Scalemates F-14 Tomcat Group Build 2020 DONE

Donald Dickson II
Damn you all! Like I needed to get involved in a group build. *sigh.

This will be the first deployment, a NamCat. I have the correct boat tail for the early A and the decals. I already know they are not going to be a perfect fit, so please, nobody have a heart attack when they dont line up exactly correct.

Donald Dickson II
After hunting around, it seems that the chin pod in the pic should be the one on the planes that flew Frequent Wind. That is a still from the video here that would put that being used at the right time.

avgeekery.com/when-t..-it-was-a-happening/

I got a set of exhausts with one open, one closed as they do when powered down I believe.

So once the SU-35 and Submarine are done, this will get started.

Daniel
thats a cool pic, I d like to reserve a seat 🙂

Sergej I
Nice one! Following 🙂

Augie
Ooo watching.. interesting picture too, I didnt realise they got feet dry there.

Donald Dickson II
Welcome aboard Sergej, Augie. 🙂 Hopefully I will get going on this in a week or so. The SU-35 is moving along.

Treehugger
Nice looking color scheme. 🙂 I remember first seeing that one in a Tamiya catalogue many, many, many years ago. 😄 Eh, I think it was the same, 99% sure. 🙂

Jos Jansen
Good to have you here Donald, with a cool subject...great kit by the way, an excellent choice... 😉

Donald Dickson II
Welcome gentlemen! 🙂

Ever since I learned years ago that the 14 was technically a Nam plane, I have wanted to do that version. So here we go. LOL

Maciej Bellos
Following!

Clifford Keesler
When did an F-14 group build start? I must have been out to lunch. LOL. Watching. I have one in that color scheme.

Clifford Keesler
If memory serves VF-1 and VF-2 were the first 2 squadrons deployed, I have a set of VF-2 markings for an A model.

Donald Dickson II
Clifford, that is correct. VF-1 and 2 flew cover for Frequent Wind. Just be aware you would need one of the hard to find Hasegawa kits with the original boat tail, or the Tamiya with the replacement from Phase Hangar like I have.

Clifford Keesler
I have a Hasegawa D and a Revell D that both have the VF-2 markings. I guess this will give me an excuse to build the Hasegawa D. I have all kinds of goodies for it, and I have been wanting to build one with everything hanging out, and the Hasegawa one is the only one that has that option. But I have heard a lot of horror stories about building the Hasegawa F-14.

Augie
The HB one does too.. which might be what I go for on this.. tho not sure A or B..

Clifford Keesler
I forgot about the Hobby Boss one. The Hasegawa D is the only one in my stash that has that option. You can even squat the nose wheel strut. I guess I could also get the correct boat tail for one of my Revell or Academy A's and see if I can get it to fit. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
Clifford, to the best of my knowledge, the only kits that have the correct very first boat tail are the Hasegawa As. And then only like 3 specific kits. 07020 P20 Tomcat "Wolf Pack", 09917 VF-1 Wolfpack and 09797 VF-2 Bounty Hunters. Otherwise you gotta get after market. You all know I am not a huge rivet counter, but the boattail and gun vents are painfully obviously different. As is the chin pod. Problem is finding those kits.

A bunch of really good technical info in this thread...

arcforums.com/forums..ack-f-14a-questions/

Clifford Keesler
I looked at my Italaire A and the boat Tail is close, but it has no gun vents. My Academy A has the gun vents, but the boat tail is not quite right, close. Quick boost makes a early model A boat tail. Phase Hanger makes the correct gun vent. So unless I build the Hasegawa "D", I am looking at doing some major surgery. I cannot afford the Hasegawa "A's" or the Tamiya A. I will figure it out some way. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
Luckily I got a good deal on the Tamiya kit. I had been waiting for one to come along under 70.00 and finally ran across one. Phase hanger has the boat tail/gun vent set. Its what I got. You might be able to get it to work on an Italeri. Possibly. LOL

Clifford Keesler
I'm going to try. LOL. Or I will just do the 1976 or later VF-2. I just like the markings. I already have 2 VF-1 ones, The high viz and a Low viz version. At least if I do the Italeri or Academy I won't spend half of the build re-scribing panel lines. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
Well if you do the later A you will be good. Might be the way to go.

Clifford Keesler
Yea, I think that is what I am going to do. Maybe I will try and do more than one.

Donald Dickson II
OK, so I just got the AMK F-14D. I am rather keen on doing the Vandy 1 scheme as the Cats look awesome all black. I wonder if I can manage a side by side on this one. Its kind of balanced. The earliest 14 to one of the latest. Hmmm...

Donald Dickson II
And if Slavo pokes his head in...

THIS one I am going for dead on balls accurate.😉

Clifford Keesler
Go for it. I had planned on doing 2 at once, but this Acadmey kit is kicking my a** literally. I have spent 2 days painting nothing but white. I have gone thru 1 bottle of Tamiya white, and will start on bottle 2 tomorrow and I am still not done with white.

Donald Dickson II
Yeah, thats the part I dread. I HATE spraying white.

Sergej I
Clifford and Donald, for what is worth, I found new god when I started using white primer under white. No more third or fifteenth layer of white to cover nasty sharp edges.

Clifford Keesler
I have several bottles of white primer. But never thought of using it. I have gotten "locked in" on black primer. I finally got some grey on it today.

Donald Dickson II
OK, so I will be doing both. Gonna start on them here soon. I have an F-16 group build I am doing as well. LOL

Donald Dickson II
Roland, I did the Hasegawa 1/72 Cat in markings from Ace Combat and I LOVE how it looked in all black. The fact that there were ACTUAL Cats in black...hell yeah I am doing it! LOL

F-14 Razgriz Ace Combat | Project by smokeriderdon (1:72)

Clifford Keesler
Cool. I will be watching. Did VX-4 do the "D" in black or just the A. I also have always a black cat. HMMM where can I find some VX-4 markings. I have a set for a Navy TV-2. I also saw a picture of an all black F-18 with Top Gun markings.

Donald Dickson II
They did the D as it is an option in the AMK kit. Everything I have found says they had both A and D. The one everyone knows is the Black Bunny plane. This one is a little different.

Donald Dickson II
Oh, and its listed as VX-9

Donald Dickson II
Roland, that Salty Dogs F-18 is a good one to do as well.

Clifford Keesler
I have the Salty Dog F-18, and a VF-2 F-18. @Roland, I will check it out thanks.

Donald Dickson II
Clifford, I did that one a bit ago... Marine Hornet | Album by smokeriderdon (1:48)

Donald Dickson II
And I actually got a bit of a start on these two. I got all the trees un bagged and sorted out. 😄

Donald Dickson II
So, best I can find out, the Frequent Wind Cats were armed with only AIM 9 and 7's. Anyone run across anything contrary to that?

Augie
This might help Don

"Dan "Turk" Pentecost about the subject, one of the pilots that flew CAP for Operation Frequent Wind and he had some interesting things to say.

According to him the normal payloads that were carried were 2 (AIM-9 D/G/H) sidewinders and 2 (AIM-7E Sparrows...however apparently occasionally they did actually carry the AIM-54A despite it not being fully cleared for standard USN service...but they were issued to the boats in 1974 so it could have happened.

According to him if/when Phoenixes were taken, 2 AIM-54's, 2 Sparrows and 2 Winders wouldn't be unrealistic. Main Phoenix rails were definitely kept on even without having the Phoenix packed during later ops. So just two winders and sparrows with blank Phoenix rails would be an option as well.
Later on they more often carried just four winders on the side pylons."

Donald Dickson II
Yep, thats one of things I had read. That statement doesnt seem overly confident that the 54's were on the planes for that operation. I am leaning towards the 2,2 and blank rails. This one, unlike the SU-35, I am definitely trying for accuracy. LOL

Augie
Yep, think your right.. perhaps 2x 9's and 4x7's..

Did a zoom job on that pic and I think they either had the aim-54 pallets on, or semi-recessed 7's on the belly on that jet..not that clear, but looks more like the semi-recessed 7's.

Slavo Hazucha
Popping IN!😉 👍

Can´t miss this... And I will keep a vigilant eye on every rivet & detail! Which is not worth much, since I really only know stuff about Flankers & MiG´s... So if its colorful enough, it´s probably right! 😄

Also very much looking forward for the AMK "Undertaker" Tomcat!

Clifford Keesler
I can't make out any Phoenix pallets in photo one.

Augie
I had to zoom it in and inverse colours.. still wasnt that clear so not 100% Sure.. however going on the album cover picture, there is a simular outline on that first picture under and just aft of the side insignia..

If you compare the 2, from insignia to rear ejection seat warning.. and look at the outline on the underside.. they are awfully simular.

Donald Dickson II
In the second pic, they are clearly on there. Pic 4 that I just posted they are on. Dont know if that one is frequent wind for sure or not, but definitely the right time frame. I am gonna go with blank rails and 2 and 2.

Donald Dickson II
Oh hey, I can get something past Slavo! LOL😉

Augie
Hehe 🙂 good call.

Clifford Keesler
Yea agree, good call.

Donald Dickson II
OK so I'm finally actually starting on these two. Starting with the cockpit on the Tamiya kit.

Greg Baker
Ooo... watching!

Clifford Keesler
Me too, pit looks good so far.

Slavo Hazucha
More Cats to watch - good! With the two best available kits on the market, I sincerely wish you a clean & trouble-free passage on this one! 😄

Donald Dickson II
Slavo, that is what I am hoping for. LOL I can honestly say that if I have any problems they will be of my own doing.

So while paint was drying, I went at the resin parts. The gun door fit near perfectly. You can see the difference between the 7 vent and the later version. It really is obvious. I then hacked the boat tail of according to the resin instructions. They were spot on, though i cut off too closely to the engine bulge. Should be an easy fix. And then more PE. Almost done with the pit. I am thinking it will go quicker painting the AMK pit. LOL

Sergej I
Donald, in reference to photos 7 and 8, the gap is much less. Let me try to upload references from Daco, but I would say putty it then scribe. The nozzle area has a see-through gap though.

Sergej I
copy/paste address to browser, should be shared...
1drv.ms/u/s!AqsdTdLwoE_0-A_OtRAXLer-DGL6?e=S753rL
1drv.ms/u/s!AqsdTdLwoE_0-A7eqHNMAGCFxLeo?e=Kpq2kT

Urban Gardini
Following with keen interest! I plan to build a Namcat in the future but i 1:72. Just need to buy the GWH kit first and finish some other projects as well.

Treehugger
Re. photo 8: I think I recognize the tail shape as being an early F-14A one. I have been wondering if maybe I could recreate the peculiar rear end like this myself on my build. Having said that I am no expert on the F-14.

Donald Dickson II
Sergei, yep, the underside gap is OK. That is on the plane. Topside is the one I am pretty sure I cut wrong.

Treehugger, yes, that is the early boat tail on the first planes produced. Hasegawa boxed a few kits with it. The only way to do it for the Tamiya kit is to get the Phase Hangar resin kit. That also comes with the early gun panel I showed.

Urban all that is in 1/48. I have NO clue how you would do it in 1/72.

Urban Gardini
I'll give it a try at least!

Urban Gardini
My 1:48 cats is ear marked for other markings...

Clifford Keesler
Looking good Donald.

Donald Dickson II
OK, except for the side walls being attached and one other piece, pit is done. They leave the seats until later. Which I will follow. AMK next.

Donald Dickson II
Progress on the AMK pit

Clifford Keesler
Looking good sir.

Michael Phillips
Off to a great start Donald! That gun vent sure does fit well. Looks like the Phase Hanger set might be worth taking a look into.

Donald Dickson II
Thank you sirs. 🙂

Michael, its pretty much perfect. I trimmed it too far on one spot, but that was my doing. DEFINITELY worth getting if you want to do the Tamiya in an early configuration.

Clifford Keesler
Wish they would make one for more than just the Tamiya. You know not all of us can afford the Tamiya kit. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
LOL Well, I am sure you could get them to work. That or search forever to find the Hasegawa early version kit.

Clifford Keesler
I am going to order the phase hanger resin TCS/ECS chin pods for my Revell Top Gun F-14's. It shows them on the sprue map and instructions, but they aren't in the kit. They are in the Revell AG version of the kit but not the U.S. version, and the decals are different also. The Revell AG ones are printed in Italy. I don't know who does the U.S. version, but they suck!!!!.

Donald Dickson II
I got the pod shown in pic 2. I briefly went through my Top Gun kit, but didnt notice the lack of that. I will have to look again.

Clifford Keesler
Mine had the very early one, but not the later one.

Donald Dickson II
Got the pits and front wheel wells done and inserted into the noses. The tamiya is a standard split nose. BUT the pit/wheel well is wonderfully positively located with easily aligned pins. The opposing side fits perfectly and the pit is lined up and sits just right. ALL kits should have this area designed like this.

AMK took a different approach. The nose is slide molded as one piece. No seam to possibly worry about. Very nice idea. The pit /wheel well assembly slides in on a molded in rail on the inside of the nose. It is a precise and TIGHT fit. There is no dry fitting here. You better have it right or you will get jammed up. I was very hesitant about jamming it all the way in. (Yes, I realize the opportunities for commentary here). It took a decent amount of force to seat it correctly.

The fact of no seam to deal with gives an ever so slight edge to the AMK. But, if i get primer on, and the seam isn't obvious on the Tamiya, it will win out.

Clifford Keesler
Both looking good.

Donald Dickson II
Got the body together on the Tamiya kit. Test fitted the nose into it. OH. MY. GOD. I may have had an orgasm it fit so well. I mean as near to perfect as I have seen. The body halves, magical. Test fit the intake housings. I almost wept when I had to take them off.

The AMK. Some of the parts just the same. The body halves test fit perfectly. As did the intake housings. The intake trunks, not so much. The engine halves, not good at all. If I wasnt building this one next to perfection, I dont know that I would have any real criticisms.

Clifford Keesler
I can only dream. Sigh. LOL.

Slavo Hazucha
Starting with good base models really makes things simpler, doesn´t it..? But then again you have to make them exceptionally well - what looks "full WOW!" on an old Italeri kit is just barely "meh" on a Tamiya or AMK Tomcat... 😄

Clifford Keesler
Hasegawa F-14's suck rocks. LOL. I was looking on E-bay today, You can literaly buy 2 AMK F-14's for what one Hasegawa is going for. The cheapest one I found was 60.00 US plus 17.00 shipping, and it was "used".

Donald Dickson II
Slavo, yes, that is a worry. LOL Having my work match the kit.

Clifford, I hope not. I am planning on doing that early version boxing I snagged as one from VF2 on the same cruise as this.

Clifford Keesler
It's the worst F-14 kit I have ever built, it's even worse than the damn achient Revell kit. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
Clifford, I honestly dont remember the Revell Cat being too all fired bad. But then, its been 30 years since I built it. LOL

Well, I am rapidly beginning to not like the AMK a whole lot. Yes, the details are great. BUT, it is Jekyll and Hyde. Some parts fit great, others not so much. The entire intake ramps assembly is dodgy. Not nearly as positive or good a fit as one would hope. And overly complicated compared to the Tamiya. There are a lot more steps to get to the same point as the Tamiya, WITH LESS FLEXIBILITY.

The wings are fixed on the AMK. One of three positions and thats it. To do this they had to make 3 different sets of spars, and several other parts in multiples. A lot of wasted plastic when a set up for the wings to move is NOT difficult and requires LESS effort. I am doing swept back for space reasons. Which is what probably a good 80% of folks are going to do.

The fron fuselage fit. This is NOT me. The front fuselage is ONE piece for the AMK. I could NOT possibly have fucked it up. But if you have a look at the pics, you will see the issue. As much as I love Revell kits, I actually wouldnt be surprised at this from an older one. But from the kit that is supposed to stand toe to toe with the Tamiya? Same series of pics with the Tamiya kit so you can see the difference. Gonna have to spread the fuselage with sprue or the like it seems. Should NOT have to worry about this with this kit.

Slavo Hazucha
Donald I can totally see what you mean! I have seen the Tomcat and am building the MiG & the AMK kits got so much hype from all directions that one expects divine wonders on every step... The hype sort of continues when you open the box, neat packaging, sub-boxes & the endless pile of sprues (well, if your sprues are smaller due to other boxes in the main box... you kinda need more & the stack is higher...) confirm that it must be something really special-special...

My experience so far:
+ Molding technique really great, part connections to sprue perfectly thought out
+ Fit (on the MiG) excellent
+ Attention to detail (LG, intakes...)
+ (MiG) - 2 sets of clear parts (neutral & toned)
+ decals definitely above average

- Panel lines like 4-lane highways where a country road would be more proper...
- Parts separation questionable, sometimes it feels more like a technical show-off rather than a logical separation...

it´s just a kit in the end... 😄

Daniel
Wow, that nose-fuselage gap looks gigantic, wonder why it was not half as big on mine...but I think I used some sprue spreaders as well and ended up with a seam that was fixable with acrylic putty. So i hope you can solve that problem too that way 🙂
Tamiya is surely superior with their shake+bake kit (which they let you pay for) and AMK is no where near to take the tomcat throne - but the AMK wins if you want your cat dirtied up. In that case the fixed wings are no factor as well. (IMO wings should only move on a model if the wing seals do it as well...)
Just watch out: there are barely visible mold lines everywhere, some of which I noticed too late - during weathering
@ highway panel lines: they definitely improved there and seem to have lost some fit accuracy at the same time on this model😉

And very good progress donald, looking forward to more!

Clifford Keesler
Sounds like you are having some of the same problems I am having with the Hasegawa one. I like building the Revell F-14's even though I have to do so much extra work on them to make them look nice. I guess it is just being familar with them. This is my first Hasegawa Tomcat. I also like the Italire and Academy Cats.

Donald Dickson II
Slavo, Oh, I love the moldings as far as one piece weapons and the like. And the single piece fuselage would have been nice IF it fit well. Its a good kit, but simply NOT as good as one is led to believe.

Daniel, I am sure with a little sanding and fiddling, I can get the gaps mostly gone. Its the whole the fuselage is narrower than the body by a hugely noticeable amount that is really irking me. I've never done the widening something with tubes/sprue thing. So this will be something new for me. And I really should NOT be having to do this with this kit. Honestly, I will pay the extra for the Tamiya kit from here on out if I get any more. I have like 4 other kits already. LOL
Clifford, when I get around to doing Mavericks plane, I will find out if my memory is glossing things over. LOL

Clifford Keesler
That one requires quite a bit of work, the molds have gotten old and the fit is kind of iffy. I had a bit of trouble with the gun panel on my son's but finally got it worked out. I let him take the darn thing home without taking any pictures of it. LOL. I added a PE cockpit set{Hasegawa} and resin seats. It turned out nice.

Donald Dickson II
#*#_)_)**(_^*^$&%#$@@%$!^&*&😢_)+_ I have managed to lose part D18. You may ask, Don, what is part D18? You see the gaping hole I have circled in red? The part that goes there. #^(__)^&&*%%$@#@%$!~ Now I have to call Tamiya and order the whole damned tree. And I do not remember having taken it off of the sprue.

Clifford Keesler
OH crap man. Not the glare shield. That blows tremendous chunks. I thought I had a problem because I somehow lost both steps to the boarding ladder on my Hasegawa F-14. I gave in, I ordered the AMK "D". The decal sheets alone sold me on it.

Donald Dickson II
Yeah, its got some great choices. May have to get another Revell and use the others on that. And like I said, its not as fantastic as the Tamiya kit, but it is still a great kit.

Clifford Keesler
I would love the Tamiya one, but at 100.00+ it is out of my range. The AMK only cost me 49.00.

Tim Heimer
Nice work happening on this group build!

Sergej I
Donald, I feel you. Lost the windshield on my F/A-18E, but after a polite email, Revell sent me just this part from Germany at no cost. It was then when I changed my opinion about Revell for life. Hop you will have a similar happy-ending story to tell, fingers crossed and politeness is the way.

Donald Dickson II
Serg, the Tamiya site has the phone number to call. Per the instruction manual and the site, they will sell you the replacement TREE. So I think thats what I am going o have to do. Have to wait until Monday though. And yes, Revell has ALWAYS been great about that. I have gotten a canopy for the F-86 and an engine assembly for the C-54. Neither was their fault, but they sent the parts with no charge at all.

Thanks Tim!

Clifford, shop around. I got mine for 80.00 shipped. Do you belong to the FB page, Scale Model Graveyard?

Clifford Keesler
No, never even heard of it. Agree with you all though Revell has always had excellent customer service. They have sent me new decal sheets at no charge when I have messed them up.

Donald Dickson II
So I forged ahead with the AMK since its easier to paint and I had to resolve that gap issue. So after using some sprue to spread the fuselage as much as I could and it still fit, there was still a bad gap issue. I ended up just filling it in with sprue glue. It worked pretty well. Its not painfully obvious.

I used a rattle can of Testors gloss black. As VX-9 was a test squadron and land based and all that, the planes really were not weathered. Not so far as I can tell. So i wont be doing anything except to the landing gears and wells. No matter what, those get dirty on any plane. I put the wings and stuff on just to see how it looks. I am liking it. Detail painting next, but I will catch the Tamiya up as much as I can without that part. Waiting to hear back from Tamiya.

Donald Dickson II
I have been working on these, believe it or not. Just little things here and there. But I did get the exhausts done for the D.

Clifford Keesler
They look good.

Donald Dickson II
Thank you Clifford. 🙂

Got the detail.painting, wing and fins leading edges done. Gun port as well. Almost ready for decals. On the AMK.

Bottom of the Tamiya painted white. Wheels done.

Donald Dickson II
Yep, the AMK is a tail sitter. Hence not putting the nose cone on until now. A few 00 buck pellets in the nose and good to go. Not sure how I will resolve it if the Tamiya is the same.

Tim Heimer
I'll tell you Don....If it ain't one thing it's another!

Donald Dickson II
Oh, I was expecting that Tim. I just didn't think about it when I sealed up the fuselage on the Tamiya.

I decided I would just gonna wrap up the AMK and get it out of the way and then finish up the Tamiya. Decaling has begun

Maciej Bellos
I believe that if the Tamiya was a tailsitter, Tamiya would have already provided a weight for the nose cone. They did it for the MiG-15 a while ago. So I think you are safe. Good looking black cat!

Donald Dickson II
Thank you gentlemen. 🙂 Maciej, I hope so!

Clifford Keesler
Both are looking good Donald. I have only had one Tomcat that was a tail sitter, that was a Revell "D" that I built with the wings swept fully aft, learned then to add nose weight no matter what. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
OK, last pics of the AMK until I am done. Just detail stuff left. Like pylons and seats and probes. Well, I guess the seats are a bit more than a detail. But hey. LOL Decals completed. Not sure how to do the targeting laser thingies that are on these instead of real missiles.

Clifford Keesler
You can find pictures of them online. I use a side winder body, just cut the fins off and sand it where the fins were, then I use stretched sprue to make the 4 antenna that mount where the forward fins usually are and then one on the nose of the missile body. Hope that helps.

Donald Dickson II
That absolutely does help! Thank you!

Daniel
Hey Don, nice work on black beauty! If you can get your hands on their ordnance set you also have two SAIP pods in there (can recommend that set for all modern jet aficionados)
scalemates.com/kits/..nance-set-1--1146110

Donald Dickson II
Thank you Daniel! For the compliment AND the heads up. 🙂

Donald Dickson II
Well, the AMK is done. But I am having a God awful time trying to get decent pics. The camera in my phone just will not focus on it well enough.

Maciej Bellos
It's stealth, that's why!!!

Clifford Keesler
Looks great Donald. Well done.

Donald Dickson II
Thank you Clifford! 🙂 And that would explain it Maciej! LOL

Here is the album with the completed pics. F-14 Group Build F-14D Vandy Complete | Album by smokeriderdon (1:48)

Donald Dickson II
Of course, I manage to fudge up the Tamiya. I was on the phone with the GF, tired and doing the top side paint job. I didnt realize until I got completely done that I had used Light Ghost Gray. Which would be great if this were a Bug. *sigh* So I go back and spray Light GULL gray over it. Guess what? That does NOT cover ghost gray well AT ALL. So I ended up stripping all that paint off. I sprayed white primer and sanded it a bit to even everything out and sprayed the Light GULL gray. So now to go and mask and spray more gloss white.

Clifford Keesler
That sucks man.

Donald Dickson II
Self inflicted trauma. LOL

Sergej I
It's her fault, a gift from a model shop would buy her redemption 🙂

Donald Dickson II
LOL She laughed when I told her that Sergej.😉

Getting somewhere now...

Donald Dickson II
I have managed to recover from my screw up and almost ready for decals.

Clifford Keesler
Glad you got it fixed.

Tim Heimer
Yea!

Donald Dickson II
@^#&&$>"*÷**#**$&&$*# What the farging hell do I do with this? Decals are gorgeous BUT THEY ARE NOT OPAQUE!!!

Sergej I
Looking at the photo of the real plane Donald, also the original red paint had a visible transition between gray and white. I do not see any issue there.

Augie
Don, Comparing it to the pictures I think your Good, looks spot on to be honest 🤔

James C
Yup looks ok to me as well Donald. I just checked the decals on my Italeri build, and the tail pin stripes where they transition over the grey aren't opaque either. Looking good mate👍

Donald Dickson II
Well, I got another set that look closer to my eye. store.spruebrothers...81-4230.htm?CartID=1

The pic doesnt show truly how much of the white is showing through. It is not as slight as it is on the real thing. Its a lot more pronounced. And the red is just not deep enough. It would drive me nuts, I know it. LOL

Sergej I
Agreed, any excuse to do shopping is valid! 👍 😄
But what I noticed more than red intensity and transparency is that wolf's head on original decals is just too small...

Donald Dickson II
Ooooo, now that you say that, it IS. Well shit! Even more of an excuse, I mean valid reason, for buying something. 😄

Clifford Keesler
Who needs an excuse? LOL.

Donald Dickson II
So I paid for expedited shipping and got the new decals today. SO MUCH BETTER! You can see the difference clearly when they are side by side. The DXM set is on the right. Much better color and the right size. Cant believe I didnt notice that part right away.

So the drivers side front end done. 😄

Donald Dickson II
Oh oh oh oh! This set also has the decals for the pilots helmets! So this one gets figures. 🙂 If I dont make a bloody mess of them.

Sergej I
Alright! This looks like the real deal! 👍

Augie
Looks good don!

Clifford Keesler
Looking good Don.

Tim Heimer
There you go! a lot better!

Choppa Nutta
Looking sweet Don !! 🙂
I'm a big fan of this colour scheme too ! 🙂

Donald Dickson II
Thank you all. I am MUCH happier with these

Gerald
👍

Donald Dickson II
OK, this one is NOT going to get done before build deadline. At least I got one done! LOL

Sergej I
What do you mean Donald? Don't we have the 10% tolerance on deadline? I'm also lagging with my Gustav 🙂

Donald Dickson II
Plane is as decaled as its gonna get. Not interested in putting on a gazillion no step stencils. LOL The ones on the wings are good enough for me.

The Aim 7s are done. Each one has 14 decals. 28 decals for two freaking missiles with the AIM 9s to go. Thats more decals on those two than the entire 1/32 IL-2 had. But they do look good. 😄

Jos Jansen
But those Aim 7s look very sharp...great progress so far Donald. I believe we both are the last modelers who are busy with our Cats before the GB deadline 31-12😄!!

Donald Dickson II
Jos, I feel I am in great company. 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Love the fins in their upgraded form, really great looking colors & finish 👍

Also the Sparrows look pretty... No wonder such nice missiles so often opted for self-preservation and decided to miss their targets... 😄

Great job, I hope you are really enjoying working on a model where parts actually (mostly) fit and you can play with colors & details instead of working out how much filler it will take to plug some epic gaps & holes...😉

Donald Dickson II
Welcome back Slavo. I hope you are feeling well and all that jazz. 🙂

Yeah, I got done with them and I was like, they look to nice to shoot at someone. LOL

And yes, it has been great not having to worry about fit issues. But then that takes away something for me to bitch about damn it.😉 😄

Donald Dickson II
OK, last update before the finale! A bit late, but hey, I was doing two damn it. LOL

The pilot and RIO arent the best. I REALLY need to get better detail brushes. But they will do. They also would not fit without...adjustments. And the helmet decals are nice, but getting them to conform wasnt so easy.

Sergej I
Beautiful 👍. Also laughing at the para-team comment 😄

Donald Dickson II
Guess who is done??? LOL Album tomorrow. Its late and I am tired. But one pic for ya. 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Very nice Donald, well done.

Urban Gardini
Marvellous result mate!

Donald Dickson II
Thank you sirs. Final pics here...

F-14 Group build final pics | Album by smokeriderdon (1:48)

Choppa Nutta
Great colour scheme on a very cool plane !!
and a nice result too Don, love it ! 🙂

Greg Baker
Wow. This one came out VERY nicely, Don. Are you sure you built it?😉

Donald Dickson II
Thanks guys. 🙂

😛 Greg LOL

Tim Heimer
No surprise here! LOL