WIP : Hobbyboss 1/72 F-14A Tomcat ‘VF-41’ Pt.2 – Construction
An easy detail to add is to drill out the fuel dump pipe on the beaver tail. It didn’t look right at all blanked off. This was drilled and I used an X-Acto blade to widen the hole. Hobbyboss molds the canopy correctly, in that there are prominent detonation cords for each section (if only …...
WIP : Hobbyboss 1/72 F-14A Tomcat ‘VF-41’ Pt.1 – Construction
This kit has been in the backburner for a while now, partially assembled. It’s time to get it off the Shelf of Doom. Having built a Hobbyboss F-14 before, this one went more smoothly. This kit will wear the markings of ‘Fast Eagle 107’, the F-14A from VF-41 Black Aces during the Gulf of Sidra …...
Completed : Italeri 1/72 Grumman EF-111A Raven
Kit Info Brand and Kit Number: Italeri #1235 Media: Injection Plastic Markings: Cutting Edge Modelworks CED72048 EF-111A Sparkvark Nose Art The Subject The EF-111A Raven was an electronic warfare aircraft designed to replace the USAF’s B-66 Destroyer. Grumman was contracted in 1974 to convert 42 existing General Dynamics F-111A...
WIP : Italeri 1/72 EF-111A Raven Pt. 4
Decaling begins with a gloss coat. I’ve had very good results with AK Interactive Intermediate Gauzy Agent. With a 1:1 thinning with water, it gives a very shiny and smooth gloss without as many problems as other gloss coats I’ve used. The markings comes from Cutting Edge Modelworks’ EF-111 Sparkvark sheet (CED72048)....
WIP : Italeri 1/72 EF-111A Raven Pt. 3
I’ve been a big fan of Gary Wickham of ScaleSpot and is constantly amazed at his detailed work. In his 1/32 Mosquito build, he showed a method of breaking up the monotony of a single color scheme so I thought I’d try it here but in a simpler form. The first step is to spray …...
WIP : Italeri 1/72 EF-111A Raven Pt. 2
Work continues as there’s more to fix than expected. First up is the joint between the 2 halves of the fuselage, which isn’t as smooth as I hoped. I should have added a spreader on the rear half so the transition between the halves is smoother. I tried various methods including Perfect Plastic Putty, correction …...
WIP : Italeri 1/72 EF-111A Raven Pt. 1
For my next build, I decided to tackle a modern aircraft. This time it’ll be the Italeri 1/72 EF-111A Raven or ‘Sparkvark’. The kit is a rebox of a release in the mid 1980s by Esci. Details are good for its age and features recessed panels. The cockpit features decals for the restraints and the …...
Completed : Hobbyboss 1/72 Grumman F-14B Tomcat ‘VF-102 Diamondbacks’
Kit Info Brand: Hobbyboss Scale: 1/72 Media: Injection Plastic Markings: Cam Decals 72-046 Tomcat Alley: Grumman F-14B Tomcat The Subject In 1987, the Grumman F-14A received its first major upgrade in the form of the F-14A+. The original TF30 engines were replaced with the F110, which provided a significant increase in performance, range...
WIP : Hobbyboss 1/72 F-14B Tomcat Pt.3
Time to beat-up the finishing! 😀 First up I added some sponge chipping using Model Color Medium Sea Grey. I was quite random about this. This is a much faster way than using salt for chipping but the effect isn’t as fine. Decals are next after a gloss coat. The markings are from Cam Decals’ …...
WIP : Hobbyboss 1/72 F-14B Tomcat Pt.2
Work (finally) continues on the F-14. Surprise surprise, the first thing to be tackled is the cockpit. I first sprayed Vallejo Air Dark Sea Gray thinking that it’s a match to FS36231 (the standard interior color for modern US jets) but it was too dark. So I ended up spraying my usual Vallejo Air US …...
