Grumman F-14A Tomcat

1/72 Academy

 

Accessories:

Kit built straight out of the box with Twobobs VF-32 decals.

Photos:

   

   

Notes:

    I rarely build in 1/72, and know nothing about F-14's, but this kit was bought by a friend who wanted it as a display model because she's a fan of the "JAG" TV show. Since I knew that she knows almost nothing about aviation, I decided not to get too anal on the details of this build and just have fun with it. It turned out to be a pretty quick build, and I used it to experiment with new pre- and post-shading techniques. I had poor results using the Sharpie technique for pre-shading, but using the airbrush for the pre-shading worked wonders. I also used an oil wash for the first time and love the results. This is also my first modern jet, and doing the ordnance seemed like such a chore to me, and didn't get much attention beyond a base coat of paint and a sludge wash, except for the external tanks and TARPS pod, which both got pre-shading, decals and washes. In a few places the decals are distorted because I used too much Solvaset. 

    All in all, this kit was great practise and I learned a lot from it. The academy kit is quite good, except for the fit where nose section meets the main fuselage. The instructions are pretty unclear in some parts, and the kit paint scheme didn't appeal to me ( a colourful scheme over a glossy gull grey paintjob... I prefer the dingy gray operational planes over the old schemes or a CAG scheme).

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