Jump to content

[Hobbyboss 1/72] F-14A Tomcat


Jurrie

Recommended Posts

Hi fellow modellers,

 

After my Italeri 1/48 Wessex HU5 I started on my latest project, a  Hobbyboss F-14A Tomcat.

 

The aircraft

Quote


The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. It was the first such U.S. jet fighter with twin tails. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American Teen Series fighters, which were designed incorporating air combat experience against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.

The F-14 first flew on 21 December 1970 and made its first deployment in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor, and tactical aerial reconnaissance platform into the 2000s. The Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system were added in the 1990s and the Tomcat began performing precision ground-attack missions.[2]

In the 1980s, F-14s were used as land-based interceptors by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force during the Iran–Iraq War, where they saw combat against Iraqi warplanes. Iranian F-14s reportedly shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the war, while only 12 to 16 Tomcats were lost; at least half of these losses were due to accidents.[3][4]

The Tomcat was retired from the U.S. Navy's active fleet on 22 September 2006, having been supplanted by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.[5] The F-14 remains in service with Iran's air force, having been exported to Iran in 1976. In November 2015, reports emerged of Iranian F-14s reportedly flying escort for Russian Tu-95 bombers on air strikes in Syria.[6]

About the F-14A specifically

Quote


The F-14A was the initial two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather interceptor fighter variant for the U.S. Navy. It first flew on 21 December 1970. The first 12 F-14As were prototype versions[88] (sometimes called YF-14As). Modifications late in its service life added precision strike munitions to its armament. The U.S. Navy received 478 F-14A aircraft and 79 were received by Iran.[85] The final 102 F-14As were delivered with improved Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-414A engines.[89] Additionally, an 80th F-14A was manufactured for Iran, but was delivered to the U.S. Navy.[85]


Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat

 

The kit

The Hobbyboss kit looks neat with engraved panel lines and not too many parts. I hope it is a good mix between buildability and detail. More info about the kit you can find here. Hyperscale did a review on the kit. 

BTT2mHj.jpg

 

Besides the kit (Hobbyboss 80276), I also make use of: 

1. Eduard mask
2. Eduard interior set
3. Decalset (forgot to make a picture - brand unknown for now) - with a version of the VF-31 Tomcaters (see picture below):
45491722642_5013df7444_b.jpg
VF-31 F-14A Tomcats by G. Verver, on Flickr

 

Starting the build - cockpit
With an Eduard colored PE set, it is always a challenge to see what needs to be build and painted first (with colored and non-colored PE parts). So far I:
1. Removed the cockpit parts from the sprue and cleaned them up.
2. Put some of them together wherever useful.
3. Put the parts in the UMP primer
4. Airbrushed parts Light Grey (Tamiya), Olive Green (Tamiya) and Dark Grey (Vallejo Model Air)
5. Added the base colors to the seats. In the figure building world they use a lot of highlights and shadows. Some of these techniques can be replicated...on actually any topic. I did it on the green seats of the F-14A. All Vallejo Model Color. The most important thing is to work in really thinned layers to get a blended effect.

 

9t37Shf.jpg
kOfH4vZ.jpg
2dtl1po.jpg
1ipRPQC.jpg

 

Next steps: add the colored PE. Then start on weathering the cockpit. 

 

Gr,

 

Jurrie

Edited by Jurrie
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for your responses! @Parabat, sharp ;). I replaced the image in the original post with a F-14A VF-31 :).

 

Today a small update. I added most of the Eduard interior PE. The seats are almost done, except for some final weathering (washes and some dust in the nooks and crannies of the seat). W/regards to the other parts of the cockpit: they are still in base color and just received their first PE. 

 

Seats
1. Painted various details
2. Chipping with Vallejo light grey
3. I drybrushed/painted (my technique is somewhere in the middle) the edges of the seat cushions and seats
4. Added PE seatbelts

 

Rest of the cockpit
1. I forgot to mention last time: after the UMP primer I added a preshade with dark grey
2. Added most of the Eduard interior PE, some of the minor details are to be added (last)

 

The pictures below demonstrate - in my view - the added value of Eduard interior PE, especially in 1/72 scale. I would not get this close with just painting. 

 

MqtsSrn.jpg
VtGzvBM.jpg

 

Next steps: chips in the cockpit, (pin)washes and dust. Then I can close the F-14 :). 

 

Cheers,

 

Jurrie

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...