I'm very excited to
present my first ARC submission with my recent build of an F-14B.
While, like others have stated before on this subject, what more can be said
about this venerable and legendary jet. My F-14B originated from
Italeri's flawed F-14A Plus kit #182. I corrected numerous errors
with the kit to convert it to an accurate "B" to depict aircraft
AA-102 of VF-103 "Jolly Rogers", during Operation Enduring
Freedom, 2002. While I could have simply built the Hasegawa offering
however, I really enjoy taking older kits and improve them.
For this project, I practiced my resin casting skills to produce resin
replacements for the Boat Tail, F110-GE engines and shrouds, BOL
sidewinder launchers, Gun Gas vents, and Chin Pod. Other improvements
also came by way of resin for the taller UHF antennas, GPS sensors and
various items for "B &D" version Tomcats. No
decals were available for my jet in this scheme, so custom decals were made by
scanning a spare set, reworking them in Photoshop and printed on my color laser
printer. Painting and detailing were accomplished with Tamiya acrylics
throughout. For display, I like to model my modern military jet
collection in-flight. The finished model is displayed on my custom display
stand inspired by fellow modeler and FSM author, Pat Hawkey. I
enjoyed this project, and I hope you like.
The Italeri kit serves as the
basis for the conversion. Numerous errors need to addressed if it is to
depict an accurate F-14A Plus/B.
The most obvious areas of
conversion are the engines and shrouds. I sculpted a master, poured molds
and cast them in resin to fit the Italeri kit. Also shown is the
resin replacement for the boat tail. These are a few of many
replacements made to correct the kit.
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Greg
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