F-14A Tomcat diorama; VF-41 Black Aces; Finemolds 1:72

[papa 695]

Cracking work Sebastijan.

[InFlames]

Thanks guys! Hopefully I'll be able to show some decalling love soon

[InFlames]

I've hit the builder's block with this build when it came to decals. The only company that did the decals for the scheme I'm building, were Airfix. They have included decals for one of the VF-41 line birds from the JFK's 1997 Med cruise as well as CO's bird of VF-14 Tophatters with really nice tailart. The latter however has two serious problems - one side of the decal sheet is pretty badly off register and Airfix managed to screw the pooch with Modex numbers - the real bird carried 214 while Airfix printed the 201.

Anyhow back to VF-41 option. While the decals are surprisingly thin and the tail art decals fit perfectly, almost all other decals are like 15% too big. The "NO STEP" decals, compared to the Microscale sheet I used in the end, looked like 1:48 compared to 1:72. So yeah, in the end, some scheme specific decals were used from Airfix, others were mostly Microscale and some from a Fujimi kit (which had quite bad adhesion).



Anyhow all the troubles behind, here she is, ready for the next level of weathering.

[boatman]

I've hit the builder's block with this build when it came to decals. The only company that did the decals for the scheme I'm building, were Airfix. They have included decals for one of the VF-41 line birds from the JFK's 1997 Med cruise as well as CO's bird of VF-14 Tophatters with really nice tailart. The latter however has two serious problems - one side of the decal sheet is pretty badly off register and Airfix managed to screw the pooch with Modex numbers - the real bird carried 214 while Airfix printed the 201.

Anyhow back to VF-41 option. While the decals are surprisingly thin and the tail art decals fit perfectly, almost all other decals are like 15% too big. The "NO STEP" decals, compared to the Microscale sheet I used in the end, looked like 1:48 compared to 1:72. So yeah, in the end, some scheme specific decals were used from Airfix, others were mostly Microscale and some from a Fujimi kit (which had quite bad adhesion).



Anyhow all the troubles behind, here she is, ready for the next level of weathering.

HI Seb it turning out very nice an it will help me when I start on my big 1/32 tomcat to see how you do wheathering i'll be watching good work this
chris

[InFlames]

Landing gear was improved by the use of Albion Alloys brass tubing and Plusmodel lead wire


Landing gear painted up and weathered.


Tomcat after light washes






Final look after specific panels were further weathered and certain panel lines over painted.

[boatman]

Hello Seb well I love your wheathering an all the hatch covers off that's what I hope to do on my big super tomcat when its rotten wheather an I cant work on my ship build as im starting that soon just sources mateials for now. but I don't think i'll be able to do wheathering as good as you have done as ive never tried it yet got some panel line wash but things always come up to stop me from building but its bills mostly as they all due in the nxt couple of months when they out of way then I can start but back to your build its great
lookin forward to more an are you gonna fit a hinge on the nose so the radar can be seen ?
chris

[Steven000]

Very nice build Seb, allready learned a lot here :thumb2:
Cheers
Steven

[papa 695]

She is looking great Sebastijan