DaveJL Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Hello all,Started this project a few years ago, it kept stalling and has been sitting at the side of the bench ever since.Original threadSo, this GB is the perfect excuse to get it done, finally! The reason i've decided to resurrect it is because my favourite decal maker has just released these….which of course i've ordered. So i'm able to do a proper 'Top Gun' jet!Plan is to make a dogfight diorama with the F-14 chasing down the A-4 Here's how the F-14 is at the minute:And the A-4, which is yet to be started:Hope that this qualifies even if the A-4 remains to be done as it's a KUTA for the whole project!Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Done a bit of work this morning, not much but gets things going! Cockpit is ready as are the crew: Maverick (Blue helmet) and Goose (Red helmet): Just needs a light dusting of pigments then the cockpit and crew will be ready to install into the forward fuselage. I've also noted that in the nearly 3 years since I started this, the ventral strakes have done a runner so will have to get a replacement set. Was also rifling through the A-4 box and noted I've started the cockpit and trimmed a few other bits. Need to source a pilot for that kit though. More soon. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Welcome to KUTA Dave, this will be an interesting one to see finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Welcome to KUTA Dave, this will be an interesting one to see finished. Thanks Mish, long overdue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 This should be good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 to the naughty step as well... I've changed your topic title to remove the asterisked out naughty words 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 to the naughty step as well... I've changed your topic title to remove the asterisked out naughty words No worries Mike, I'll think of a non- naughty title! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 Small bit of work done. Maverick and Goose are now in their office. Had to chop their legs off to get them to fit. Also used some lovely Eduard fabric seat straps from the F-4. Have fitted the cockpit to the forward fuselage. Next up is to close up the front fuselage, add the landing gear doors, nose cone, coamings etc. More soon. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Looking good Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 Cheers Mish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 A bit more done. Front fuselage all closed up and nosecone added. Just need to add the front IP and coaming then set about doing all the detailed painting before adding the canopy. The toughest part will be getting the front landing gear doors to sit flush, but I have an idea that may help. These also arrived. Great service as always from Sprue Brothers: Will hopefully post another update over the coming days but will be focusing on my B-52 and F-4B as time is running short for the Vietnam GB! More soon. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Taking shape Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 Taking shape Dave Cheers Mish. Once I get the cockpit area done it should come together quickly. On that note, I decided to add the front landing gear doors today while I was working on my F-4. I added to cuts of styrene pipe to the landing gear bay to ensure that the doors didn't sink: The fit is poor and needed some trimming and fettling. I'll get the required filler on tomorrow all being well then I can start the clean up. More soon. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted December 14, 2015 Author Share Posted December 14, 2015 Not an update as such, but the decals have arrived from Fightertown…and what a sheet it is! B-52 is almost done so i'll be cracking on with this shortly. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 Got a few options there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz23 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 What an awesome set of decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 What an awesome set of decals. Agreed. A few nice schemes on it too. Got a few options there Plenty! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 What the... How have I missed this! Lookiong good Dave, any more progress?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Cheers mate. No more progress as yet, been flat out in work. Doubt i'll get it done before the deadline but i'll be working away at it over the next while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 Back to the bench after a hectic few weeks at work (thanks weather!) Worked on cleaning up some of the filler on the F-14 (still more to go!) as well as adding the tail fins and ventral strakes. On that note, the Steel Beach ones I bought cracked when removing them from their casting blocks so I had to revert to a set pinched from a damaged old build (hence the red paint!) Also cleaned up the filler on the forward fuselage and the painting around the cockpit is nearly done, ready for the canopy to be added: In between doing that, I started the A-4. Cockpit went together in no time and was given a quick paint job: 'Viper' and his seat: The figure is from an Eduard F-4 and will need some work to fit into the seat and cockpit. Once the paint was dry, that was added to the fuselage along with the exhaust and intake: Comparison with the F-14: Then the airbrakes were added and the fuselage closed up: Wings have also been build up, with the flaps, slats and part of the landing gear added: Forgot how well these little Skyhawks go together. Some references: More soon. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Top job on this one Dave so far. The Hasegawa Tomcat surprised me with some of its fit issues when first released but you seem to be mastering it. Those decals look a fantastic sheet of options and highly tempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 Cheers Col. Yes the Hasegawa 'cat takes a lot of work there's no doubt. I was actually just thinking about it, having recently just built Academy's F-4B which had little to no issues at all. I still enjoy building them though, still the best in 1/48. AMK's future offering is exciting news. The decals are also great, i'll only be using 2/3 options. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Brief update. Cockpit of the F-14 was finished and canopy attached. In order to get it to sit (with a good bit of pressure needed to get it to settle down) I had to leave off the frame (part B5). Will need a bit of sanding on the rear where it meets the bulkhead and a bit along the sides but other than that it should be a snug fit. While that was drying, i did a bit more on the A-4. Added the horizontal stabilisers and a few other bits before adding the wings: The A-4 goes together very well indeed. More soon. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Dave your Tomcat just turned into an A-4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted January 17, 2016 Author Share Posted January 17, 2016 A bit more done today. My first job was to attach the two fuselage sections of the F-14. One of the biggest issues with the Hasegawa F-14 is that once you join the front and rear fuselage sections, you are left with a step, either on the upper or lower fuselage. It's a bugger, but nothing that can't be cleaned up. I always prefer the step to be at the bottom as it's easier to sand, you don't lose as much detail/shape and the phoenix pallets cover most of the sanded area up. However, on this particular kit, the rear section kept sinking and would not adhere. So i added a bit of styrene tube to ensure it sat correctly: Step has been reduced and is no longer sinking. Clean up of course will be required. This is how it sits at the minute: Moving onto the A-4, and I added the intakes and a few other odds and sods. As you can see minimal filler is needed, the majority of this being around the front landing gear door area/join: Size comparison: There won't be much in the way of ordnance on these jets, both with have a TACTS (Tactical Air Combat Training System) pod added and the F-14 will have a dummy AIM-7 fitted: Next up will be cleaning and sanding on both jets and i'll hopefully get the Phoenix pallets added to the F-14 and the seat and 'Viper' completed for the A-4. Won't have this done by the GB deadline so will get it moved to a regular WIP. More soon. Dave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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