SaminCam

Welcome to my next WiP, Revell's 1/72 F14D. There's lots of Tomcats appearing on BM at the moment (i wonder if this is anything to do with the soon-to-be-released Top Gun 2?) but I've not seen much of the Revell version, could this be a bad sign?!? This is my first F14 since the mid 90s and to be honest it's not the model i was hoping to build - I've ordered the new academy kit but given up hope of it arriving from Korea after nearly 4 months. This model on the other hand had next day delivery so I just went for it. First impressions are ok, panel lines are pretty chunky but there is quite nice detail in the 'pit and wheel bays and i like the scheme. After a bit of dry fitting I'm not so sure... things don't seem to fit particularly well and i have a feeling this might be a battle, especially after just finishing two lovely ww2 eduard kits which pretty much fell together. I've started doing a bit of Tomcat research and already decided this isn't going to be museum quality accurate like one of @Tony Oliver's. I want it to have a decent load out (Grim Reapers rarely, if ever, did) and the revell version is missing loads of little details which I'm not going to chase on this build. Ill be happy if it has the "feel" of a later build tomcat, I can sort out the fit issues and the colours and weathering look good. I've also been looking at aftermarket bits and pieces: the revell canopy is horrible (thick, scratched and a bit misty), can anyone suggest a replacement in 1/72? Should i be getting wheels, nozzles, better missiles? Nothing I've seen is recommended for revell version but i guess i can make things fit? I've already gone for resin bang seat and started to scratch some detail on the blank bits of the cockpit: Anyway, my current construction pace is pretty glacial but this is all that's on the bench so will keep you updated - thanks for dropping by!

I definitely agree with Tonys suggestion of using oils. On my recent builds I've basically done all my post shading with various shades of grey, brown and green artists oils. It works better for me on a gloss coat - i found if you're not happy you can rescue the situation by removing the oils with thinner. I also definitely agree with Tony that the key is to go slowly, build up bit by bit and stop before you overdo it (that's half the skill). Your cat is looking great but good luck if you go for it with the oils!

Thanks everyone, glad you like her! I'm going to take a break from the Luftwaffe for a bit though definitely want to add a Ju87 and later war Bf109 and Fw190 to the collection at some point. Next up is a 1/72 F14-D Tomcat (Revell) , should get a WiP going in the next few days. Cheers, Sam

This is great! Just about to start the revell 1/72 tomcat and these are providing plenty of inspiration.

Evening all, it's taken a little longer than I hoped but it's done. RFI is here: Next up will be something a bit different, "I feel the need, the need for speed!" 😎

I'm pleased to present my latest build, the Eduard 1/72 Bf110. It's a lovely kit which goes together with no issues at all. I've made it pretty much out of the box including the PE provided by Eduard - look at the sight on that rear gun! The only extras are the riveting, a bit of plasticard to add some detail in the wheelbays and aerial wires from stretched sprue. She's airbrushed with Tamiya and Mr Color acrylics and weathered with artists oils. The huge school boy error I made early on in the build was to use the wrong fuselage parts for the 110D I wanted to complete but I've made peace with the mistake and glad I stuck with the scheme even if the life raft compartment at the rear is missing... I'm happy with how this turned out in the end and enjoyed trying some new things along the way, especially with the weathering. The WiP is here, thanks to everyone who dropped in along the way: Enjoy the pics! Thanks for taking the time to take a look, any comments or questions, let me know!

You're getting there Nasos and she's going to look great!

Better photo in morning light: Canopy masking worked a treat! Last few steps are to weather the underside and flat coat, add exhaust streaks, fix propellers on, and finish off with aerial wires.

Evening all, quick update as I've weathered the top sides with oils, flat coated and removed the canopy masks. Nearly there! Thanks for dropping by!

Thanks! Tomcat is the 1/72 F14D from Revell, plan is to do the grim reapers scheme with black tail ootb. First impression is that it might be a bit of a shock to the system after a couple of Eduard kits which practically fell together; there's sink holes, flash and the dry fit shows some decent size gaps - going to need lots of TLC!

Morning all, hope you are well and enjoying this amazing weather. Really busy at work at the moment, end of (virtual) term bringing lots of marking and assessment so not getting much spare time at the bench, Still the 110 is nearly there... wheels on so I could fit the fuel tanks, bombs and fiddly bits and pieces on the underside - I've left one of the wheelbay doors off for now so I can get a brush in more easily for weathering. Props are painted up as well and will probably go on right at the end. Thanks for taking a look! Sam

Decals all on including the tiny tiny fuselage panel numbers which you can't see in this rubbish light, all behaved really well. Gloss coat to seal them in and I'm on to the home straight with weathering and final touches. Also can you see what came in the post and will be next on the bench?!?

Just to echo others Tony, this is an awesome thread providing equal measures of inspiration and incredibly useful information. I've been waiting 3 months for the new 1/72 Academy F14A (it was shipped from Korea in March supposedly) but have just cracked and ordered the revell F14D - should get started on that soon so Ill be pouring over these pages for more advice and tricks, keep it up!

Evening all! The 110 is progressing slowly and steadily, after a few touch ups on the paint work I got it up on its legs without too much hassle - the undercarriage is fiddly but fits well and is sturdier enough, better than the fw190 i made before this anyway... After a coat of gloss I've just started adding decals, and, what a difference it makes! I've not been quite sure about this kit and the scheme for a few weeks but as soon as the ominous black crosses go on it starts to look "right". I'm looking forward to getting the rest of the markings on now and then adding some weathering. Cheers! Sam

This is awesome, looking forward to more!

Welcome Chris, modelling is a very different world now isn't it?!? I use mostly tamiya acrylics for spraying and detail brush painting. I find the quality of the brush makes a big difference though avoid painting any large areas and end up spending lots of time carefully masking and spraying. I do prefer revel acrylic white and black (probably most useful colours anyway) and I've heard the citadel/Games workshop paints are good but haven't tried then since returning to modelling. I use artists oils on top of a gloss coat but normally only for weathering and i then seal these with another coat of varnish. Good luck!

Apologies for the lousy late night, low light photos but got the masking off and my love for this build is starting to return I'm happy with the mottles and the yellow nose and white band make a huge difference in bringing this more to life. Gloss coat next then decals... Couldn't resist the shot with its little brother: Thanks for dropping by!

Awesome, looking forward to the rfi!

Great spot Greg, i wondered if anyone would notice... Pure incompetence on my behalf I'm afraid, the long tail fuselage is included but i picked the wrong one for the scheme i wanted to do. D'oh!

Evening everyone! I've been plugging away with the 110 for the last few weeks and this afternoon got to here: I've not posted for a little while as things haven't been going that smoothly! I tried hairspray chipping the nose but it was a disaster and i ended up sanding it back and starting again - i think it's ok now but will be a bit nervous when the masking comes off. Hmmm, what else went wrong... got some weird residue from masking the splinter camo (maybe went on before the paint was properly dry?) but seems to be ok with the gloss coat on. I guess the underside's not too bad and the mottling could have gone worse, it needs a few touch ups but hopefully I'll be able to get some decals on this week. Thanks for taking a look, any thoughts greatly appreciated!

Love this, great job! have been waiting for mine to turn up for nearly two months, really excited to get my hands on it now!

Looking mean with the "stealth" flat black undercoat: It's actually Tamiya Rubber Black thinned roughly 50:50. Joins all look ok so now on to preshading - this is where it gets fun!

Gorgeous! Love the nmf especially, looking forward to more of this!

This afternoon I got the cockpit canopy masked (using the set included in the kit) and glued in place. This assembly is actually quite fiddly as there are five separate pieces but all's well in the end as it fit together perfectly. Next step: some paint!

Think that'll do for the wheel bays, one last check over seams then time to spray some paint!