alxzinbox Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) Hello everybody! After months of procrastination, I finally completed this model I had started on in August of last year. Details added: Scratch built Ejection Seat detail Full hydraulic lines on landing gear using stretched sprue closely matched landing gear bays (hydraulic lines and additional detail) scratch built ventral fins Scratch build Sub-sonic ramps in the intakes (missing in the kit) Riveting where ever appropriate (around cockpit and on the upper surfaces of the fuselage Improvement to the chin pod TVSU Drilled out a hole in the fuel dump pipe scratch built carrier deck base (with liberal dose of creative liberty in design) wheel chocks from styrene card Boo-boos include: Fogged up canopy due to improper future application Cockpit Instrument panel PE print lifted off the brass due to water damage during salt weathering Salt weathering was a MESS. Fortunately it was salvageable with spraying on the weathering again through a thin slice of dish scrubber as mask Spilled Alclad on a completed exhaust corroding away the plastic (again salvageable fortunately) Omitted AoA sensors on fuselage side (it would have been lost to the carpet monster anyways) "100" decal applied in reverse on starboard side Additional PE and accessories include: Dream Model cockpit PE detail set Dream Model Pitot Tube Infiniti Carrier Tie-down point PE set (including the chain) Pilot and RIO from Revell NATO Pilot set The model was a joy to build, and the option to pose the wings extended or retracted provides a lot of flexibility to displaying it. It also had a perfect blend of detail v/s ease of build. Kudos to HB for that. A special thanks to Parabat, Tony Oliver, Navy Bird and Ratmigs for all their inputs during the build process. Tony Oliver's experience with the kit helped mitigate a lot of problems I would have otherwise run into. The wooden pedestal was made by a colleague skilled in woodwork. Much appreciated guys! On to the pictures! The reason I was excited about this particular scheme was this die-cast model of the F/A-18F in the same Bounty Hunters CAG scheme. Do they look beautiful together or what! Ejection seat detailing with stretched sprue and Dream Model PE set Cockpit detailing with Dream Model PE set and tissue paper to simulate the canvas covers on the IP cowls Nose Gear bay detailing Nose gear Detailing... Everything eventually disappeared into the dark recesses of the aircraft Sub-Sonic Air ramp scratch-building. Hardly seen in the shadows, but good to know it's there Scratch built the ventral fins to recreate the prominent NACA vents Scratch build a carrier base using the Infiniti Tie Down PE set. There were a 44 tie-down points included, thus I had to keep the base to a small size despite increasing the distance between points slightly A parting shot taken from the balcony of our apartment during a glorious sunset. Thanks for watching! Cheers, Alex. Edited February 22, 2017 by alxzinbox 56 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Absolutely stunning! Great work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 I really enjoy it, congratulations ! Corsaircorp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 That Sir, is a complete work of art. A feast for the eyes and soul of anyone interested in aviation. Lovely photography as well, especially that last photo (or is that real...?) Superb work. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Outstanding work!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 great looking Tomcat....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Outstanding work - well done!! That last photo is a beauty too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Wow! Very impressive work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratmigs Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 A true labor of love! Thanks for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Rhodes Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Stunning work and presentation! Darren 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Beautiful build - I love the VF-2 markings. One of my favourites from the early days of the twin-tailed cat. Cheers, Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Absolutely great!!! Awesome Tomcat!! Regards, Nontas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini78 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 excellent work, love the presentation 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Builder Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Excellent. Beautiful. Stunning. Great photography too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 She's a beauty I'm going to be whistling the Top Gun anthem all day now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James G Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Excellent build and great choice of markings! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Well that turned out more than alright didn't it? Good job 👍🏿 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishbone Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Great work! I am working on the same kit too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonT Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Superb, and that's the understatement of the year! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 6 hours ago, Fishbone said: Great work! I am working on the same kit too! Just a quick one for you -the whole nose probe part as molded shouldn't be silver. The base is part of the nose section. Think they molded it this was to stop the part being too minuscule. See here on my 1/72 hobbyboss A version. Part installed, seam filled then metal tip cut off for installation at end. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235005868-now-9-yes-9-hobbyboss-172-f-14-tomcats-epic-saga/&page=11 Ps @alxzinbox are you going to persevere with the vanes on the side of the nose? Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 That`s one mean looking Tomcat there, really nice work and pic`s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane39 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Incredible detailing. Weathering is spot on. Worthy of Grumman's finest cat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave N Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 That's an amazing piece of work- the detailing and finish are outstanding, very hard to believe it's 1/72... looks like the real thing. Cheer, Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxzinbox Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 (edited) On 25/02/2017 at 2:32 PM, Tony Oliver said: Ps @alxzinbox are you going to persevere with the vanes on the side of the nose? Tony So that's the yoke of guilt I wear around my neck on this build. I decided I wasn't going to install the vanes on the sides towards the end- Ironic after all the effort towards realism. Now the build is wrapped up and parceled off to it's final destination at my permanent residence. I'll probably revisit the last bit just before it's finally installed in its display case. Cheers, Alex Edited February 26, 2017 by alxzinbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alxzinbox Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 On 25/02/2017 at 8:19 AM, Fishbone said: Great work! I am working on the same kit too! That's shaping up real nice! The stenciling is after-market or from spares? I didn't have the "no step" as part of the kit decals. Looking forward to seeing it in the RFI! Cheers, Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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