Hasegawa 1:48 F-14A+ Tomcat VF-74 'Bedevilers' (Using PT12, the F-14D CVW-14 kit) FINISHED

Hi guys,

I'm holding out with the F-14D of VF-2 WIP as I'm building a F-14A+ (what the F-14B was originally called) of VF-74 'Bedevilers' during Desert Storm, 1991. I'm going to do an in flight Tomcat, kitted out with a near full complement of air-to-air ordnance (2x AIM-9L, 3x AIM-7M, 2x AIM-54C).
I'm hoping to save time with not having to do the undercarriage.

Enough waffle, here is the progress so far;

The kit and the VF-74 patches I want to mount on the display base


Aftermarket decals for VF-74 by Fightertown Decals of USA, and Master brass pitot and AOA


Reference material for the build


The cockpit so far. In the F-14D kit there are all the parts needed to make an A+, B or D model Tomcat.


The kit MB GRU-7 seats. They are actually quite good, and as I'll be putting the pilots in, I'm not going to bother with resin seats


The chaos of the modelling table!


Hope you guys are all enjoying the new year and making the most of all the modelling oppurtunities you can.

Parabat

Looking good

A good start

Regards, Bernard

Thanks guys, going a bit slow, but I'll get there... Wings are now assembled, going to do the intake trunking and tailfins and boat tail next.

Parabat

Got some more work done today. I've added some detail to the cockpit, particularly the RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) sidewalls. Although the Hasegawa kit cockpit isn't too bad in terms of detail, it still could be better. I used some Evergreen 'metal siding' (ribbed sheet of styrene) with 1mm spacing cut into small blocks to represent the switch panels on the sidewalls. I also added an additional 3mm of sheet to the firewall(the wall between the pilot and RIO) so that it will mate up properly to the RIO instrument panel shroud. I also added a throttle control, made by cutting a small rod of plastic sprue in half.

It's been painted since I took these pics, but here's the raw results;

Sidewall switch panels




Throttle detail


Firewall additions




Thanks for looking.

Done quite a bit since the last post. Cockpit is now painted, still working on the seats though. I've stuck the forward fuselage together and onto the body(small issues with fit, but should be ok) and I've done a bit of painting of the intakes and exhausts.

I was given some Zero Paints white paint, which when airbrushed, is superb. 2-3 coats give a really good white finish, I find I really struggle to get the same finish with Humbrol Enamels for some reason. I used the Zero white on the intake trunking, then masked them to paint the Humbrol 127 (FS.36375).

Here are the pics anyway.

Cockpit


The inside of the intakes sprayed with the Zero white paint


I painted the GE-110 exhausts with a my 'GE-mix', 50% gold(Humbrol 16), 25% metallic black(Humbrol 201) and 25% silver (humbrol 11) which looks quite like the GE exhuast colour.


Annoying misalignment of the forward fuselage and the body. Fortunately I will be putting Phoenix pallets on, which will cover the mess made from sanding it smooth.


Cheers for looking.

Parabat

Excellent work on the cockpit

Regards, Bernard

Thanks Bernard, I really like it, even though you won't get to see much once the pilots are in and the canopy closed!

Done quite bit since the last post, so here goes.

Had to do a bit of filling on the intake sides and other areas, but it's come out ok.




Added some detail to the seats to replicate the parachute pack and the drogue release device.


Did some pre-shading to the wings and fuselage. By adding the pre-shading, it creates depth later when you apply the paint, I'm not sure if it will work with brush painting though.


First coat of FS 36375 (Humbrol 127) on, you can see the subtle effect.




Weapons. I'm going for a 2x AIM-9L, 2x AIM-7 and 2x AIM-54C loadout.

Here is the lovely Eduard 'Brassin' resin and photo etch AIM-9L (the photo etch square is an alignment jig for gluing the forward fins in)


I was given the AIM-54 Phoenix on the left, but the nose is the wrong shape. The HobbyBoss AIM-54 on the right is the one I'm going to use and you can see the correct nose shape. AIM-7 in the background on the right together with the GE-110 engine exhaust. I've painted the noses white (the noses were made of ceramic, interesting fact)

Some more work done today. Sprayed up the sides of the front fuselage and nose and tailfins in Humbrol 140, and then sprayed the tops of the plane, wings and stabilators in Humbrol 145. When you put the tins together, there is a big difference between the two, but on the plane the difference seems less so. I'm going to spray another coat of 145 on to bring out the difference.

You can see the subtle pre-shading under the 145 still


Here you can see the difference isn't that much between the 140 and 145 on the nose.

Good progress, well done

Regards, Bernard

Got the pilot and his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) painted, just need a few minor details picking out. There are also decals on the fabulous Fightertown sheet which provide helmet and Tomcat patch decals for the pilot and RIO (each squadron had unique markings on their helmets). So, once the pilots are dry, they will get these decals applied!

On the left, pilot Cdr Chuck Wyatt and his RIO on the right LCdr Tim Zimmerman. They flew 'Devil 102' during Desert Storm in 1991.


Their GRU-7 seats. There're also some decals for these (warning signs etc) which will also be applied when these are dry.


Hasegawa provide photo etch(metal) mirrors for the pilot and RIO, but these are quite a pain to fit. So I cut the pilots' mirror bar into three seperate mirrors which made it easier to place them in the canopy. The pilot in reality only has two mirrors, not three, so the third went to the RIO(as it appears in real life).

Looing good

Thanks, it's really coming together now!

Couldn't resist popping it 'together' with some blu-tack to see how it's going to look... It is quite big!



Painted the gun muzzle by hand with Humbrol 56 Aluminium. You can also see the delineation between the camo colours, slight but it's there.


The ECM antennaes on and below the wing glove vanes were also painted by hand with Humbrol 83 Ochre. They start out yellow, but quickly get weathered aboard the ships.


I drilled out the fuel dump pipe (in red) and painted the rear ECM antennae too.

Crew are done and the little unit identifying decals provided by Fightertown decals really make these guys stand out.

Pilot Chuck Wyatt, with the 'Devil' and lightning bolt insignia on his helmet, 'Anytime Baby' Tomcat flash on his left arm.


RIO Tim Zimmerman with '74' and VF-74 patches.



In the cockpit on their GRU-7A seats. You can see the warning sign decals, also from the Fightertown decal sheet.

Those decals really give it a more realistic look

Thanks Josh. They really do, don't they? I thought it wouldn't make such a difference, but it really 'brings them to life' as it were.

Hello,

Very nice work

Regards, Bernard

Thanks Bernard, I'm hoping to get some decals on before the end of today...

I have nearly finished this now!

I got the decals on in one go, it took me 4 1/2 hours...
I used the Microset / Microsol decal setting and solvent solutions Microsol that helps to get the decals to a. adhere better, and b. conform to the surface of the model, leaving a 'painted on' look. This took a bit of time to do, but it was worth it, the decals are now very firmly on and there is maybe 1% silvering!

Tail decal of 'Devil 02' before weathering


The forward fuselage. You can see how the decal of '102' has been 'sucked' onto the surface.


Intakes and ECM antennae


I'm done weathering now, just waiting for some touchup bits to dry and then I'll be putting it all together!

Those decals really do look the part

Excellent

Regards, Bernard

Pretty much done now, I just need to make the base that will support this beast!

Gentleman, 'Devil 02' is done!

WOW!

Cheers Josh, she certainly is big! I'll take a few extra pics once I've got the mounting sorted out.