**** DONE: GB-61 1/144 F-14 Tomcat - Carrier and Maritime Aircraft

[PlasticHero]

Username: PlasticHero
First Name: Alan
Category: Intermediate
Scale: 1/144
Model: F-14A with deck and fire engine and F-14D TomCaters
Manufacturer: Dragon 4020 and 4559
Extras: None

The plan is to have a F-14A and D, wings swept, and wings out for launch. I have one set of wings cut up and I'm mulling how to reattach the bits. As long as the top is about right, I'll be happy.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Something different, I like it.

 

[Crimea_River]

Cool.

 

[rochie]

good stuff and good luck adding those bits back on, hope it goes as you want it too

 

[Airframes]

Nice one.
Please clarify the scale - title shows 1/144th and header show 1/72nd.

 

[Wayne Little]

Cool....!

 

[A4K]

Lovely cutting Alan, especially in 1:144!

 

[F-104nut]

WOW this is going to look sweet !!! NOICE start !!

 

[fubar57]

Beauty

 

[PlasticHero]

Progress and plans continue even if I haven't been posting it. The A variant will be the bright scheme, with wings out, and a CAP mission load of Phoenix, Sparrow and Sidewinders. It has a simpler one color gray Tamiya XF80 overall but will be "dirty". The D will be subdued, wings swept with a TARP. (Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod) It has a 3 color scheme that I hope I can mask off. I'm doing that one first because the wings are not as fragile. I'm using this image and profile as reference.

Through a complex process of looking at photos, profiles, internet opinion, and guesswork. I arrived at these colors for them. The intake was called out on one profile for the A but I have decided not to use it. There will be a little adjusting with other colors as the layers are applied so there will be a visible difference between them. Honestly, I'm going more for looking good then being a perfect representation. I salute fubar57 and his dedication to getting his colors spot on!!

This is what the physical differences between the kit parts are for the A - D versions. The engines changed from P&W TF-30-P412 to F110-GE-400 and the "beaver tail" at the very aft end is slightly different. I think this is fuel dump, maybe electronic items?

I have the nose section assembled and I added a mixture of very fine lead bird shot and glue into them for balance. Needless to say, there is now bird shot all over the work bench. I went to the trouble to add a pilot instrument panel, it's about a 2mm trapezoid.

I shortened the nose gear for the A but I will not go any further to drop the launch bar in the front, the holdback bar or the deck shuttle.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

It's so tiny and seems like it was built in the blink of an eye. Looking forward to the detail.

 

[Wayne Little]

Doing good, built one of these many moons ago....

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Doing good, built one of these many moons ago....

Me too but it was a hell of a lot bigger.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looks good, though I'd argue with moulded panel lines on a 1/144 scale model.

 

[fubar57]

Very cool. I struggled with 1:72, could not imagine 1:144

 

[A4K]

Awesome, looks great mate.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[Lucky13]

 

[PlasticHero]

This is a 3 color gray scheme for the F-14D. The top is a darker gray, the sides and tail are a medium gray and the bottom is light gray. The way I painted it is probably has more contrast then on the real Tomcat but at least the work can be seen. I painted the mid tone first and masked it off. Next was the top, then covered the edge of the wings and finished the bottom. The tanks and TARP pod are a slightly different shade for a little more interest. I'll post it without the tape here later today.