Grumman F-14D “Bombcat” VF-31 CAG “Operation Iraqi Freedom"

trickyrich · February 10, 2019

This is my first completed build of the year, it was built as part of the Grumman GB.

This build was originally planned to be a Hasegawa F-14D with Aires Cockpit and Avionix’s “Bombcat” Update/Conversion kit. But as luck would have it I won the monthly raffle at my local IPMS and took home Tamiya’s awesome new 1/48^th F-14D!!

I can’t rave enough about this model, it’s truly beautiful and without doubt one of the nicest models I’ve ever built. I had planned for her to be an OBB but she needed a few extras to her just to finish her off. The OEM wheels are rubber/metal and rubber wheels only look good for a year or two before they start to perish. The ejector seats and exhaust cans just lack detail when compared to the rest of the model and sort of let it down, so they were replaced.

For such fine detail throughout the model I needed a paint to capture this and Mr Paint Acrylic Lacquers are just incredible!! They go on so fine straight from the bottle and give a perfect finish. Best of all you don’t loose detail, in spots there are 18 layers of paint and the detail is still super crisp, I so love this paint.

The only let down on the whole project was the decals, they were a bit old and for the Revell/Hasegawa model, which I found didn’t fit or line up correctly in a few very noticeable spots!

But in the end I’m super happy with the results, I know I’ll have to build another one of these models, maybe an F-14A next time……..or maybe a 1/32^ndversion!!

Model: 1/48^thTamiya Grumman F-14D Tomcat

Paint: Mr Paint (main) and Mr Hobby, Tamiya Acrylics, Model Master Metalizer Lacquers

Extras:

KA Models – F-14D GE Exhaust Nozzle set

Quickboost – F-14 Ejection Seats

Quickboost – F-14 Wheel set

SuperScale Decals – F-14D VF-31 CAG Operation Freedom Iraq

Thanks for looking and please enjoy.