Tim Moff Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 (edited) Although busy with 2 x Phantoms, I will pop this in here as a sideline.... I am no Tomcat expert but I think the kit is fine with the decals - lots of different views on there on the light tan colour used and changes, any advice/expertise gratefully received!! Edited September 20, 2021 by Tim Moff 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 Welcome to the GB Tim, not seen the 48th scale Academy kit built so will be watching how you get on, nice choice of scheme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 21, 2021 Share Posted September 21, 2021 On 9/20/2021 at 11:51 AM, Tim Moff said: I am no Tomcat expert but I think the kit is fine with the decals - lots of different views on there on the light tan colour used and changes, any advice/expertise gratefully received!! The kit is mostly fine: 160913 was a block 105 aircraft, meaning that predated the introduction of the ECM bulges under the glove vanes and on the beavertail. IIRC the Academy kit includes them but they should be easy to remove. A bit more problematic is the fact that by the time this aircraft wore the NSAWC scheme, the gun gas grilles had been replaced with the 3 small NACA intakes originally used on the F-14B and D, as you can see in this picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_e_abbott/21116711380 Regarding the colour scheme, the Fightertown decal sheet describes quite a complex scheme.... Tan 30400, Brown 30140 and Green 34095 on top and side surfaces. Lower fuselage in FS 36495 but lower surfaces of wings and tailplanes in FS 36375. Interior of intake ramps in white, including the part that is visible from the undersides. Said that, I can see how there can be discussion on the tan actually used... pictures show a colour that IMHO is less yellow than 30400 but at the same time it is sure darker than the FS 33531 that IIRC is proposed by Hi Decals (I have that sheet too, I'll check it later). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 (edited) 18 hours ago, Giorgio N said: The kit is mostly fine: 160913 was a block 105 aircraft, meaning that predated the introduction of the ECM bulges under the glove vanes and on the beavertail. IIRC the Academy kit includes them but they should be easy to remove. A bit more problematic is the fact that by the time this aircraft wore the NSAWC scheme, the gun gas grilles had been replaced with the 3 small NACA intakes originally used on the F-14B and D, as you can see in this picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_e_abbott/21116711380 Regarding the colour scheme, the Fightertown decal sheet describes quite a complex scheme.... Tan 30400, Brown 30140 and Green 34095 on top and side surfaces. Lower fuselage in FS 36495 but lower surfaces of wings and tailplanes in FS 36375. Interior of intake ramps in white, including the part that is visible from the undersides. Said that, I can see how there can be discussion on the tan actually used... pictures show a colour that IMHO is less yellow than 30400 but at the same time it is sure darker than the FS 33531 that IIRC is proposed by Hi Decals (I have that sheet too, I'll check it later). Thanks v much @Giorgio N - thats really helpful....looking at the gun pack I can either fill in the gas vents or just leave it - its unlikely I can make the NACA intakes!! So it may be I just live with it... @Giorgio N I take it the beaver tail is the area below at the back between the fins? Can I please ask which lump needs removing? The small one on the right or the longer one on the left? Good point about the sand - some documentation says they did move to the FS30279 by the time this scheme was introduced...I also plan to get the FS33531 mentioned on the Hi Decal instructions so I can at least try it - I do also have the UK Desert Pink....any advice/experience appreciated - I do prefer Mr Color or Mr paint if anyone has any views/knowledge! There are mentions or the Phoenix trays being on the aircraft and fuel tanks, I have seen pics with the tanks and various training CAT AIM 9 rounds/ACMI rounds etc....I will likely put the trays on or have to fill in a few holes! Edited September 22, 2021 by Tim Moff 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Tim, yes the beavertail is the extreme fuselage bit between the exhausts. The part to remove is the larger lump on the left, that represents part of the ECM system. The shorter on the right is a fuel dump duct, so basically a length of tube. There's a good view of the rear end and other details of your aircraft in this video: Regarding the gun gas vents, I may be able to help, give me a few days and I'll let you know for sure 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Nice project! Wow, this blue grey white scheme on the same photo with the sand brown one is gorgeous!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 Still finishing of my 2 F-4 Phantoms so delayed starting this GB… Got the box out she started by priming some bits, painting the cockpit areas, started on the pilots as well as the wings etc - items like the wings, tails, tail planes etc will likely be fixed at the end of the build, so I can get them prepped and pre-painted etc… had to paint the helmets different to standard 🤣 May have one of the flight suits desert Tan as well for a bit of variation … just need to put a touch of Gull Gray back around some of the console areas ECM lumps removed and intake area primed … It’s a start ! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 Good to see you getting started on this one Tim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 A good start to this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Nice start there Tim 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) Getting some bits done, aluminium leading edges on wings/tail planes … anyone know if the just follow the panel line - upper and lower (lower is quite deep)? ive prepped the white are in the leading edge of the tail units - again anyone know if they follow the panels of expand ? the panel on the model seems on width, whereas on the ref pics it seems to widen at the lower part ? Any advice ?? should i just swag it with tape of paint and mask off the lines ? Ive found 1 ref pic with what looks like replacement rudders, 1 a grey (what FS would that be FS36375 like the usual TPS schemes?), the other seems black ? I always like a bit of variation with nuances like this, I guess the black rudder could have come from an airframe that had unit markings that included a black tail? F14, 160913 / 13 (cn 342) Aggressor from NSAWC. San Diego - North Island NAS / Halsey Field , April 28, 2001 Matt Baker Edited November 22, 2021 by Tim Moff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Having a look at your reference photos posted earlier in this thread I'd say there is a slight taper to the white opening up as it descends the fin leading edge. Hopefully someone who knows about these things can assist. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 I thought this STBG tan til the end of Dec …. Also had to work to meet the F-4 STGB deadline with both my builds so am up against it with this one…. @Giorgio N kindly sent me a replacement gun resin but it would need serious surgery and filling to make fit as it’s also slightly narrower- thanks so much, I will defo use it in the future but I’m not going to get it on this build … which means I either leave as is, or full the vents less a triangle and try to file the rear existing nacelle … probably no time for that to be honest so I will probably go as is …. concurrently I’ve worked on other parts like the wings etc and the crew Now I’ve also painted the rudders for something a bit different - the port one appears to have the code 22 on the top ? will try to use some decals to replicate … I used the lighter brown but on looking again I felt it needed to be a bit darker so added a 50/50 mix the key is the decals I feel - even though they may seem a bit dark compared to the real thing, I will try to match the 2 browns to the decals …. Hopefully above is better You can see the slight difference below with one area before and the other after the darker coat. Lower area FS36375 Test mule will go for FS34095 Field green The phoenix racks look to be FS36375 as well, whilst the tanks the lighter FS36495? Need to get going on the main fuse, but want to get the wings painted and clear coted first - they will be glued in the swept position …. will be a push, have a couple of days off later in the week so hopefully can get ahead a bit ! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 8, 2021 Author Share Posted December 8, 2021 Pushing on a bit - some paint and construction, filling in some areas... Tamiya bendy tape ideal for this type of scheme where it seems the camo demarcation is sharp... Some touch ups needed on the painting onwards now! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 On 06/12/2021 at 04:29, Tim Moff said: I thought this STBG tan til the end of Dec …. Also had to work to meet the F-4 STGB deadline with both my builds so am up against it with this one…. @Giorgio N kindly sent me a replacement gun resin but it would need serious surgery and filling to make fit as it’s also slightly narrower- thanks so much, I will defo use it in the future but I’m not going to get it on this build … which means I either leave as is, or full the vents less a triangle and try to file the rear existing nacelle … probably no time for that to be honest so I will probably go as is …. concurrently I’ve worked on other parts like the wings etc and the crew Now I’ve also painted the rudders for something a bit different - the port one appears to have the code 22 on the top ? will try to use some decals to replicate … I used the lighter brown but on looking again I felt it needed to be a bit darker so added a 50/50 mix the key is the decals I feel - even though they may seem a bit dark compared to the real thing, I will try to match the 2 browns to the decals …. Hopefully above is better You can see the slight difference below with one area before and the other after the darker coat. Lower area FS36375 Test mule will go for FS34095 Field green The phoenix racks look to be FS36375 as well, whilst the tanks the lighter FS36495? Need to get going on the main fuse, but want to get the wings painted and clear coted first - they will be glued in the swept position …. will be a push, have a couple of days off later in the week so hopefully can get ahead a bit ! I feel lazy going for an all-over light gull grey scheme! All this hard work on the paint scheme will definitely be worth it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Good progress Tim. No matter how I try I can never get that type of tape to work for me, so well done in doing so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 Good work indeed 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 What is Tamiya bendy tape??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 8, 2021 Author Share Posted December 8, 2021 1 hour ago, arfa1983 said: What is Tamiya bendy tape??? Its a version of their tape designed to mask curves etc - long video below but shows how its used... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, Tim Moff said: Its a version of their tape designed to mask curves etc - long video below but shows how its used... Thanks! Never seen it but I need to get some 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 More good progress Tim and your pose of the two crew figures adds a lot of interest to this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 8, 2021 Author Share Posted December 8, 2021 Thanks all bit more work done over the evenings meaning I’m getting close to the main fuse which test fitting has shown will be a challenge but with some brute force and clamps I hope to get it together without too many gaps …. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 More good progress going on Tim. Hopefully the judicious application of said brute force and clamps will see you right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted December 10, 2021 Author Share Posted December 10, 2021 Bit more done hopefully the fuse holds and I can fill a few gaps and then prime this weekend …time is running out ! some great advice via a Tomcat Facebook site explained the rudders were added when the airframe had been decommissioned abscess effectively being used for spares - so I painted them back … they also posted some great pics 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 10, 2021 Share Posted December 10, 2021 Good find with the photos of your particular subject Tim. Although it took a wee bit repainting you know it's right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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