Tim Moff

Very kind Paul, looks like your build is 1/72 so no worries - I am sure someone will snap anything left up!

If you have a ATFLIR pod going it would be used!! Is that on the buy/sell part of the site?

I will jump in with this old kit - I am sure I built as a young lad many moons ago.... To try to do something different I will use some aftermarket decals... From what I can find and see the Portuguese airforce effectively bought USN A-7Es - so I am not going into mega detail changes - the main obvious item is the refuelling probe...I can't see any after market and its a bit crazy to by a 1/72 E so i will either go with out, or try to fashion something that will look ok ish! I have bought a couple of quick boost A-4 Skyhawk probs - I may be able to cut them up to get something.... Earlier probe later Probe If anyone knows better please do let me know!

Hmmmm - targeting Pod - which one is it for Inherent Resolve? Sniper or Litening...either way i don't think I haver one unless I have it in another kit!!! Or was it this thing by then? Spose if I want to load LGBs then I need a pod.... also - would a load with the centreline A2A refuelling pod ever be combined with bombs...so far they only seem to show them as clean except the pod or with 4 x fuel tanks....apologies to add to your thread but I am no expert on Hornet or Rhino as some call it...

Customary slow start, some bits off sprues to be primed/painted, also filled in a few what I believe to be ejection pin holes with Mr Surfacer 1500. Decals have arrived - choices, choices... Does seem that the Italeri tails fit the decals for the main CAG Bird option.... Great ref book for my collection....wheel bays look like a whole lotta work that I am not used to - also lack skilz for!! Onwards!!

I built another Monogram F-4D, in a bid to show how things have improved since my first build for many years, the F-4D Revell/Monogram! Both in Heath schemes, but hopefully I have improved a bit... Another F-15 GB coming up, along with an F-5 GB....plus we are now seeing F-35's at the Heath and kits being produced....just need the aftermarket decals... Meng kit: and review: https://www.scalespot.com/reviews/kits/f35a-meng/review.htm Kitty Hawk: Just need to wait for LN Decals....

OK - so unknown territory for me here - wheels down builds - my garage ceiling is kinda congested so I am getting a display cabinet from Ikea...so I will have to start selectively build and paint those wheel thingies.... Anyone know if this Italeri/Academy 1/48 F/A-18F needs nose weight...if so what to people use? Fishing lead shot? How much? Super glued in? The instructions have the nose weight symbol in the icon descriptions but it does not have the symbol used in the actual build instructions....this indicates to me not needed? I really don't want a tail sitter for my first 1/48 wheels down build!!! Any advice/tips most welcome - thanks in advance!

Apparently there are some F/A-18Fs now in Aggressor/Adversary roles …. Just no 1/48 decal releases as yet ?! Hint hint ! some stunning schemes seen here : https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37634/these-are-the-proposed-paint-schemes-for-the-navys-new-adversary-super-hornets And here https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41187/u-s-navy-adversary-unit-reveals-super-hornet-masquerading-as-russias-top-fighter

Interesting loadout - you mounting the GBU-38s on a twin mount or singularly on each pylon? Theres a good link below showing how USAF/USN versions are slightly different if interested http://thecombatworkshop.blogspot.com/2018/04/gbu-38-500-lb-jdam.html

The Horror!! Luckily the bags are still sealed....

After the Tomcat build piqued interest in US Naval aviation I have decided to jump into this STGB... I have this just arrived: Decals look ok, but I have bought some aftermarket Furball ... couple of PJ pilots with JHMCS helmets masks also with it - but are Hase so may or may not work... https://www.furballaero-design.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=48-067 Am thinking about a resin Buddy Refuel tank for something different.... Its actually shown fitted on the box art... I am also running out space on the garage rafters so contemplating an Ikea display cabinet and the new challenge of building wheels down....

Looks great - our tastes just keep colliding ! I have ordered the same decals to go with an Academy/Italeri kit....as ever I will watch along, I have yet to decide which airframe to build but note you are going low profile! Some great pics on this site: https://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VFA/Strike-Fighter-Squadron-103.htm I was thinking about the Quinta 3D decals for mine, not sure if they will fit the Italeri moulds - will need to check...my kit did come with the Hase masks so hopefully they will...

Thanks John - yes can be a bit confusing as the wording is not so clear - it mentions the central badge, but not the flashes (of which both sets are included on the decal sheet) - I had a similar conundrum with min, but I could not find any ref pics that had 1 side with and the other without the flash, so went with both sides for my timeframe...

Apparently its Academy/Italeri - but will watch along to compare!

will watch along as I have the Academy kit which I think is a Revell rebox?

Cracking build, especially in that scale!! Great job on the camo - 1 question - should the p[ort side also have the NSAWC flash on BORT 10? Not being critical, just checking as the same decal sets show 2 different markings frm different periods but only one pic of each tail (same on my set) showing pre NSAWC and NSAWC...

Kit: 1/48 Academy/Minicraft Model Kits Grumman F-14A Tomcat Subject: Modelled as BUNO 160913/13 of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Centre (NSAWC) - 'TOPGUN' - US Navy, NAS Fallon, USA, circa 2000 Details: Modelled as per reference pics from interweb - I have taken various pics with external fuel tanks, CATM rounds, Phoenix pallets etc to build a representative of the airframe Misc: Mr Paint paints, Mr Color paints, Vallejo paints, Floreys Dark Dirt Wash, Tamiya Panel Accenter Dark Brown/Gray, Hi-Decal decals set HDL 48021 Build Thread: Thanks for all the support along the way, the 2 week extension and @Col. / @Enzo Matrix for their work...

All done with this one...fun and a new interest for me, US Navy Aviation! Will choose the pics the gallery.... Thanks for following along and all the help and advice especially from @Giorgio N!

last bits tails on, canopy masking off, exhausts and TPS on - stores, antennas and pitots to go …

Pushing on …. panel line wash using Tamiya Gray and Brown, I then used a Floreys sludge wash to take the shiny clean look away - and dirtied up the wing areas and rear area that showed the muckiest on the ref pics …. with and without Tamiya gray panel accentor Mr Color GX113 flat clear on Final assembly tomorrow abs hopefully get the pics done…. managed to bag an F-18 on evil bay - but as it’s an F Model and it seems the Top Gun Aggresors are not quite onto them yet (or there’s no decals out yet!) I will do a frontline build ….

Decals on …. couple of hours of full concentration and attention to detail with these decals - very thin and once on don’t want to move unless you literally re-float them ! phew - got away with it then allowed myself a Christmas tipple last night ! Need to seal them in tomorrow with a quick mist cote of GX100/MLT and then once dry a wetter cote of the same. Then I plan to use Tamiya Panel line accentor and a bit of floreys dark dirt wash … The airframe looked quite clean generally with some dirt stains around the wing sweep area …

Decals stated and another couple of ref pics —- these decals need full focus concentration orb they end up broken or self wrapped ! No Xmas sherry whilst doing these 🤣 at least there’s bit too many abs little in the way of stencils on the airframe as the kit decals are a little ‘aged’! the port side BU number decal is in a sand colour where all ref pics show it as green as green area ends before the area where the number goes … so I slapped it on but it can’t really be seen…either that it get the paint out and extend the green further to the tail … error from Hi-Decal there…

Moving on - final paint job and a cote of Mr Color GX100 clear before I tackle the decals - seems @Dermo245 had the same issues with them being really thin and not wanting to move much on the surface to position... can anyone see it?! nice and shiny.... Now I have been looking at Aggressor Hornets....

Great build and smashed the complicated paint job !

More done trays painted Masked and undersides painted Canopy frames sprayed Undersides masked and green on am working on the principle of overspraying areas to then mask off, re- black and do the same with the dark brown and then finally the tan … Concurrently I thought I’d try out the decals on the tail that’s complete now those decals need proper managing …. Slightest Luke warm water and they’re off the paper and wrapping themselves up…. some patience and perseverance meant I was able to unwrap the NSAWC decal… this time …. So I need to be Uber careful going forward …. I lightened the AIM9s slightly as the blue seemed a tad too dark … hooing the admins may be full of festive joy maybe extend the GB a week ?!🤣🤣 May save me rushing to the finish line !!