Revell F-14A Tomcat

[wjbrandel]

Going to start this build. Cracked the box and sniffed the plastic today












Oh boy that seam line is bad and check out those raised panel lines. 1980's all the way.







Over all the kit has some nice details molded into it. Not going to complain (not much anyway) over the kit considering its age. 1993 for the rebox and the molds are from 1981.

 

[Tommergun]

And Sparrows molded directly to the plyons...I dont remember that!

 

[wjbrandel]

And Sparrows molded directly to the plyons...I dont remember that!

Only two are molded on, the other two are separate.

 

[wjbrandel]

The cockpit is finished (other than the seats) and ready for paint



The seats are done and ready for paint as well



And the wings are put together. No photos but I did get that seam running down the middle of the body cleaned up mostly. I am also considering removing the raised panel lines and engraving them, but that is a lot of panel lines don't know if I want to do that.

 

[BarleyBop]

removing the raised panel lines

...see, not knowing anything about aircraft, and no experience with plane builds, I wouldn't know where to begin!

From a technology and user interface perspective, I find it interesting how fighters and Formula race cars have such small areas for the 'pilots' to interact with the machine, sitting, strapped in, and constrained by the length of their limbs, hugely dependent on a service crew, working within a bubble travelling at incredible speeds. You could see a tire or a wingtip blown off, and not be able to physically do anything about it!

 

[wjbrandel]

Finally got some paint on it.






Also did a little bit of weathering on it so far

 

[lacrosse dad]

I recently built the Top Gun Maverick version of this exact mold....the exhaust vanes are not used in the F-14A model...but used in their super tomcat kit...here are some photos of the kit (Maverick version) I had significant problems with fit around the cockpit and intake areas....lots of putty and I think earlier models might not have had the same problems, you can see my progress from my earlier threads.....good luck and have fun!

 

[BOATMAN]

lookin very good
chrsb

 

[wjbrandel]

Good looking build. I just put the nose cone on last night. I am going to be painting the model hopefully before Saturday, but I doubt it. I got gaps to fill and sand down.

 

[wjbrandel]

Well it looks like Saturday or Sunday its going to be painted. Too much going on, but I did get the missiles painted.




Had to free hand the stripes. I ran out of masking tape. Didn't do to bad of a job on them.

 

[BOATMAN]

HI SIR well done on your missle painting as i have just done mine for my phantom as i mandged to use the decals could you not use yours or did they keep breaking up ?
Chrisb

 

[Steve Ski]

Awesome work, W!

 

[wjbrandel]

HI SIR well done on your missle painting as i have just done mine for my phantom as i mandged to use the decals could you not use yours or did they keep breaking up ?
Chrisb

The missiles don't have decals for this model, and since I haven't painted the plane yet I don't know how the decals are yet. Though they do seem to be decent, but water will tell when I put them on.

Awesome work, W!

Thanks Steve

 

[wjbrandel]

Well I started the paint on it. However I completely ran out of white paint, I finished it with a rattlecan and so I am going to let it finish curing for the day.





I even emptied the rattlecan-that's how low I was and didn't realize it

 

[wjbrandel]

Got a lot of paint down on it, and went through about a 1/2 roll of masking tape making everything off.









I free handed the red edging around the doors. could of been better, but an ok job.


I am pleased with the canopy. I think that is the best job I've done so far with painting the frame.

 

[BarleyBop]

painting the frame.

... that must take a steady hand and then some!

 

[wjbrandel]

... that must take a steady hand and then some!

I would love to say Yep free handed the thing, but the truth, I masked it off and for once I did not get paint running under the tape and the paint didn't lift when I pulled the tape off.

 

[BarleyBop]

paint running under the tape

Ha! Pretty much every time for me, and the worst part is the reveal... I hate masking for that reason: you can't see the nasty surprises!

 

[Edbert]

I love that paint scheme, do not care if the modern Hornet/Super-Hornet paint is superior or not, the old one just looks better.

 

[wjbrandel]

Well I went to lay a gloss coat down last night but I noticed I forgot to paint a couple of areas, so I fixed it. Gloss coat tonight hopefully