CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Fixing the rest of the fuselage, hmmm, well the strange design means we have to join the two halves of each side of the engine body. Its gonna leave an ugly seam line all down the fuselage on both sides. Its also flimsy, need to make sure both halves glue together into the right curve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 When glued together they have a nasty seam line down the middle both outside and inside which I have to sand smooth. Also it is tricky getting the curve correct as if it is too narrow will create a gap with the rest of the fuselage bottom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Fixing the exhaust. Here is a nice PE part to make the exhaust look detailed and in 3D. Right is the bare engine turbine and left is with the PE attached. Here is what it looked like, I think a bit too clean, need to make it darker and soothy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 When gluing in the exhaust, please make sure the notch is lined up with the main body stump. It was not shown in the instruction manual. I had to dry fit a few times before realising this. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 After some work, I managed to glue the halves together and sand away the seamlines. However when fitting to the rest of the fuselage, there is a fit issue. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 I cut some sprues and used it to widen the part to improve the fit. It took me a few tries to trim down to the right width. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 (edited) 53 minutes ago, CasualModel98 said: However when fitting to the rest of the fuselage, there is a fit issue. Nice fix. I guess every F-14 kit have these fit issues, maybe except of the new Tamiya one. Even the old Monogram, which was split just into an upper and lower halves. The 1:48 Academy is a nightmare on that, especially on the front parts. So no need to worry about as long you have this in mind. Cheers Edited September 12, 2018 by bbudde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 This is flying along nicely, nice PE additions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 (edited) On 2/27/2017 at 1:31 AM, Giorgio N said: A Fujimi Tomcat with added PE parts, masks and a metal pitot tube for $25 sounds pretty good to me, at least compared to what we pay in Europe (here a second hand Fujimi cat alone would cost $20-$25). Here, here! However, I have to notice that the cockpit's PE parts and particularly their gray color looks odd. By the way, only $25 for a Fujimi kit is a great price!!!! Edited September 12, 2018 by Shalako Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Great job so far! i had never heard of KA Models before reading your build. So of course I had to order their new F-14A Plus kit. The bright red Grim Reapers markings were just too appealing to resist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gota Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I just received the Tomato kit, and looking at the instructions I was just expecting trouble around the engine bodies. Following your work with interest, looking good so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 The fit of the engine nacelles parts and of these to the fuselage is a well known problem with the Fujimi kits. Really the only solution is the one used here, add spacers inside the nacelles to try and get all parts to align properly. Good job ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 13 hours ago, Shalako said: Here, here! However, I have to notice that the cockpit's PE parts and particularly their gray color looks odd. By the way, only $25 for a Fujimi kit is a great price!!!! Agree, but then I have this problem with a lot of coloured PE parts, I'm rarely happy with their colour 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 The front fuselage had some fit issues. Looks like more wedging, filling and sanding required. So I expanded the front a bit by inserting a sprue to wedge it wider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Now much better fit for the bottom part but still a gap at the top part needing filling and sanding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 After some filling and sanding, managed to hide the seam where it is joined. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Putting all the fuselage halves and quarters together. Oh S#$T, why did they design it so badly? The gap is huge hard to reach. Will ave to finesse some toothpick filling and sanding within the intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Inconsistent molds. One side fits perfectly and the other has a gap. I find this a consistent theme, where one side fits well and the other fits poorly. More filing and sanding needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Ahhh, now I like it, all seam lines sanded away. I find the best method is to make sure the two halves are joined evenly that is both sides are flat without one side higher than the other. Then filing and filling with putty. Finishing touch is to use Mr.Hobby surfacer 1000 and lather on thick with a small brush to fill in the fine gaps, then when dry to sand it smooth with 1000 grit. It looks ugly but that is just the primer to show up any existing gaps for further work. As I sand it down that makes it look like scratch marks, but it is smooth. I cut the tow holes at the rear left side to fit in the TARPS pod. Yep for some strange reason, it came with a TARPS pod option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 This is a terribly deformed sparrow missile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Lots of deformities all around. This kit is meant for an experienced modeler with the patience to slowly and patiently glue the parts together, sand and fill and file. Note the uneven exhaust ring as well. Will need to sand that down for a smoother join to the exhaust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 17, 2018 Author Share Posted September 17, 2018 Its coming together. This is the side glued, filled, sanded and re-scribed to remove the joint lines. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted September 17, 2018 Share Posted September 17, 2018 19 minutes ago, CasualModel98 said: Putting all the fuselage halves and quarters together. Oh S#$T, why did they design it so badly? The gap is huge hard to reach. Will ave to finesse some toothpick filling and sanding within the intake. Milliput might be a good fix for this - two part filler, you can wet it and push it into position easily and shape it snooth while wet. That is a nasty gap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 This kit has a lot of ill fitting parts. Here is the side missile pylons. The fuselage is curved but the pylon joint is flat. Leaving another ugly gap. Will need to fill and mold the joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CasualModel98 Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Here it is after some work and filing. Sprayed black primer to see if any visible scars leftover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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