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Tamiya Grumman F-14D Tomcat
- Thread starter Greg Kimsey
- Start date
Greg Kimsey
Well-known member
Progress report! I have the decals on, and this definitely was my easiest decal session I have had. Maybe I am getting better at it! Leaving the plane in pieces DEFINITELY made it easier.
After the decals came time for the landing gear. The front was mostly done as far as wiring goes so it was pretty easily done. I gotta say, the parts on this kit fit beautifully. I dry fitted the strut and wheel in place to check fit and almost couldn't remove it for gluing.
I love the way the front worked out. The chrome on the strut may be my best yet. The Mr Surfacer 1500 black/Mr. Leveler 50/50 potion worked great as a base, followed by AK Gauzy for a super high gloss. Alclad2 Chrome sprayed at about 9psi in several thin coats came out pretty convincing. The final test will be when the final finish is applied.
The main landing gear was a different matter altogether. The pieces went together well, but I had to think out the wiring routes and how much to actually do. No way I could do it all. I am just not that clever. I drilled 24 holes in each landing gear for wires and fluid lines.
Next came figuring out where THOSE lines and wires attached in the wheel well. Again, there is a nightmare of lines and hoses and fittings going everywhere. I really had to guess at a lot of it even with the absolutely fantastic references my book shows. There are 62 photos from every concievable angle of just the main landing gear and bay alone. I knew again I couldn't have every line. I drew a layout to scale to figure out what to include.
The lead wire and cloth coated wire I used for the nose gear did not look good at all. I decided to use brass wire and music wire. The fittings are made from 1mm x 1mm styrene rod with holes drilled to put the metal rods through. I measured, bent, re-bent, started over, bent, cursed, and kept at it until I figured out the best way to represent the lines. I wanted them to look neat and straight like they do in the reference. That wasn't always easy. I am happy enough with what I included. It is a sparse representation of a spider web of lines.
I wanted to put more, but honestly, it became nearly impossible. Now to paint them and install the covers which are painted and ready
I hope the amount I included is sufficient!
After the decals came time for the landing gear. The front was mostly done as far as wiring goes so it was pretty easily done. I gotta say, the parts on this kit fit beautifully. I dry fitted the strut and wheel in place to check fit and almost couldn't remove it for gluing.
I love the way the front worked out. The chrome on the strut may be my best yet. The Mr Surfacer 1500 black/Mr. Leveler 50/50 potion worked great as a base, followed by AK Gauzy for a super high gloss. Alclad2 Chrome sprayed at about 9psi in several thin coats came out pretty convincing. The final test will be when the final finish is applied.
The main landing gear was a different matter altogether. The pieces went together well, but I had to think out the wiring routes and how much to actually do. No way I could do it all. I am just not that clever. I drilled 24 holes in each landing gear for wires and fluid lines.
Next came figuring out where THOSE lines and wires attached in the wheel well. Again, there is a nightmare of lines and hoses and fittings going everywhere. I really had to guess at a lot of it even with the absolutely fantastic references my book shows. There are 62 photos from every concievable angle of just the main landing gear and bay alone. I knew again I couldn't have every line. I drew a layout to scale to figure out what to include.
The lead wire and cloth coated wire I used for the nose gear did not look good at all. I decided to use brass wire and music wire. The fittings are made from 1mm x 1mm styrene rod with holes drilled to put the metal rods through. I measured, bent, re-bent, started over, bent, cursed, and kept at it until I figured out the best way to represent the lines. I wanted them to look neat and straight like they do in the reference. That wasn't always easy. I am happy enough with what I included. It is a sparse representation of a spider web of lines.
I wanted to put more, but honestly, it became nearly impossible. Now to paint them and install the covers which are painted and ready
I hope the amount I included is sufficient!
The mere suggestion works on most cases. Looks sweet! 
Greg Kimsey
Well-known member
Finally finished! I have been busy with commissions and life that I have not been on much. Sorry 'bout that! I finished my dual engine group build. It was a doozy! I over "faded" the decals. I didn't want them to look new so I misted grey over them. I misted too much. I do like the more subtle weathering. The book helped a lot with that. The book helped a lot with EVERYTHING!
OH crap, I just realized I am NOT finished. I removed the yellow stars from the tail because of mondo silvering and ordered new stars. They are not here yet. I may or may not reshoot after they are on; then again I probably will with my big boy camera and not my phone.
OH crap, I just realized I am NOT finished. I removed the yellow stars from the tail because of mondo silvering and ordered new stars. They are not here yet. I may or may not reshoot after they are on; then again I probably will with my big boy camera and not my phone.
centaur567
Well-known member
Wow!! Looks great> Gary S.
Really love Greg!
Greg Kimsey
Well-known member
So, for the panel lines I did something different because in the photos none of the panel lines are all one color or the same color or the same amount of color. I used Val wash dark gray, light gray, oiled earth, and brown, along with Val textures Petrol Spill. With a TINY brush I added color individually to nearly every panel line using different colors, sometimes diluting with water or the light gray for less color or sometimes mixing two other colors so it was mostly random. Where I thought fuel or oil might be present I used the Petrol and faintly streaked back with my finger in the air flow direction. It took a LONG time but was enjoyable and therapeutic. The only oil paint I used was white, fading the blue on the top surfaces only. For the Lantirn pod I painted the mounting plate a different color as if it had been replaced but not repainted yet. @moon puppy, noting the armament is very clean. I remembered you saying that is how it would be. The only real build trouble I had was self inflicted by not checking the underside when sliding the wings onto their supports so I didn’t notice that the bottom inner edge has slipped to the outside instead of into the slot. The cement was very set and I was afraid I was going to destroy the wing trying to get it apart. I did it slowly as surgically with a scalpel and only caused very minor damage which I fixed. During that operation the teeth for gear that let the wing swing back became misaligned. I forced it back to within one tooth of being aligned so the wings arvery slightly uneven and is only noticeable when the wings are swept back. I will take that over having scrapped the build over a blunder! I thoroughly enjoyed the build and want to do another less expensive model and use the book to open panels and show the innards of the plane!’
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
I think that this is your best build so far (that I have seen) Greg. VERY nice job!
Greg Kimsey
Well-known member
Honestly, I feel the same. Didn't want to jinx myself by saying it out loud LOL
