Tamiya F-14A 1/48

[nick]

Just finished building this puppy. I know it's been said before, but what an amazing kit. You only realise how good it is when you start putting it together. Without doubt the best engineered and fitting kit I have ever built.

I've got the new Phantom in the stack for the next build which might be even better!

 

 

Yes it is the 1/48th version!

 

Thanks for looking

 

Nick

 

[Robert]

That is very nice indeed.

 

Regards

Robert

[Arthur_Dent]

Beautiful build, I could have sworn I was looking at pictures of the real thing. 

[jenko]

Brilliant. 

 

And yes you will enjoy the Phantom. Trust me.

 

Dick

[coneheadff]

Great looking Cat!!

[Vultures1]

Beautiful work, well done!

[Jabo31]

Very nice model, makes you want more. It's about time I started mine too.

[Farmerboy]

Excellent model, agree with what you said about the build , it is an absolute pleasure to build, good job!

[billn53]

Beautiful! Is that OOB? Or did you add aftermarket?

[SAT69]

1 hour ago, billn53 said:

Beautiful! Is that OOB? Or did you add aftermarket?

I'm inclined to ask the same question. The cockpit looks like it includes Quinta Studio cockpit 3D decals.

[nick]

25 minutes ago, SAT69 said:

I'm inclined to ask the same question. The cockpit looks like it includes Quinta Studio cockpit 3D decals.

As you say Quinta cockpit, otherwise OOB unless you count the 1200 wet&dry steps/walkways. 
 

Nick

[Bertie McBoatface]

It's a lovely kit, isn't it? (The F-4B IS better. You will love it.)

 

Well built example there.

[Parabat]

Brilliant work, very nicely finished and photographed.

[nick]

Thanks for all the great feedback everyone!

 

Nick

[Sky Keg]

The results exceed your endorsement of the kit.  This is the way the hobby should be.  I like this one a lot.  

 

Mike

[David H]

Nice looking Tomcat, Nick! It is a brilliant kit and if there ever was a licence to print money..... this might just be it.

 

Having built 3 of em myself and working on the F-4B right now, i can tell you the Phantom is a great kit but....it's different. It's not a bad building experience but to me it feels more involved and drawn out.

 

My airframe is together, painting is not far off, but i'm in the middle of building up and evaluating different ejection seats for it.

 

-d-

[nick]

1 hour ago, David H said:

 

Having built 3 of em myself and working on the F-4B right now…

Hmm 3 you say, that’s more than 1 isn’t it? Why didn’t I think of that? I like the launch version with the shooter especially now Mig had released a carrier deck. 
 

I might have a dabble with the electronics/lighting to make the engines go while I’m at it after my experience playing with my falcon. 
 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/688933929?h=d136dcaff4

 

Nick

[David H]

Yeah, if you dig around here in RFI you'll find em.

I couldn't sleep, so i did some drybrushing on my Hypersonic H5 seat. Once the face curtain rings go on it'll be done.

 

-d-

[IanC]

Very nice. Reminds me that I need to watch The Final Countdown again. 😄

[Andy350]

You must be happy with that, I would love to be a level where I can produce something like this.  It's that balance of knowing how far to go with weathering which seems to be the key.

[Graham T]

Handsome!!!

[Gatesy64]

What a cracker. Must get one!

[reggie78usmc]

amazing work! love this kit!

[F-32]

That's lovely work

[nick]

A few things, I went to see Top Gun Maverick on Launch day. 
Wow.

Complete nonsense of course, but so many amazing, real (not CGI) flight sequences, it made me like Super Hornets for the first time.
it seems the entire ‘class’ went through enough fast jet training to not throw up and continue to act during all the actual, real-life high-G manoeuvres you see in the film, all shot by shoe-horning iMax rigs into 2 seater FA-18Es apparently that’s the reason they went for these over the much newer and shinier F-35s they originally wanted - because? There are no 2-seat F-35s. 
And of course Mr Cruise’s own real-life Mustang putting in an appearance which is stunning. I always assumed P-51Ds were Packard engined, his is Rolls-Royce? I guess I was wrong then?

Anyway, I now have a Meng 1/48 FA-18E sat here as a result, and a bunch of stuff from Hannants to make it more betterer arriving  tomorrow.

So in order to make room for that I started my Tamiya F4.
 

Yes, you were all right, it is even better than the F-14 in a ridiculously over complicated, over engineered, precision-fitting way that I absolutely love.

 

A WIP will be along shortly for both things, a glorious distraction waiting for my printer to unstick from locked-down China. 

when life gives you lemons etc.

 

stay tuned.

 

Nick