WIP : Fujimi 1/72 F-14A Tomcat ‘Top Gun’ Pt. 2 : Painting
Painting begins with making sure the canopy frame is in black. I then base coated the whole kit with black primer, which in this case is Mr Surfacer Black thinned with Mr Levelling Thinner, which results in a smooth and slightly glossy finish. I wanted to build up the weathered finish layer by layer so …...
WIP : Fujimi 1/72 F-14A Tomcat ‘Top Gun’ Pt. 1 : Construction
I’ve always wanted to model Maverick’s F-14A from the first Top Gun movie but I never had access to the markings. That was until I got my hands on the DEF Models JD72004 F-14A Tomcat Decal set – Movie Collection No.1 sheet. I’ve had this Fujimi kit for a long while now and had taken …...
Completed : Hobbyboss 1/48 Douglas A-4E Skyhawk ‘Navy Fighter Weapons School – TOPGUN 55’
Kit InfoBrand: Hobbyboss 81764Scale: 1/48Media: StyreneMarkings: Fightertown Decals 48-092 ExtremelyAdversarial – A-4/TA-4, F-5, F-16 The SubjectThe Douglas (later McDonnell Douglas) A-4 Skyhawk is a single seat subsonic carrier-capable attack aircraft originally developed for the US Navy and US Marine Corps. While relatively...
WIP : Hobbyboss 1/48 A-4E Skyhawk Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Time to sling paint on this thing by beginning with something different this time: I primered in gray and didn’t bother with mottling or preshading. The markings came from TwoBobs 48-018 Top Gun TInker Toys!! sheet and the color callouts were FS20400 (light brown), FS30117 (medium brown) and FS34079 (medium green). Going from...
WIP : Hobbyboss 1/48 A-4E Skyhawk Pt.1 – Construction
It’s time for another Aggressor build. This time it’s a Skyhawk and in the scheme of TOPGUN 55 that was made famous among modelers for appearing in the movie TOP GUN piloted by both Jester and Viper. The kit is Hobbyboss’ interpretation of this classic aircraft. Let’s see how it builds up… The cockpit is...
Completed : Academy 1/72 Grumman F-14B Tomcat ‘VF-103 Jolly Rogers’
Kit InfoBrand: Academy 12563Scale: 1/72Media: StyreneMarkings: Fightertown Decals 72004 + Kit stencils The SubjectIn 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 : Academy 1/72 F-14B Tomcat Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Painting a weathered F-14 is always challenging but fun. The key I think is to build up the effects layer by layer. I began with a base coat of black with the marble coating using white and brown. Note I avoided the panel lines and have kept them black except for areas in the rear …...
WIP : Academy 1/72 F-14B Tomcat Pt.1 – Construction
Another year, another Tomcat. This time it’s the much talked about new mold F-14 from Academy. It’s been getting raves around the community. Hopefully it lives ups to the hype and I can retire my old Hasegawa kits. First impressions though is somewhat disappointing as Academy has chosen to simply re-use the boxart from the...
Completed : Hasegawa 1/72 McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II
Build 07 of 2021...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-4J Phantom II Pt.3 – Finishing
BuNo 155800 NG-100, an F-4J, callsign Showtime 100, from VF-96 Fighting Falcons, was the aircraft flown by Pilot Lt. Randall ‘Duke’ Cunningham and RIO Lt. (jg) William ‘Willy Irish’ Driscoll when they scored their third, fourth and fifth kills to be the Navy’s only two ‘Aces’ of the Vietnam War....
