After making my late F/A-18C, I
challenge myself with a new project.
It was to build a cool-detailed F-14D Tomcat with Revell's F-14D and
Academy's F-14A kits.
Although I completely agree that Hasegawa's 1:48th Tomcat is a good kit, I
also love and appreciate the richness of Revell's, which makes itself look
real, and the easiness of Academy's, which saves time in assembling. |
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In order to represent
F-14D, we have to add or revise some updated parts.
For example, Revell F-14D have contained these parts like new ejection
seats and new IR/TV scanner.
But, we have to modify cockpit console panels in kit for making type D,
because this kit's remains type A.
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the console panels of type D's is more digitalized. I attached some
screen panels and rearranged some buttons. Revell's plastic sprue is
so flexible and tender that we can treat and cut easily.
When we complete to update consoles,
painting with care is needed in the next. All green screens, which are
made with transparent thin plastic paper, are backed with white papers and then,
are painted with clear-green enamel paints.
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A front fuselage is from Revell's
and the others are from Academy's.
Although it has generally fine details, Academy's front fuselage is so fat and
thick as not to look real. For this combining, each part has to be cut,
and be trimmed in every steps.
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I
make up my mind to adopt an Academy's as a below fuselage. But,
some parts of Revell's is still worth using - new vulcan gas exhaust.
Academy's gas exhaust represents that of type A's only.
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This
usage-unknown grill on the left of the head, is so coarse that I can't
help finding another way. Ironically, I found a well-detailed grill
part in the box of Academy's F-14A - gas exhaust grill mentioned just
above!! We have only to cut, trim and paste putty. A simple work,
but you can get an awesome result. |
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A
shot after finishing a long and painful sandpapering.
To check surface, I sprayed a white paint.
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As
you know, it goes without saying that Revell's F-14D has raised panel
lines.
So I rescribed all panel lines of the head this time, too.
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And I holed in the position of all lamps
and replace them with transparent plastics - navigation lamps on the wing
glove, main and vertical wingtips, and such.
Especially, I detailed up the vertical
stabilizers with plastic plates referring to some guide books. But,
it is not until finishing painting completly that I am aware of my silly
faults. These patterns can be just seen on the earlier
model(block) of F-14s.
These days, All F-14s have a different type of stabilizers.
Hasegawa's have completely represented these subtle differences in
accordance with block improvements.
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While Academy's arresting hook straw is pretty
good-detailed, It is hard to say that hook is molded accurately. So,
I cut and grinded hook looks "U" as real.
New F110-GE-400 engine nozzle is adopted
since F-14B(A+) and is included in Revell's F-14D kits also.
It fits Academy's old engine room, but erasing some lines on that is
required for adopting new nozzles. |
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Weapon pylons are from Academy's. But It
does not contain ones for AIM-54(top item in picture).
So, I decided to duplicate Hasegawa's(3rd down in picture) with resin
and combine and trim with Academy's (2nd down in pic). In fact, to
duplicate this is helped by my brother, who majors in sculptures.
All AIM-54s are ones included in
Academy's(bottom of pic). It details very well and is set 6 pieces. |
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This Black Tomcat is deployed in
VX-9 Vampires.
I used Gunze Mr. Color #92(Semi-Gloss black), but I think it does not matter on
brand if your paint is just black. =) For finally coating, I sprayed
Testors Glosscoat.
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navigation lamps are replaced with transparent plastic parts. |
As VX-9 is a
squadron testing new weapons and firearm control system for US Navy, I
paint all weapons in blue - it means that they are dummies. |
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Many decals depicting VX-9 Vampire's
Black Tomcat is released. What I select is Super scale #48-656. This
one seems to fit for Hasegawa's, so I had to adjust a little in some parts for
Academy's kit.
HyeonJung
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Six AIM-54s are
from Academy's mentioned above.
Two AIM-9s are from Revell's. |
New IR/TV scanner is also
detailed-up. Right lens is added with transparent plastic and painted in
clear-blue.
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