Tamiya 1/48 F-14A VF-84 Jolly Rogers

[jkim]

This is my just completed build of the Tamiya 1/48 F-14A Tomcat in the oft-represented colors of VF-84 Jolly Rogers.  And yes, it was an intentional choice to depict the Tomcat as she appeared in the movie The Final Countdown circa 1979. The aftermarket stuff that was used on this build include:

    Detail & Wonder F-14A Landing Gear
    Mini Craft Collection F-14 Wheel Bay Set
    Eduard Resin F-14A Exhaust Nozzles
    Eduard Resin F-14A Ejection Seats
    Quinta Studios F-14A Interior 3D Decals
    Eduard F-14A Mask Set    
    Hungarian Aero Decals F-14A VF84 Jolly Rogers (1978-79)
    Furball F-14 Stencil and Data Decals

[TJ]

All I can say John is you definitely need to build jets every now and then. This is outrageously great.

[jkim]

Thanks Johnny!  Appreciate the positive comments!

Here are some more photos. FYI, the camera used for these final shots is a Canon 5D Mark IV with the EF 24-105L f/4 IS lens.  All shots in RAW and post-processed in Lightroom.

[eaglecash867]

Wow! Pretty kitty!

[keavdog]

Well done John - agree more jets please!
(Actually really looking forward to your Folgore build)

[chromdome35]

This is my WOW face. That may be one of the nicest airplane models I've ever seen.

Simply beautiful work.

ETA: The decal work on this is otherworldly. I don't know how you achieve such perfection.

[handiabled]

From the seat harnesses to the weapons loadout you didn't miss a beat with this! Your builds are always so perfectly balanced with detail, paintwork and weathering! Bravo sir!

[kyledehart5]

Beautifully built, beautifully painted, beautifully weathered, beautifully photographed. What else is there to say? An incredible build that I greatly enjoyed following along with. I love these high vis Tomcats, they just look so cool. And the Jolly Rogers was a great choice. Stunning work all around

[406 Silverado]

To start with, I'm glad that you are here at Modeler's Social Club John (jkim). Your great attitude and good nature about sharing your knowledge and skills have always been your strongpoints and is just as much of a reason that I extended the invitation early on in this forums resurgence to you. The skillsets and techniques that you use in your work are....needless to say.....phenomonal. 

 Speaking of skillset.....this F-14 here is but one of many examples that you have of bringing a great build to life like you do. Beautiful weathering by way of pastel washes and a vast array of different other techniques, then all of the detailing and paintwork all come together to make one heckuva good looking finish. This has got to be the best F-14 I've seen built up yet.

 

[Green KreationZ]

Dear god that’s gorgeous. Really fantastic work!

[garybrantley]

That is just so impressive, John!  🤩 Photograph that in an actual airport setting, and nobody could tell it was a scale model.  Sensational result and it sets a very high bar for this fine kit! 👏

[jkim]

Sept 7, 2024 19:14:51 GMT -5 eaglecash867 said:

Wow! Pretty kitty!

Thank you very much!  I like the lines of the F-14... I think it is a cool looking aircraft.

Sept 7, 2024 19:37:52 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Well done John - agree more jets please!
(Actually really looking forward to your Folgore build)

Thanks!  Not sure when I'll get around to doing another jet but never say never!  I've broken out the Folgore box to resume this build so I'll post up something soon.

Sept 8, 2024 0:09:43 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

This is my WOW face. That may be one of the nicest airplane models I've ever seen.

Simply beautiful work.

ETA: The decal work on this is otherworldly. I don't know how you achieve such perfection.

Thank you sir!  Appreciate the comments very much!  Every since I started cutting my own masks and trying paint markings instead of using decals, I've paid more attention to the decals that I do apply, especially if they are bigger markings.  Of course it helps to get good quality decals to start with but if they don't cooperate, I'm not shy about FORCING the decals into the recessed details by using multiple applications of decal softeners and cutting them and poking them.

Sept 8, 2024 2:20:27 GMT -5 handiabled said:

From the seat harnesses to the weapons loadout you didn't miss a beat with this! Your builds are always so perfectly balanced with detail, paintwork and weathering! Bravo sir!

Thank you very much!  Like I said, jets are not something I normally work on so I tried to embrace the differences by toning back on my normal weathering routines.  It felt nice not to have to worry about paint chipping!

Sept 8, 2024 2:40:36 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Beautifully built, beautifully painted, beautifully weathered, beautifully photographed. What else is there to say? An incredible build that I greatly enjoyed following along with. I love these high vis Tomcats, they just look so cool. And the Jolly Rogers was a great choice. Stunning work all around

Thanks Kyle!  I like using these forums as build diaries for future reference so I try to be as complete and clear as possible when it comes to documenting the build.  I know the Jolly Rogers scheme is a very popular one but I just had to do it!

Sept 8, 2024 17:07:30 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

To start with, I'm glad that you are here at Modeler's Social Club John (jkim ). Your great attitude and good nature about sharing your knowledge and skills have always been your strongpoints and is just as much of a reason that I extended the invitation early on in this forums resurgence to you. The skillsets and techniques that you use in your work are....needless to say.....phenomonal. 

 Speaking of skillset.....this F-14 here is but one of many examples that you have of bringing a great build to life like you do. Beautiful weathering by way of pastel washes and a vast array of different other techniques, then all of the detailing and paintwork all come together to make one heckuva good looking finish. This has got to be the best F-14 I've seen built up yet.

 

Thanks alot!  I'm just a guy that loves to build plastic models so its cool to have an avenue to share the passion with other people.  I'm grateful for communities like this.

Sept 9, 2024 12:11:30 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Dear god that’s gorgeous. Really fantastic work!

Thank you very much!  I really like your work too!  And I've always had a fascination with aquariums!

Sept 9, 2024 15:13:50 GMT -5 garybrantley said:

That is just so impressive, John!  🤩 Photograph that in an actual airport setting, and nobody could tell it was a scale model.  Sensational result and it sets a very high bar for this fine kit! 👏

Thanks Gary!  Unfortunately, I don't have access to an actual airport location so I can't replicate the cool backgrounds that you have!  My photo studio is an empty bench in my courtyard!

[jeaton01]

Late to the party but just a great build!

[stuart]

Amazing build John, very nicely done!

[jkim]

Sept 9, 2024 23:07:31 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Late to the party but just a great build!

Thanks John! Never too late to join!

Sept 11, 2024 17:13:15 GMT -5 stuart said:

Amazing build John, very nicely done!

Thank you Stuart! Glad you liked the build!

[crown r n7]

Well one. I always liked the original paint scheme of the navy of the 60's through the early 80's, a real final countdown moment ...

[spook]

Dam !!!

[cbaltrin]

Great Looking Tomcat! 

[bradley25mm]

John, I’m at a loss for words. Your attention to detail, is off the charts. Photo shop it on an aircraft carrier deck, and you’d think it were real.

[jkim]

Sept 25, 2024 6:49:58 GMT -5 crown r n7 said:

Well one. I always liked the original paint scheme of the navy of the 60's through the early 80's, a real final countdown moment ...

Thank you! I like the Hi-Vis schemes of the 70's and 80's too. I remember building the 1/72 Hasegawa Tomcat when I was younger. I didn't have an airbrush then so I just glued it together and put on the decals... it was the VF-1 Wolpack markings. So doing this one gave me that retro vibe.

Sept 25, 2024 16:41:39 GMT -5 spook said:

Dam !!!

Thanks Spook!

Oct 4, 2024 9:08:42 GMT -5 cbaltrin said:

Great Looking Tomcat! 

Thank you! Not really a jet guy so it was good to try a different type of model than my normal WW2 prop subjects.

Oct 31, 2024 18:03:00 GMT -5 bradley25mm said:

John, I’m at a loss for words. Your attention to detail, is off the charts. Photo shop it on an aircraft carrier deck, and you’d think it were real.

Thank you very much! Just learning as I go!