WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.1 – Construction
Seeing as how badly I’d done my 414th CTS F-16C and how it has fallen apart, I’ve decided to have another go at an F-16 for this year’s annual Aggressor build. Based on some research, I thought the Academy would be a simplified version of the Hasegawa kit and therefore would be a quick build. …...
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 …...
Upcoming : RPG Models 1/35 Phalanx CIWS
Back in the early 2000s, I saw the resin Hobby Fan 1/35 Phalanx CIWS at a local model shop. I really wanted to get it but 1) it was resin and 2) it was expensive so I resisted. I’ve always wanted one though. Lo and behold, RPG Model has just announced the imminent release of …...
Upcoming : Great Wall Hobby 1/72 F-14D Tomcat
Who doesn’t want more F-14s anyway? This one is coming from GWH in June 2019 (I think). Parts break down seems to fall between the Hobby Boss and Hasegawa kits. GWH has developed a reputation for highly detailed and yet good fitting kits. Something that Hobby Boss and Hasegawa F-14s aren’t with the latter. 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 …...
Completed : Hasegawa 1/48 Douglas A-4E Skyhawk ‘TOPGUN 56’
Kit Info Brand: Hasegawa Scale: 1/48 Media: Injection Plastic The Subject The 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 lightweight, it was nimble, had a top speed of more than 670mph and could carry...
WIP : 1/48 A-4E Skyhawk ‘TOPGUN 56’ Pt. 2
Another queen (this time from 2011) joins the masses. 😀 This is a Hasegawa 1/48 Skyhawk kit to be draped as TOPGUN 56, an A-4E flown by the US Navy as an Aggressor. The scheme is very unique with a desert camo MiG-17 silhouette superimposed on the aircraft. This build is heavily reliant on the …...
