Dermo245 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 (edited) Hey everyone and here's Tomcat #3 from me this year - yes, it's Airfix's F-14 in the re-issued 'blue' box with the box-top scheme of VF-14 Tophatters in 1996 when the USS JFK visited Dublin with her air wing. I had some pictures of that visit back then, but they've been lost somewhere along the way! The full build log is here but just as a quick summary: Kit: Airfix 05013 Build: As per instructions but with rescribed panel lines (first time!) using RB productions scribing tool (excellent) Extras: Ejection seat rings from wire, belts from Tamiya tape. Fuel tanks, main gear wheels and TCS seeker from spares box. Nose probe from wife's sewing set! Paint: Humbrol acrylics brush painted. Future, Flory Models wash. Matt coat. Decals: All from kit Markings: BuNo 159863 (should be AC101, not AJ 201) but I'm not worrying! The detail is very much 70's Airfix in places (e.g the burner cans and shallow u/c bays) and there's zero engine detail, so she'll need engine covers at some stage. And I've just noticed an aerial or two missing. But I must admit, I had an absolute blast building it, I think she looks like a Tomcat and am really chuffed how she turned out. Thanks for looking...and onto the next 'Cat! All the best, Dermot Edited May 12, 2015 by Dermo245 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Very nice Dermot - very nice indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 That is good, it's good looks are all down to your work! Always good to see another 'Cat on the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Cracking job,great to see so much put into the old Airfix kit I remember building it when brand new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawel Szczudlyk Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Great Tomcat! What your wife say about missing needle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice Cat Dermo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolarDoc Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 G'Day, Very nice - I built this as a kid years ago in the red "Wolfpack" markings. Yours looks much nicer than mine ever did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice looking model ! The rescribed panel lines look very good, I can only wish my first rescribing job was so good. The overall look makes me wonder if this really is that old airfix model... looks much better here ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 nice job looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice one. I visited the static display at Dublin Airport at the time. I remember that the paint on the Tomcat's port tailplane was crazed. Had a chat with the Prowler pilot, who told me about how he had to eject from an Intruder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonl Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 That's kinda nice... I like it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Brilliant work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNoAF Aerobatic Team Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Outstanding work on the Cat. Nothing like the big twin Cat;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice work mate! I wish i was old enough back then to have made the trip from Belfast but i was only 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice job. Been a while since I built the old Airfix F14. I also remember the JFK visit vividly. Particularly the flypast on the Sunday before the 'boat' arrived. The formation of mixed, F14s. F/A18s, Vikings, Hawkeyes and Prowlers came straight over my house well out in the suburbs. The noise was an extraordinary unearthly mix of jets and props. One of my sister's kids in the garden screamed in terror. I noticed one F14 outside the formation, clearly a camera ship. I wonder if that video ever made it onto youtube? I went to the static display at the airport which was held on the ramp where my flying club was based. It was weird seeing all those Navy aircraft sitting there where normally sat the Cessna 150 I had a share in! From a modelling point of view seeing those naval aircraft up close. The roughness and patchiness of the paint stood out for me. I didn't feel so bad about my shoddy paintwork after that. The crews were very open and chatty but I don't think they had experienced aviation enthusiasts like us before. Someone asked the F14 pilot a question about the upgraded F14s. He didn't know but someone from the crowd piped up with the information. 'You guys seem to know more than me' was his reaction. Remember this was before the internet made everyone an expert. Thanks for reminding me of that time. I doubt we'll see another carrier visit Ireland until the name one for Wiliam Jefferson Clinton! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fallmonk Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Loving your big cat ;-) Done that build perfect t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Nice Tomcat Dermot. I can remember a friend building this in the eighties (early) but was not as good as your one. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 The 'Cat is a mighty machine and you've done it proud. Takes some modelling skills to get such an impressive result out of the old Airfix kit… Top notch work! Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 Thanks everyone and really appreciate the kind words! A few people had asked me so here are all three 'Cats for this year together...from top to bottom. Hasegawa (original 1st issue) Hobby Boss F-14A Airfix All the best, Dermot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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