1/48 Monogram F-14A TOMCAT 002

VX-4 Bird from ACEVAL / AIMVAL around 1975-1978 

Kit Cockpit on the Left, Detailed Kit Cockpit middle, True Details on Right. 

Both Cockpits, True Details is a little wider to allow wider seats. 

Instrument Panels before and after initial painting. 

True Detail seats had to be hollowed out a bit to allow Figures to be used. 

Aircrew primed up. 

TD Seats top left, Monogram bottom right. TD have more details, Monogram very good out of the box. 

Adding some surface texture to the Instrument combing. 

Splinter Scheme test shot. 

Prepping wheel wells for retracted position. Lots of gaps. 

This backing plate gives the doors a structure to lay upon. 

Then sand gear doors down to a thickness that allows it to be flush with the underside. 

Shims and Milliput putty was used on the Main gear wells and doors. 

Final bit of styrene strip down the centerline to close the gap. 

Wings needed a bit of sanding, rescribing, before initial paint. 

Intakes before and after cutting. 

This allows for a easier build and to fix the Fuselage seam that has large gaps. 

Not hard to do, just need a good tool and steady hand. 

Gluing some supports on the inside lip will help support the modified part. 

Modified Intake part in place checking for fit before gluing into place.