd certainly recommend one. It's the first 1/48 kit I've built in quite a while but it's been a real joy. Just clever engineering and excellent fit.

[JohnB]

I hope all will soon be well for y'all. F-14 coming right along!

[GusMac]

Felt better at the weekend so cranked up the airbrush and got this primed with Mr Surfacer 1500 and then quick run over with 6000 grit MicroMesh.

Tempted to do black again and go Vandy 1 but I'll stick with the grey over white I think.

[Peterpools]

Gus

Nice work on getting the F-14 through priming - you're on a roll now.

 

[BlrwestSiR]

Nice progress there. So the classic full grey over white scheme. Should look purdy once she's done. 

[Bill_S]

This is coming along very nicely! I'm impressed with Tamiya's design of the wings; no painting prior to assembly.

[GusMac]

Yes, it's very clever Bill and the fit is nice and tight so you probably don't require to glue them at all.

Question for the experts on US naval aviation - all the pictures I've seen show a feathered edge between the grey and white on these early airframes. Was this always the case or was it sometimes a hard edge?

I suspect it was always feathered but that makes me confront free-handing the colours or using Blutac to create a soft edge. 🤔

[GusMac]

Bit more progress...

The modulation doesn't show up too well in the photos but I'm pretty happy with where it's at.

Next chore...   masking the feathered edge to the grey. Yay!!

[BlrwestSiR]

Gus, I checked a couple books I have on the Tomcat and the grey/white demarcation is feathered. 

Carl

[Peterpools]

Gus

Looking mighty good and as with Carl, all my references show the demarcation line as feathered.