DannyB Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) Well my first model for quite a few years, my first ever high detailed attempt, my first documented build, my first build with extras, oh yeah, and my first ever GROUP BUILD! Well I think this one is going to be a lot of cherries popped all at the same time! I'm planning on doing this scheme Using this purchase from ebay Once it all arrives it will probably be an out the box build but this kit comes with an added eduard etch kit and MAW sidewinder launch rails. After seeing Jen's guide to the aires cockpit and wheel-wells they could well be going on the shopping list too! Can't wait to get started on this so the postman better hurry up! Edited January 11, 2012 by DannyB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandwagon 106 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Very nice choice Danny, I was thinking about this one the other day actually. Just learned it's dark ghost grey . Enjoy the build. Mojo/Joel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNoAF Aerobatic Team Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) Good luck with the build. I have to follow each of the Crew`s builds... "Snafu"/Ørjan Edited January 7, 2012 by RNoAF Aerobatic Team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Nice option, one I'd like to build myself at some point. Don't forget this, like all F-14As then in service, was updated with the F-14D style gun vents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Cheers for the headsup Giorgio Seeing all the dioramas going on in the GB hs got me thinking but I must calm down and walk before I can run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 the white fins is a smart looking c/s - have fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale85 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 wow it's a beautiful Tomcat!! ciao Ale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) Cheers guys Well, the kit has now turned up with it's extras and now I just can't wait to get started. Will get all the sprue shots taken tonight and post them up. Have decided to stick to extras in the box and the fightertown decals, and build the rest OOB. I would love to use the aires cockpit and wheel wells but seeing as this is the first kit I've built in close to 12 years I have to get everything from paint to glue and plasticard! Will update later Edited January 11, 2012 by DannyB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Here we go! The obligatory sprue/box shot Not going to get chance to start tonight but will make some headway tomorrow, have read the instruction sheet a couple of times and I can tell you from someone who has only ever built airfix,this one is daunting lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Dont' worry, whenever you start it will be good ! If it's your first kit after a while, take your time with this one: it's a lovely kit but requires some patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Got a little started last night. Cut off the sprue's for the seats and cockpit areas, cleaned/sanded them up and did some test fitting. I'm absolutely blown away by the amount of detail, even OOB without the eduards photo-etch bits I've got to go on. Absolutely loving it Though quick newbie question, what is the best glue to use for the photo-etched parts and will they take the same primer as the plastic? My plan is to get all the photo-etch parts stuck in place then primer the whole thing in 1 go, is this the best way of doing it or should I primer the photo-etched bits first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 .....I can tell you from someone who has only ever built airfix,this one is daunting lol can't help with the last question, tho' I would guess it should be ok, but as for the other comment, I can say you are not alone here...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 (edited) A day of progress, followed by an evening of disappointment. Started off really well, having finally picked up some modelling supplies so I could finally start getting bits primed and stuck together. Spent most of the day progressing the pit. Priming stage, I'm using citadel skull white as a primer after a tip off from a friend who models warhammer collections, and I was really impressed! Goes on nice and smooth and takes the tamiya acrylics really well. The priming: Next on to the painting! Got one seat very nearly finished (forget to buy yellow when I was buying all the other paints) and the other is now waiting for it's seat to be done. Pit pretty much finished apart from a couple of bits that just need finishing off, was really pleased with the screens in both the front and rear of the cabin, a combination of the white primer and 'pooling' clear green has given them a glass like finish. Also tried my hand at dry-brushing having never done it before I'm quite chuffed with how the control panels came out. A little heavy in places but the last few bit I did came out better the the first so it's all about getting your own technique. Then; Disaster struck, having a thing ahead I decided to start dry fitting the pit in to the nose and seeing how bits going together in relation the the canopy and to check everything is lining up and to put it simple, IT DOESN'T! None of it, I have had to shave bits off the pit to get it line up properly between the lip and the wheel-well, fair enough that's not a problem but, my god, if you actually built this kit using the illustrations in the instructions nothing fits together, at all! Bit put out by this but feeling that it was something I could get round with no great difficulty I tried dropping the pilot and his rear in to their seats. What a joke! The only way I'm going to get them in is by trimming the seat pad down and shaving a large amount of plastic off their backs and bums. Annoyed at this I thought 'fine I'll leave them out that's fine just as long as I can still display the cat with the canopy up I'll be happy' Oh, how I was greatly mistaken! I spent ages trying to dry fit everything together, checking the instructions, making sure I was actually looking at the right instructions, checking the internet for resources and images of others who have displayed these kits with the canopy up, and I have come to the conclusion either I have balls'ed up somewhere (which I'm not ruling out) or it is simply not possible. Went to bed really annoyed and down heartened with the kit and where the models going now. So, basically after to my ramblings this is a massive call for HELP from anyone that has used the OOB kit and displayed the canopy up, how did you do it!? PS. sorry for the pictures, have only got my phone camera at the moment Edited January 15, 2012 by DannyB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ale85 Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Nice start... In my opinion, which you used for the cockpit looks a bit darker... ciao Ale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Ah don't worry it is a lot lighter, I've used the tamiya equivalent to the listed MrHobby paint, more to do with the camera on my phone than the paint Any body know how to solve my canopy up dilemma? Have had another look at the kit and the instructions and I still can't fathom it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Any body know how to solve my canopy up dilemma? Have had another look at the kit and the instructions and I still can't fathom it What exactly is the canopy problem? I've built a few of these OOB and never had a problem. 'freezer' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 I want to finish with the canopy up and can see how leaving the extension on the back of the seat holds the angle of the cockpit but can't figure out where or how the back of the canopy sits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I want to finish with the canopy up and can see how leaving the extension on the back of the seat holds the angle of the cockpit but can't figure out where or how the back of the canopy sits. There is a part which fits into the canopy itself, part B5. That then sits on the rail, part A4. There should be a lug on the rear bulkhead of the cockpit for part of the canopy to rest on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Cheers Dave, I'll give that a go Might have trimmed that lug off but pretty certain I know where it is so reattaching it won't be too much of a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNoAF Aerobatic Team Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 That cockpit looks great! Very nice touch on the radar scope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I wouldnt get too downhearted....these days I always start on a kit, especially if I've never built a particular one before, on the basis that something or a lot of things will go wrong and I'll spend time fixing things, instead of just putting them together. That way I'm not too put off when things do go wrong..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 17, 2012 Author Share Posted January 17, 2012 Cheers for the KUTA guys Haven't managed to do much since the weekend and seeing as I still haven't managed to get some pretty fundamental paint colours I doubt I'll get much done in the next few days. But, the plan tonight is to have a bit of a tidy up and a regroup to figure out what I'm doing and what I've done. Hopefully, my fightertown decals will be on the door-mat waiting for me, but they were posted in the states on the 10th so should be any day now. Also, having been hunting around the net and through different resources I'm pretty sure the seats are the wrong colour so they'll be getting a bit more work when I get the right colours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hang on in there Danny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 tell you waht Danny - having (finally) actually started last night, I have to admit I sat back and thought, "what have I let myself in for here....?" The later hasgawa kit is a challenge, so many parts anbd quite a few that are very small.... The earlier kit has it's challenges too, as does the airfix kit and until now, the only hasagawa kits I've ever buikt are airliners.... so this is...different.... Like I said tho' I'm working on the basis that somnehting will not be right, and I'm diving head first into the unknown as well. But it will be worth it....it WILL !! I hope.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Finally starting to get things together now. After looking at loads of different resources on the web I was happy with my ejection seats, the colours were all wrong and the seat isn't an armchair more cushions pads on a hard base! So, it was back to the drawing board and luckily my fightertown decals turn up just in time with some great details just for the seats. Here is 1 of my much improved seats, am really pleased with it. A little rough around the edges but certainly more colourful and much closer to the real thing. Also, after seeing DaveJL's build thread I decided my cockpit need a lot more work. Still as as good as his but I feeling this a bit more too. As previously mentioned my fightertown decals have now turned up so will hopefully get a fair bit done of the weekend. A quick note on the quality of the decals, I have never used aftermarket decals before and all I can say is Wow! The level of detail is incredible and coupled with the sheer amount of the them, I'm now really tempted to get a 1/48 F-18e to complete the tophatters anniversary pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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