F-14 Tomcat--Grim Reapers

[Quaralane]

Time to start up the next build, guys.
This time, for the Group Build, I'm doing something real.

The 1/72 scale F-14 "Tomcat Plus" from Italeri.


It'll be a mostly OOB build, with the only planned addition being pilots for an "in flight" model.

Obligatory sprue shot:


A lot of the detail has been simplfied. But, what detail it has is fairly sharp.
It does have raise panel lines, but I'm going to let those slide.
There's not a lot of flash on the parts, for which I'm happy.

Only real downside for this one, is the lack of pilots.
Fortunately, I have a Hasegawa 1/72 pilot/ground crew set or two to steal pilots from

Youtube link:
NM-Group Build-F 14 Tomcat-Part 01.mp4

 

[noc5659]

The Tomcat is an awesome plane. Good luck on this build. Great opportunity for weathering on this one.

 

[JMac]

Nice to see you're tackling a Tomcat.

 

[Eastrock]

looking forward with the build, Q

 

[Quaralane]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Chris S]

Hey Q , nice to see you in the build great subject too ..looking forward to it .

Chris.

 

[Quaralane]

Would have been in sooner, but I wanted to get the MF build done first

 

[Myke]

Alright... Q is in the GB!
Looking forward to seeing this one all built up.

 

[Quaralane]

Started actually working on this bird.

Cockpit went together fairly nicely.
While I left most of it the base color of the plastic, I did pick out some of it.
I painted in the seats with interior green, and the consoles with flat black.
I gave all but the consoles a light black wash for detail, and drybrushed the consoles with silver.
I also painted in the area on the fuselage top where the canopy will sit.



Buttoning up the front part of the fuselage gave me the first seam work on this.
On the right side, things weren't too bad.
The left had a nasty 'step' that I wound up grinding off with my Dremel in an effort to not damage too much detail.




Youtube link:
Navy Marine-Group Build-F 14 Tomcat-Part 2

 

[Chris S]

Cockpit looks good Q .....But Ooouch ,that looks like a nasty repair to do up the side !! must have been a real bad fit !

Chris.

 

[Quaralane]

Was a nasty one, Chris.
But I think I'll have it under control soon enough

 

[fumblethumbs]

Nice update Q! I was going to ask if you were dealing with raised lines on this one but you answered my question at the last minute. Always a pleasure to visit your bench Q. Keep the progress reports coming!

 

[JMac]

Good update Q. The cockpit looks sharp.

 

[Solander]

Nice work with the cockpit, Q, and a great subject to. Awaiting for more

 

[Quaralane]

Tried to do some seam fixing on the nose section.


Body assembled with wings



Main assembly, with nose, wings, tails, stabilizers in place.



And now, for the slightly unhappy part.
Detail pics of the seams that need working on





Youtube link:
NM-Group Build-F 14 Tomcat-Part 03.mp4

 

[Eastrock]

Looking Sharp, Q!!! ;D

 

[13aceofspades13]

looks like you got some seems toying with you! you can get em! use some aves, sand paper, and they will be gone baby! gun em down, send em towards the ground in flames!

ps, looks like your doing good so far bud!

 

[JMac]

Looking like a Tomcat.

But you've got some fit issues still...
I'm sure you'll get those filled, and sanded no problem.

 

[ModelFreak72]

Looking good Quaralane, I think you've got under control.

 

[noc5659]

hang in there F-14's are notorious for being difficult to put together. Italeri especially. What are you using to fill the seams