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Tamiya F-14A 1/48 Early 70's Hi Viz


MiGFan79

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I never seem to get momentum going to finish many group build submissions despite my initial enthusiasm so I make no promises about getting this over the line. However I will say a kit of this quality at least gives me a fighting chance...

 

Tamiya 1/48 F-14A - known quantity by now, not built one myself yet but know someone who has - apparently it's as "shake and bake" as plastic gets so fingers crossed.

 

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Extras are as follows -

 

Eduard LOOK set (cockpit panels / wheels / seat detailing etch / Masks

 

Furball control surface masks 

 

Various Decals

 

I'm undeceided on the scheme as yet other that it being an early Hi Viz scheme from the early days, so Grey / White with suitable flamboyant tail / nose decoration. 

 

Candidates are VF-1 Wolf Pack (fond memories of the 1/72 Airfix kit), VF-41 Black Aces (great scheme, possibility of building an F-4 in the same scheme as a shelf mate down the line), VF-142 Ghost RIders (See VF-41). While I like the OOB schemes they are a bit done to death.

 

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Not got far as yet but impressed so far. Being able to attach most of the control surfaces towards the end of the build will make like much easier for painting.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Things moving on a bit at a time.

 

Intakes painted and built up

 

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Exhaust rear trunking and nozzles

 

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Made a start on the cockpit by assembling the resin panels from the Eduard LooK set. First time i've tried these and fairly impressed. Some care needed taking them off the blocks but appearance and fit is great. I am a bit unsure about the grey colour though, although that can also be said about a lot of etch,,

 

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The main fuselage "Pancake" is buttoned up now and all intakes are in place, up to now I have used two cocktail stick heads of filler, one on the joint above the right rear stab, the other on one of the inner nacelle seams. Literally smeared it along the joint and rubbed the excess straight off.

 

Quite impressed so far!

 

 

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As previously mentioned the Eduard LooK set only contains printed instrument panels, not the side consoles, so I've been cracking on with the cockpit in the old fashioned way. Base colour is Mr Paint US Interior grey, then I've picked out the panels and canvas parts with a brush, followed by dry brushing with darker grey and metallics where suitable to help the details pop. I've also highlighted the odd switch here and there in white. Obviously the end result isn't as accurate or precise as using etch or one of those new fangled 3D sets but I think it looks ok.

 

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I'm trying to get to the position of having the front fuselage boxed up as soon as possible as that concludes the large sub assemblies.

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In a change of form form for me i'm managing to do a bit most nights on this build....

 

Painting the front landing gear box components -

 

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Nothing flash, just primer white, pick out some details here and there, shot of lacquer then a light application of Flory "grime" wash.

 

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Landing gear box and cockpit completed -

 

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Hopefully get the nose assembly completed next week then other than painting it should fall together in large sub assemblies going forward. Still havn't made a decision on the scheme as yet but luckily that doesn't really have an effect on the building process as all my choices are 1970's grey / white schemes.

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I'm at about the same stage with mine - just attached the intake trunking to the fuselage.  I have to say that although the fit is generally excellent, I do find the detail in the cockpit - specifically the side walls & panels - a bit on the "soft" side & not really what I'd have expected from Tamiya.  Just me?

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On 11/10/2021 at 7:45 PM, Graham T said:

I'm at about the same stage with mine - just attached the intake trunking to the fuselage.  I have to say that although the fit is generally excellent, I do find the detail in the cockpit - specifically the side walls & panels - a bit on the "soft" side & not really what I'd have expected from Tamiya.  Just me?


the cockpit falls into the “good not great” category for me. If I built another I’d probably go with etch or a Quinta set. But the rest of the build is so much fun I can forgive that. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Been concentrating on getting all the empennage painted ready for decals, for me this is the best this about the kit, being able to build and paint lots of sub assemblies in bite size chunks for assembly towards the end.

 

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I have some primer on the rear fuselage assembly and need to do some pre shading, however lack of paint has slowed me down somewhat....

 

Probably been mentioned before but if you are planning to mate the forward fuselage to the main "pancake" towards the end of the build I suggest masking the joining surfaces. The fit is snug enough thata few coats of paint plus clear could actually b@gger up the fit.

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