Plumbum Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I am going to attempt to build this warps, warts and inacccuracies aside I hope it at least builds up looking like a Tomcat. I want an OOB build but I may have to use aftermarket decals. The kit decals look yellowed and real shiney, almost like "stickers" they are so shiny. I may try to find Grim Reapers in low vis or TPS scheme. I am also not going in any order, I follow the instructions but only as a general guide.---John tomcat 1 by jvandeu53, on Flickr tomcat 2 by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 I have some assembly done. The cockpit is painted up and installed, seats are painted but won't install them until after main aircraft is painted. I have thr wings glued up and ready for sanding and the same with the burner cans. I have to sand the ejector marks a bit on the burner can petals, the detail looks nice but the ejector pin marks look like crap.---John tomcat 3 by jvandeu53, on Flickr OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by jvandeu53, on Flickr tomcat 6 by jvandeu53, on Flickr OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 The intakes are painted white and I have the turbine face installed.---John OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 HELP! I have come to a screeching halt. I assembled the intakes and tried a test fit of the upper and lower fuselage. Nothing fits since I put the intakes and cockpit in. Also the intakes look like there are a "short shot" nightmare. I also noticed a strange depressed area near the speed brakes by the beaver tail, never mind the spine antenna is starting to curl over again. I am at a loss as to what to do. I detailed it up nice but this kit is wearing me down! I have built 3 Revell 1/48 Tomcats and NEVER had this happen, is it the plastic from China or just PPP? Thinking of setting it aside and moving on to my preferred scale 1/72 and do an F-14D. Who makes the best in 1/72.---John OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by jvandeu53, on Flickr tomcat 10 by jvandeu53, on Flickr tomcat 11 by jvandeu53, on Flickr OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 My last ditch effort to save the good detailing I have done was to go to Revell's on line site and order a new upper fuselage and new intakes. They seem to be the biggest problem with this kit outside of the strange plastic mix. If they won't send me parts I will look into a "trashed kit" on Evil Bay.......maybe.....after my nerves have had a rest.---John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 You may want to think on investing in a pair of AM landing gear legs. Not sure if anyone makes them, but with all the F-14 kits out there im sure someone does. But if the rest of that kit is in indicator to the quality of the plastic. The weight of the kit on the stock gear legs might be a bit like looking at cooked spaghetti and bend easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 Thanks, maybe I should just take out a 2nd mortgage and buy a Tamiya 1/48 F-14 but I don't think they have a D model yet. The sad part is I built this exact boxing, same box art, decals some 20 plus years ago and had no problems. I am totally confused as to why this is happening, must be a bad batch of plastic or the operator didn't set the molds up correctly.---John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattSimps74 Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 Hi John - if you can stand the wait AMK (of Mig-31 Foxhound fame) are developing what looks like the sweeeeetest 1/48 D model there ever was! They are taking pre-orders (the whole setup all looks a bit dicey to me imho!) but the CAD renderings look astonishing. I'm plugging away with a Hasegawa D at the moment - i want to get it done before the AMK one's out if I can!  best of luck! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon382 Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 13 hours ago, Johnv said: Thanks, maybe I should just take out a 2nd mortgage and buy a Tamiya 1/48 F-14 but I don't think they have a D model yet. The sad part is I built this exact boxing, same box art, decals some 20 plus years ago and had no problems. I am totally confused as to why this is happening, must be a bad batch of plastic or the operator didn't set the molds up correctly.---John Morning. You're right, Tamiya only do an early A at the moment but the kit is simply amazing. It's literally a pour glue into the box, shake, leave for 20 minutes and hey presto! As for the Revell kit it's a reboxing of the old Monogram offering. I've built it a few times and it's been 50 50 thus far wether the mould is warped/incomplete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) On 29/07/2017 at 15:33, Johnv said: My last ditch effort to save the good detailing I have done was to go to Revell's on line site and order a new upper fuselage and new intakes. They seem to be the biggest problem with this kit outside of the strange plastic mix. If they won't send me parts I will look into a "trashed kit" on Evil Bay.......maybe.....after my nerves have had a rest.---John  Having build loads of these over the years, and by far my favourite F-14 kit, you need to sand the nose-wheel well walls if you want the nose to join properly.  best regards  Ben  Edited July 31, 2017 by Ben Hartmann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 Thanks, been building Revell kits since 1964 and never saw that one!---John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 1 hour ago, Johnv said: Thanks, been building Revell kits since 1964 and never saw that one!---John  Well the version you've got is the cheap Chinese mass produced one for the American market...I think I've got about 4 of these unbuilt  They are more flashy & warped than their American counterparts, ejection pin marks everywhere, I believe they cleaned up the mounds when RoG released the Black Bunny Tomcat a couple of years ago. Stick with it, it will build into a nice model.  Best Regards  Ben  P.S. Don't forget to bin the decals      1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 Thanks Ben, NICE looking build. That's how their suppose to look. I built the Felix The Cat version back in the 90s and don't remember having any major problems like I am now! I just got an e mail from Revell saying they want the UPC label from box top for proof of purchase. So be it, just put it in the mail. Here's an OLD picture-35 mm film back before I sanded and filled the way I do today---John Revell F-14D 1-48 by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 37 minutes ago, Johnv said: Thanks Ben, NICE looking build. That's how their suppose to look. I built the Felix The Cat version back in the 90s and don't remember having any major problems like I am now! I just got an e mail from Revell saying they want the UPC label from box top for proof of purchase. So be it, just put it in the mail. Here's an OLD picture-35 mm film back before I sanded and filled the way I do today---John Revell F-14D 1-48 by jvandeu53, on Flickr  Yep that's the one....I'm surprised that 20 years later it's still got the same (terrible) decal sheet. Did you try trimming back the forward wheel bay walls (the area I marked with a sharpie above) and having a go at a dry fit? I would be interested to hear your results, because it clashes with the underside of the cockpit floor as there is excess plastic moulded on top. The height should be the same as the sides of the bottom fuselage half.  With you all of the way  Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntPhillips Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 IMHO the best guide to building the Revell Monogram F-14 was written by Darren Roberts (owner of Steel Beach Model Accessories) and published by Fine Scale Modeler. The article is available as a PDF download here:  http://www.finescale.com/online-extras/2008/10/better-ways-to-build-monograms-1-48-scale-top-gun-f-14-tomcat  Hope this helps. Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 I have talked to Darren, purchased Steel Beach products and have his article. Darren is THE MAN for Revell Tomcats, maybe I should re read his article, I put it aside when the other Revell F-14A project "went sour". I think he has 80 under his belt! Ben, I won't sand or dry fit until the new top fuselage comes in, will post it then.---John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 38 minutes ago, Johnv said: I have talked to Darren, purchased Steel Beach products and have his article. Darren is THE MAN for Revell Tomcats, maybe I should re read his article, I put it aside when the other Revell F-14A project "went sour". I think he has 80 under his belt! Ben, I won't sand or dry fit until the new top fuselage comes in, will post it then.---John  Affirm  Best Regards  Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted August 7, 2017 Author Share Posted August 7, 2017 I just received an e mail from Revell, they received my UPC label and have shipped my parts! I should be starting work on this by the end of this week.---John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 4 minutes ago, Johnv said: I just received an e mail from Revell, they received my UPC label and have shipped my parts! I should be starting work on this by the end of this week.---John  Absolutely fantastic news John, can't wait to see you back at the bench  Best Regards  Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 In anticipation of the new parts coming I did some work on the Tomcat. I painted the burner cans, the flame holders are burnt iron, the inside petals are flat white streaked with black pastel chalk and the outside is flat steel with aluminum highlights.---John tomcat 14 by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted August 21, 2017 Author Share Posted August 21, 2017 Parts came in today. I will open them up after the eclipse. It's about an hour here till our 80% totality. The 42 years of welding paid off, I have my lenses totaling to shade 16, shade 13 is advised to view an eclipse.---John tomcat 15 by jvandeu53, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted August 21, 2017 Author Share Posted August 21, 2017 The parts look 1000 % better. They lay flat and are fully molded, no short shots. Now to wash them up and paint.---John tomcat 16 by jvandeu53, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Hartmann Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Looking forward to more!  Best Regards  Ben  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 Back from hurricane vacation and trip to New England. I have the wings, nose and missile pallets on and have lots of putty on the offending seams. My son liked it so much that he asked to display it, wants it done stealthy so I told him I could do it as a Black Bunny. I will do it wheels up with Phoenix and Sparrows. He remembers as a kid hanging them from the ceiling so I guess I can dig up a second pilot figure. Will post images a bit later tonight after I dig out the camera.---John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumbum Posted September 21, 2017 Author Share Posted September 21, 2017 Here's the fuselage, wings, nose and Phoenix pallets all assembled and puttied. Let the fun begin!!!!!---John tomcat 17 by jvandeu53, on Flickr tomcat 18 by jvandeu53, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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