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AlexB
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Everything posted by AlexB
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Thanks but I've no particular need for anything right now, I was just wondering if the concept had been translated to the digital age in the way that the card model building kits for model railways had evolved into downloadable kits. I have an ancient Hasegawa Harrier I got out to pinch a decal from, and the spartan cockpit in that got me thinking!
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Cheers Bill, This is just a trial fit at the mo. Lighting will be dependant on the eventual location I site it. -
This is how it's currently assembled for a trail fit; The "painting" is on some 4mm ply which is a bit warped (before I started) as the intention was just this test piece to see if it would look as good as I imagined. It does! So now I can get on and make a proper mount.
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ModelAid!! wow, what a memory!! Knowing me the remains of the sheet is in a box in the loft somewhere! I'm really into back to basics, budget modelling when it comes to model railways, and I want to continue that in the aircraft stuff I do. Some of the amazing models I see on here are incredible, but they've cost a good few quid in extras such as etched details and resin seats etc. I'm like, "What can I make for a fiver?"!!
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Many many years ago, it must have been around 1984, I built an Airfix Harrier GR.3 and used a printed paper cockpit interior that had come free with one of the modelling magazines, along with others; I recall Spitfire and Me109 also being on the sheet. As a simple budget option it was fabulous (at the time!) and I'm really still into modelling on the cheap, is anything like that available to download and home print? thanks all!
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My second 1/72 F-14A Tomcat - Academy this time
AlexB replied to Jon020's topic in Work in Progress - Aircraft
Just wow! Who doesn't love a Tomcat eh! -
Not sure exactly how, or if, this will work as I intend. No carrier group painted in just yet... I'll see if it's worth it after I trial fit the planes.
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A direct comparison of the canopy shapes shows how wrong the smaller 1/144 model is. It sort of looks OK in isolation, but seeing it next to the larger more accurate Airfix mould, it looks dreadful, every aspect of it is wrong.
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Decals done. Weirdly I enjoyed doing this one much more than the larger 1/72 version. Probably because I can get away with less detail... maybe. As you can see, I started doing the red fuselage bands. They really don't look that bad in life, but I decided not to continue them on the underside as the moulded trench for it isn't present elsewhere to guide my brush. I should have removed the red dust better, after "cleaning" the lines with a wooden toothpick. Please remember this thing is just 12cm long in real life! Anyway, happy enough with that. Next, the "display" mount.
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Thanks! So the 1/144 version is too “flat”.
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Another comparison picture. Both before decals, 1/72 on top, 1/144 below. And a direct size comparison... Despite being quite a "poor" kit (well, both are really!) and considerably smaller, I think the 1/144 stands up reasonable well against its larger sibling.
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The Revell kit appears to be very nice. Much more detailed. If modern 1/144 is like that kit, I might even change to 1/144 while I still have reasonable eyesight! and thanks! Really enjoying my childhood again! 😂
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And this is how small it really is compared to the photo on my screen!
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I've said it before, photos of models are very cruel! Mind you, I'm pretty happy with this one, as my first ever 1/144th 'plane. The canyon behind the cockpit is much less obvious in life, and I'm really happy with how the internals of the cockpit now look. All this is freehand brush paint, no masking at all, and since this photo showed the rough edges in the black around the canopy, I've tidied it up some more. Decals tomorrow I think.
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Quite interesting to compare the relative appearance of the two Tomcats. Both from Heller, top is the 1/72nd, bottom 1/144th (the 1/144 kit is now shown as completed here) Might have to find a similar shot of the real thing.
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Forgot to photograph the extra modification I made to the intakes before I closed up the fuselage. The kit comes with the jet exhaust set in the wide open full afterburner position, so as I'll be posing this and the larger 1/72nd Tomcat with swept wings I figured this little one should have the appropriate intake setting too. Tiny pieces of the flat sprue were added inside the intake throat to represent the anti-shockwave baffles, This has the added benefit of hiding sight of the insides of the fuselage, but you can just about see the "turbines" added earlier! No, the red stripe on Capt Pegman's helmet isn't off-centre, he's looking slightly left!
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Once you've closed it all up, the suggestion of those parts will be enough to make it very convincing. It'll look great!
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Always on the lookout for kits for the stash I was rummaging that big auction site and found a "rare" (aren't they always!!?) Otaki 1/144 F-14 at quite a price... looks like it's the exact same moulding as this Heller kit, even the same part numbers on the instructions. You'd be gutted if you bought that kit to build it, the Revell offing is sooo much nicer.
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General assembly of the little 1/144 Heller Tomcat went OK. Cockpit assembly sat a bit high against the rear section, so a little sanding of the joint there allowed it to sit better, bit gappy, and from side on view the profile has a kink that really shouldn't be there. In the kit the tails are both exactly the same and are really both starboard fitting. Sanding the tail tip cowling flat on the port side tail fixed that. Painting this one a much paler grey. This is BS627 Light Aircraft Grey (Humbrol 166) and I'm quite surprised at the "yellowness" of it, almost creamy with a very slight green tinge. Still, I wanted to give a distinct feeling of depth to the "display" I have planned, so a lighter colour is what's required.
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The cockpit still needed a little further improvement. Pilots console was far too small on the model, so a piece of chamfered sprue was added. Also the area behind WSO should have a panel that covers the canopy lift mechanism, so a tiny piece of the flat sprue was added here. Much better!
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That effect is fabulous!
