Scalemates F-14 Tomcat Group build 2020

Jos Jansen
Showtime...! This will be a duo-build with a good mate of mine... in the meantime, the Super Tucano is still on the bench....😎

Erik Leijdens
Grabbing a seat mate!

Patrick Hagelstein
Bring it on! 👍

Dominik Weitzer
my alltime favorite f14 "Jolly Rogers" :-D . Keep it coming!

Jos Jansen
Thx mates, I'll not disappoint you...stay tuned😎! It's a superb fitting kit 👍...

Donald Dickson II
Got this one and planning on doing the Frequent Wind version. So watching with interest.

Jos Jansen
Welcome Roland and Donald...I must say, this Tamiya kit is one hell of a shake and bake build...what a superb quality...👍!

Jos Jansen
Masking-master... 🙂...all the panels are black with a little medium grey dry brush. Tomorrow all the buttons and switches...

Daniel
😎 yeah, very nice, who doesnt love the vf-84 cats 👍 neat masking!

Jos Jansen
Thx Daniel...pit ready and with a layer of Alclad Gloss...!

Maciej Bellos
Fantastic pit! Waiting for more Josmagic 🙂

arne vd burg
Nice mate ,taking a seat.

Jos Jansen
@Maciej...thx my friend, with the fantastic fit you don't have to do magic with putty ... I get a lot of mojo with this kit!

@Arne...welcome mate, awesome!

Everything is straight OOB. I'll probably only use resin tyres, everything is a superb quality...👍!!

Günther Decock
Dag Jos, weer een prachtig project. Weer fantastische cockpit. Ik heb dezelfde kit ook ergens in mijn stash steken. Ik ga weer genieten van uw werk. 🙂

Sergej I
watching! 🙂

Jos Jansen
@Gunther... dank, thx!

@Sergej... welcome mate!

Michael Phillips
OH YEAH! The combination of a Victory Cat and Jos= A MUST FOLLOW! Great start so far my friend. And, for a little Jolly Rogers Tomcat inspriation, here's the famous clip from The Final Countdown for your viewing pleaure:

Youtube Video

THIS is the movie that inspired my lifelong love of aviation. Top Gun merely enhanced it. 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Lol, I actually have a "Splash the Zeroes" scene on my Long-term-ToDo-list 😄

Excellent looking pit Jos. A focused mind and a steady hand beats PE square every time!😉 👍

Dominik Weitzer
Looking really good!

Jos Jansen
@Michael...I do my best, but an F-14 of the Jolly Rogers is one of my favorite Tomcat versions. This is certainly due to the memorable US Navy film, The Final Countdown! Thanks for the clip, I have not seen these scenes in ages, fantastic ... Play with them, but do not fire ... epic! I love the US naval aviation jets from the sixties till now.

@Slavo... thanks my friend, I love the good quality of the PE of Eduard, but it takes some time and effort...nevertheless I had a lot of fun painting this cockpit myself due to the superb quality of this Tamiya kit. Absolutely highly recommended!

@Dominik... thanks mate!

Daniel
awesome jos, cockpit is a joy to behold 👍

Donald Dickson II
Jos, what type of colored pencils are you using? The silver I use works fine, but the red and yellow absolutely wont transfer enough color.

Jos Jansen
@Roland...many thanks mate, I had a lot of fun painting this pit, Tamiya did an awesome job... perfect details! Iam not sure whether the canopy open or closed and with or without figures...suggestions?

@Daniel... thanks mate, yes it is (and was)!

@Donald...
Weathering Pencils: Deluxe E..AK Interactive AK 10047, No)

Jos Jansen
Haha...thx Roland, that's also my opinion 😄 Those pencils are indeed awesome but I still have to learn to work with it. I also thought then, let me order them all at once because then you can get started with the entire pallet.

Maciej Bellos
Jos, putty was the last thing on my mind 🙂 Your magic is mostly elsewhere, as per "Honey, I shrunk the Phantom, Viper, Tomcat, etc.

Sergej I
Jos, which details exactly were penciled and which one are decals? Mainly asking for green HDD's... also red buttons, pencil or Citadel? Awesome job, really...

Jos Jansen
@Maciej...😎 😄 ... thx mate, you're to kind!

@Sergej I...only the 'green' screens are decals, everything else is hand painted and I used the AK weathering pencils to mark the buttons.

Jos Jansen
There is F-14 Tomcat GB started by Roland Gunslinger...join in!

Scalemates F-14 Tomcat Group build 2020 (1. Mai jusqu'à 31. Décembre, US)

Slavo Hazucha
I thought there is an ongoing F-14 Group build ever since I joind Scalemates😉

Donald Dickson II
Well, you forced me into joining the build damn it.

Jos Jansen
You're right Slavo...I think the Tomcat is almost one of the most built kit along with the Phantom! Are you joining in...?

Welcome Donald, glad to have another great builder among us...👍!

Ordered ejection handles from Eduard, ... because I thought the handles of the kit were to thick and my paintwork wasn't that great! Very happy with the Tamiya X-8 Lemon Yellow, the perfect Jolly Rogers yellow... 😄

Jos Jansen
Wheelbays and intakes ready with primer and Matt White...next step assemble of the fuselage!

Sergej I
Kudos on mastering airbrushing with the water acrylics. I abandoned hope and welcomed lacquer into my lungs 😄 What's your settings for that may I ask? Pressure, ratio, medium type etc...

Slavo Hazucha
Incremental Improvement in progress on every step... 🙂 Ed´s ejection handles definitely much better & finer than the kit´s offering and that yellow just looks delicious... 👍

Norman Gruss
Quite crowded here, is there a seat free in front?

Jos Jansen
@Sergej I...normally I don't use Ammo anymore but I want to finish my old paint, I switched last year to Gunze Aqueous ... I achieve much better results with this. The pressure varies, but normally between 1.3 and 1.8 Psi. When I apply Black-Basing, I spray with a pressure of 2.5 Psi.

@Slavo...Thank you for your nice words, you appreciate modeling at a certain level...👍!

@Norman...always mate, glad to have you here!

Today I make progress with the intakes, they're ready and ready to assemble...🙂 Also made the lens for the HUD with Hologram Finish from Hasegawa...great stuff 👍!

Treehugger
Ah photo 21 shows some interesting masking for white and gray. 🙂

Checking with my Academy kit, lucky me, seems like from a photo, it is all white inside, otherwise this kind of masking wouldn't be possible with my kit because the air intake kit is shaped differently. 😄

Jos Jansen
Well Treehugger, Iam gonna paint this Cat in the early Navy white/grey colors...so the inside of the intakes are almost completely white...LOL. The ref pic in the book is a late version, full grey.... 😄

Thx Roland...👍

Jos Jansen
Intakes ready...👍

Treehugger
Nice details in photo 28. 🙂

Jos Jansen
Thx Treehugger...this kit has a lot of details that are perfectly engineered by Tamiya. It would be a shame not to highlight them nicely and well, also because the intakes are quite large and visible from the right angle of view.

Patrick Hagelstein
Wow! One can almost hear the air being sucked in being that close to a real TF30! 👍

Daniel
Intakes look immaculate! 👍 (As your workspace always is, very impressed with both😉 )

Jos Jansen
Thanks Patrick and Daniel...this kit has so many beautiful details, you can't ignore them... 😄

All ordnance ready for the full mission option...so called, the Fleet Defense Interception version!

Patrick Hagelstein
Brrrrrring it on!!! 😄

Treehugger
Lucky you having different parts for the inflatable bags of air behind the wings (presumably as seen in photo 29). 🙂

In photo 30, what is the cotton bud for?

Günther Decock
Ziet er super uit. Ga nog wat genieten. 👍

Patrick O
Lovely job on the air intakes 🙂

Jos Jansen
Yes Patrick will do... 😄!!

@Treehugger...I do the polishing with a cotton swab 😉...

@Günther...dank, mooie woorden!

@Patrick...thx mate!

Jasper Breur
Fear the Bones! Stunning looking cat so far Jos

Jos Jansen
Thanks Jasper...Turn and Burn! 😄

Eelco Gregoire
Lekker bezig!

Jos Jansen
Thx Eelco...!

Soeren R.
Indeed nice work so far Jos - love the canopy glas!

Slavo Hazucha
Things are escalating quickly here man!😉 The canopy looks fabulous, build & paint look smooth and fine & I am looking forward to the engine nozzle job! 👍

Jos Jansen
Thx Soeren and Slavo!

@Slavo...your wish is my command Sir... 😄!

Jos Jansen
Exhaust nozzles so far ready...only a layer of Gloss, applying a little wash and then a matt/satin coat on top of it...happy!

Donald Dickson II
Very nice!

Jos Jansen
Thank you Roland and Donald...👍!!

Donald Dickson II
I took a look in mine AFTER I ordered a resin set of nozzles only to discover Tamiya actually provided BOTH open and closed. And they look very nice. Guess those will go to a Revell or Academy build. LOL

Daniel
Great stuff, the window color looks perfect, how du you apply it? heavy thinning and airbrush from outside? Metallics look stunning as well, a joy to watch 👍

Jos Jansen
Oh absolutely Donald, IMHO Tamiya has done an amazing job to create this kit, everything fits together perfectly and all the parts have great details! I like good resin parts because they are so super detailed, but the disadvantage is that sometimes they don't always fit correctly. I really hate the many sanding and putty work... 😄

@Daniel...at first I was satisfied, I thinned the clear green and blue heavily and sprayed it on the outside. Unfortunately, this is still too thick on the windshield. My biggest mistake I made was to apply the gloss varnish with a brush ... all stripes! I will try to clean the whole windscreen with bio-ethanol and try again. I ordered the Alclad #408 armored glass for that. Thx for appreciating the metals mate!

Jos Jansen
Exhaust nozzles ready, applied Mig Dark Wash and Hataka matt/satin lacquer clear coat...!

Erik Leijdens
Pretty amazing work Jos! They look very real..!

Spanjaard
looking really good. nice nozzles

Dave Flitton
Nice cans!!!

Jos Jansen
Thx Erik, Spanjaard and Dave.... I much appreciate your comments!

Soeren R.
The nozzles are fantastic! 🙂

Günther Decock
Is al knap geworden, Jos. 👍

Jos Jansen
Thx Soeren and Günther...!

FEAR THE BONES 😄

Patrick Hagelstein
👍👍

Sergej I
Nice, I love the formation light touch! 👍
Question Jos, what did you coat the paint with before applying decals? It's because MIG Decal Fix melts lacquer. Paint just aswel as varnish...

Jos Jansen
Hello Sergej....you should always ensure that you have a good smooth base for decalling. I create this with Aqua Gloss Clear from Alclad, this is a super strong and rock-hard varnish. I have had very good experiences with the decal fix of MIG, I get better results with this than with Microsol. I have never experienced that my paint or lacquer layer melting through the decal fix of MIG, remarkable...!

Slavo Hazucha
Well I managed to melt some paint away once, but that was when I absent-mindedly brushed some Tamiya extra thin cement on instead of markfit strong... Same boxy jar, green & yellow caps all very similar, I know... 😄

Jos the engine metal display seriously rocks! It's my favorite part/job & this one's spot on 👍

I heard the Tamiya decals being on the thick side for the white to cover - which it seems to do just fine - skulls&bones shining white!

Dominik Weitzer
awesome work man, like it! super. never get my Tomcat so hight detailed with paint as yours. thats really awesome.
what book did you have as referents?

Jos Jansen
@Slavo...thanks about the metal paint job, I love those metal paints from Alclad...key take away, always use a gloss black paint as base and then you got perfect results!

The decals are actually a little bit thick, but then again...with the MIG decalset and fix, it's a walk in the park IMHO...😄!

@Dominik...thx mate, appreciate your enthusiasm... 😉 See the link for the reference book:

Book: Uncovering the Grumman F-14 A/B/D Tomcat (by Danny Coremans)

Treehugger
Nice tip for the painting of the slime lights. 🙂

James C
Fabulous looking detailing on the cockpit interior. Your Tomcat looks to be purrring along nicely😉👍

Jos Jansen
You're welcome Treehugger and thanks Jim C for your kind words!

Had a lot of problems to spray the front screen in the greenish armoured glass from Alclad it did not flow well... I cleaned it up and brushed it, that worked well!

Pilots in progress...

Daniel
Ah, I just had the same problem with the front screen, cleaned it off and did it again w/ a lot of very, very thin layers, heavy diluted , that helped. Everything is coming along very nicely here, jos, already looking forward to the result 👍

Jos Jansen
Thx Daniel...my motto is; is it not good, do it again 😄

The tail-fins are ready, I used the medium grey PLW from Mig, this gives a subtle contrast to the black color on the tails...👍...tomorrow a Satin/Matt varnish to seal everything!

Daniel
👍 nice way to bring out the detail!

Jos Jansen
Thx Daniel...!

So, Iam ready for the primer...making progress here!

Patrick Hagelstein
Lovely to see that pot of Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black finding it's way into the pictures. 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
Nice guys! Definitely a better mold than the Hasegawa-set I´m using for my crews 🙂

Great eye for what´s just enough on the fins - all lines & rivets perfectly visible, but nothing in the odd "in your face" type of contrast... 👍

Patrick Hagelstein
What's the idea behind picture 58? Is this to prevent any paint seeping through while airbrushing? If so, why didn't you apply the same to the front and rear contact surface? Wouldn't overspray find it's way in through those unsealed areas?

Jos Jansen
Thanks Slavo, glad you liked it...!

No Patrick, this is not for the spray of the paint but to temporarily glue the canopy by using very small drops of Contacta from Revell in between. In this way, the canopy is temporarily fixed and the paint does not damage when it is removed.

Jos Jansen
Primer ready...👍!

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome Jos, it's going to be a stunner.

Treehugger
Interesting "hinge" detail in photo 58 for the moving canopy piece. I don't see that detail on my Aires resin cockpit kit. 🙂 Edit: Oh, wow, I just realized that the Aires cockpit resin kit is probably for having the canopy open (I will have it closed) and I understand more of the resin parts now, I think I will have to maybe cut something off. Wow, good thing I came across this thread today. 🙂

Daniel
Looking good 👍 were almost tied, I just finished the preshade 🙂 I like the lid idea, would only be a bit concerned about fogging with contacta fumes inside... I normally use white glue or liguid mask for a temporary connection

Slavo Hazucha
"Chat Noir" looking very nice already!😉

Jos Jansen
Thx guys...it's absolutely a shake and bake kit, I love it!

I understand Daniel, but I only used four tiny drops of glue.

James C
That's taking shape nicely Jos and looks to be a beautifully smooth primer coat to work on. 👍

Jos Jansen
Iam gonna do the Black Basing technique, probably or hopefully this weekend...

Clifford Keesler
The fins and engines look excellent.

Donald Dickson II
Jos, I love the effect I can get doing it this way. I feel like its far more natural and less in your face than other techniques.

Clifford Keesler
Black Basing is the only thing I use. I never could get pre-shading to come out right.

Daniel
You could have saved a lot of work by just getting the playboy markings😉 No seriously, stabs look very nice already 👍

Jos Jansen
Thanks Clifford, Donald and Daniel...and yes Daniel, just like the Black Bunny F-4 LOL

...bottom halfway

James C
Nice job on the pre-shading Jos. 👍

Daniel
👍 exactly (there also existed a row of black tomcats called Vandy One)
very nice progress on the white belly jos 👍

Slavo Hazucha
So we've seen some mature cheese and now we have a fine-depth cloudy marble... 👍 Tomcat GB going into the really zesty phase! 🙂 Pleasure to follow!

Jos Jansen
Thanks James...it's actually more a marbling/mottling technique on a black base. This way I've more control to blend the color on the airframe then doing the pre-shading technique.

Thanks Daniel and Slavo...I totally agree with you Slavo, it's a joy to see so many great skills, I call it more the epic phase... 😉

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome Jos, can't wait to see it finished.

Jos Jansen
Still one layer to go...

James C
Sorry, by pre-shading I did mean the mottling/marbling etc😉
After watching the progress of all these awesome looking Tomcat builds, I decided to make a start on the Italeri kit.

Jos Jansen
Finally, it's time to airbrush the upper fuselage...

Slavo Hazucha
Would not be fun if they all got finished at the same time...😉 Looking very good, watching every step, cause this one´s important - if I´m gonna do one, it´s this 👍

Lochsa River
who makes the jig the model is mounted on?

Jos Jansen
@Slavo...thanks mate, pretty busy lately so less bench time, I hope I'll get the top done this week... Thanks for the compliment, really appreciate this from you 👍!

Jos Jansen
Black Basing in progress...

Treehugger
There is a part of my brain I am sure that gets nervous by just seeing the nice mottling. I can't help but wonder, that with an airbrush one more easily gets splatter that way if keep starting and stopping painting such dots. I like cleaning my needle tip with a brush, every third time I have painted something in a single session. And a trick is to start painting with the airbrush facing away from the model, but I don't see how one can do that when doing mottling work.

Jos Jansen
Wait until you see the end result, it's all about building up thin layers when you sprayed a nicely mottled coat. Now I have control over the subtle weathering and the blending of the navy grey...

Jos Jansen
... let it dry first and I'll look further this weekend to indicate to do even more shades of gray!

Patrick Hagelstein
Treehugger, the trick is to not let go of the trigger once you start spraying. Be veeeeeeery restricted to pulling the trigger and have only a very faint paint cone come out of the nozzle. Instead of opening/closing the trigger, the trick is to make small squiggles that give the IMPRESSION that there are dots. By just revisiting different areas more paint builds up. If you look very closely there are actually very faint paint lines connecting the dots. As Jos mentions, thin layers are necessary here. Also, but that's personal opinion, thin(ned) lacquer paint doesn't spatter as much as acrylics and I hardly ever have to clean the needle tip when spraying lacquers. The thinner in the paint mix dissolves any buildup by revitalizing the paint. Acrylics go through a different curing process and whilst still covered by new paint flowing over the tip, will cure due to a chemical process and will start to build up after having time to cure on the needle tip. This causes the feared splatter. Also, in Black Basing any splatter would be covered by the next thin layer. And using lacquers the self leveling qualities will even out any splatters, at least layer wise, so there are no proud splatters visible in the end.

Daniel
the turkey got his feathers!👍 very nice+promising!
@treehugger: you dont have to start+stop that often during mottling, you just keep doing irregular movements while maintaining more or less paint flow (which is of course always really low)

Slavo Hazucha
A textbook run through the technique... in both picture and text! 🙂 Seeing this must put a happy grin even on that skull on the tailfins! 👍

Clifford Keesler
It is looking very nice Jos. Mine does not look as mottled on top. I used light gull gray for mine. From what reference pictures I can find, the aircraft I am modeling was pretty clean. (Not very old or worn.) So I will not weather mine a lot. I do have a question for you though, what color wash do you think would work best for weathering mine? I do not want to use black, I think that would be to stark.

Jos Jansen
Thanks Patick for your explanation... 😄!! (...and Daniel) I couldn't said it better.

@Slavo, thanks for the compliment mate!

@Clifford, I use mostly the three tones of grey PLW from Ammo by Mig Jimenez:
A.MIG-7419 US Navy Grey Jets, Ammo by Mig Jimenez , Enamel, 3x 35ml

This way you keep the tone subtle...!

Daniel
oh, hey, didnt realize you slipping in before me there, patrick^^ But I fully agree 🙂

Patrick Hagelstein
😄 👍

Clifford Keesler
Thanks Jos, I will see if I can get ahold of some.

Jos Jansen
I subtly added some contrast with Gunze smoke on the panel lines at the rear of the hull near the engines. In general, the A versions and especially the CAG bird was not extremely weathered, so I leave the weathering here ...

Clifford Keesler
Looking good, can't wait to see the end result.

Slavo Hazucha
Totally agree on the degree of effects - fit's the era and squadron markings perfectly... 👍 At least my image of an early skull-bearer F-14 is not that of the late grey ones, decorated with all kinds of oils, grime and fluids...

The Tomcat seems to have so many transformations and stages of visual decay that some modellers are rumoured to hardly build anything else and not nearly running out of variants😉

Clifford Keesler
Yes, they sure evolved in their degree of weathering over their service life.

Daniel
added some depth while keeping it clean, coming along nicely 👍

Clifford Keesler
There are going to be some Museum quality TomCats come out of this group build, and mine is not one of them. LOL. But you Jos and Daniel are well on your way there.

Jos Jansen
Thx mates, I really appreciate your overwhelming positive comments...frickin awesome! Today made some little progress on the wings...

Konrad -
Coming late to the party 😉!
It is really another stunning build out of your hands mate! Perfect in my opinion.

Patrick Hagelstein
We have until the end of this year right??? One would think that the current situation would provide some bench time, but my Tomcat still hasn't climbed out of its box..... Following along in spirit though! 👍

Jos Jansen
My summer leave is family time consuming and I've been working on a garden renovation. A heat wave will be predicted in the coming days, so definitely no bench time!

Indeed we have until the end of the year with this GB ... lol 😄

Still I want to finish my F-14 in the coming weeks, the end is near ... here and there some paintwork on the fuselage and then it is Gloss and decal time...👍

Patrick Hagelstein
😄 👍 Hang in there Jos! 😉

Jos Jansen
Yeah...found bench time...did some sanding and I sprayed the Vulcan's muzzle blast fairing in ALC 125 High Speed Silver...this gives the bar metal a little darker and shiny look.

Sergej I
What I have learned from Jos... I have some Daco books on the way 👍 😄 👍

Clifford Keesler
It just keeps getting better and better Jos.

Jos Jansen
@Sergej...those Daco reference books are simply a must, so much good details pics!

@Clifford...found some time behind the bench, and I found some mojo... 😄

Slavo Hazucha
The bones are back! And this time with speed silver guns..! 👍

Patrick Hagelstein
Bench??? Mojo??? Where do you find that stuff?...... 😉

Jos Jansen
This weekend more bench time guys... 😉

@Anna-Elizabeth the Great...I totally agree with you, I love the old Navy schemes with the colorful markings, especially the "Fear the Bones" version 😎 !!

Jos Jansen
Anne, is that nose art the cartoon figure Tomcat sitting on the back of a "shark" AIM-54 Phoenix missile...?

Jos Jansen
Nice....! Looking forward to the reveal of that bird😎

James C
This is looking fabulous Jos 👍
I had started the Italeri F-14 just over a month ago, but lost the mojo to continue it due to a number of "issues" that I encountered with the kit itself. Also been far too cold of late for airbrushing but is warming up again now that Spring is nearly upon us. Looking back through your current build images is giving me the urge to put mine back on the bench.

Clifford Keesler
Looking great Jos. It's going to be a stunner.

Jos Jansen
Thanks James and Clifford....! I found some bench-time 😉

Nathan Dempsey
Oh man that's looking awesome🙂

Clifford Keesler
I may have to build another "Cat". All you guys fantastic builds are making me want to give my Hasegawa D a go. it has been sitting in my stash only for 6 years. LOL.

Jos Jansen
@James...when you've the right mojo nothing beat this kit from Tamiya, it's probably the best moulded and engineered kit on the market, hopefully you encountered not to much issues to loss your mojo again 😉...

@Nathan...thanks mate, appreciate it 👍

@Clifford...go for it mate, this GB is so frickin inspiring, maybe we've consider to make a join album where we put all the reveal pics in...? 🤔

Clifford Keesler
That would be cool. As soon as I finish this B-17 I am building for my son. I will break out the Hasegawa D. The dilemma is which markings to do it in. VF-31 Tom Caters or VF-2 Bounty Hunters.

Daniel
thats a neat stripe! That best-of-album is a great idea, if everyone contributes one photo of his result(s) I think it will be the most epic cat collection ever at the end of the year 👍

Jos Jansen
@Clifford...definitely the Bounty Hunters 😉

@Daniel...something to think about, we could asked scm if this is possible?

Just some minor progress on the Cat, I only airbrushed the leading edge flaps duraluminium...to be continued!

Clifford Keesler
The VF-2 markings I have are the High Viz, for the "D" model. You can paint it in 2 schemes. Either Gull Gray over white or the three tone Tactical scheme.

Sergej I
Nice progress Jos! 👍

Slavo Hazucha
Precision work where the eye can see... slow but steady & every update showing something really clean & nice 👍

Watching the two generations of bone-bearers (yours & Michaels) with utmost pleasure😉

Clifford Keesler
That is going to be a stunner!

Jos Jansen
Thanks Clifford, Slavo and Sergej...found some time and mojo 😉 ! Finally added the Gloss layer for starting decalling tomorrow...👍. @Slavo, hopefully I can compare with Michael's excellent cat!

Patrick Hagelstein
Again??? Where do you find that time and mojo stuff every time??? 😉

Patrick Hagelstein
Slow but steady progress. And steadily looking great! 👍

Jos Jansen
@Roland... that's right Roland, but with my pace, it will really take a while... 😎 @Patrick...thx mate, that mojo of mine is definitely going up and down ...haha! 😉

Sergej I
Jos, are you brushing or airbrushing the Aqua Gloss? If later, please recipe, I can't get it even via airbrush.

Michael Phillips
Man this is starting to look AWESOME! I am sure you will more than match my cat Jos. Your models are inspirational to me.

Jos Jansen
@ Sergei....straight out of the bottle with a low pressure...around 0.8Psi.

Thanks Michael for your kind words, IMHO my builds fade away compare yours... 😉, but thx again buddy! Hopefully I can start with all the decals today, that brings "the Bones" alive...!!

Jos Jansen
CAG is alive...😄

James C
Looking spectacular Jos. The airframe by itself looks fabulous, but once the decals start going down... they add so much more! 👍

Nathan Dempsey
It's great seeing the high and low viz versions of these markings in the GB. Very nice work Jos.

Treehugger
If there is a lot of stencil decals I guess that is just fun now at this point. 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
If I ever work myself through the (ever changing) to-build list to the F-14A, this would be my by the book reference. I get it the Tamiya kit is a great start, but it's still a pleasure to see it built on this level! 👍 Also the minimalism in the weathering really starts to pay off now the heraldry goes on😉

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome Jos.

Jos Jansen
Thank you guys, slow pace...only some detail work had to be done before I could carry on with the decals. My job suchs a lot of time right now...stay tuned!

Jos Jansen
Decal time, slow but steady...

Jos Jansen
I have to use all my spare time efficiently, so no major changes. Hopefully this weekend place the suspension with the resin wheels. Thank you Clifford the plane still looks a bit factory new, I plan to use light and medium gray panel lines wash to keep this very subtle. I also want to apply some highlights with the AK weathering pencils. I want to keep the kit fairly clean because the high viz jets weren't that dirty, especially a CAG bird.

Michael Phillips
Looking awesome so far Jos! Really looking forward to seeing the next steps and how you handle the restrained weathering.

One thing to look out for, as I see you have not done the tails yet... It is kind of difficult to get the angle of the skull and bones right with the tails off the model. So when you are putting the decals on, keep checking the angle by putting them on the model temporarily. I have seen many Jolly Rogers models with the angle of the bones tilted too far to the right. It is really hard to get right, even though it looks easy. I know, as my first Victory Tomcat they are off. Even my recent one, once completed, looks ever so slightly tilted.

Jos Jansen
I know what you mean Michael, look at the pictures 56, 64 and 95...I already made them and checked them in the plane. I think I aligned them well, they are exactly in the right place as in the example. I also have a reference photo of a close-up of the tails... 😄

Jos Jansen
It's starting to look like something, today a whole day behind the bench...!

Nathan Dempsey
Oh man a whole day?! I'd like to get one of those!

Clifford Keesler
Me too. LOL. Looking very nice Jos.

Michael Hickey
Looking just divine.👍

Jos Jansen
Thanks guys, what I said earlier...slow but steady! Haha...sometimes you've to please your wife to get something done 😉

Slavo Hazucha
@last pic - so it's a snap-build model now! 😄

All sub-assemblies looking seriously good, interesting that it's going to be a BVR-only config - I'm not a Tomcat expert, did they fly AA configs completely without Sidewinders?

In any case, looking forward to this GB hero crossing the line! 🙂

Sergej I
There is still room for two Sidewinders in this setup. Jos, we want more!😉

Daniel
Now just put it in a box, shake it and it will come out perfectly assembled - its tamiya^^
Real eye-candy here, clean but mean. And I agree - no sortie without the Winders 🙂

Jos Jansen
Haha...relax guys, the finishing often takes the longest time..! The side side-winders are under construction, they are absolutely part of the load-out, as this F-14 is performed in a fleet defense interception role. 👍

Casey Rupley
Looking great! Love that kit.

Jos Jansen
Finally on his wheels...

Erik Leijdens
Impressive work overall Jos!

Clifford Keesler
Looking awesome Jos.

Michael Phillips
Looking sooooooo good man! She is going to be a beauty!

Jos Jansen
Thanks Casey, Erik, Roland, Clifford and Michael...I appreciate your kind words 👍 Building this kit is a pleasure, but airbrushing everything properly, I encounter quite a few challenges! That's why it's taken so long...again slow and steady pace 😉

Nathan Dempsey
Oh yeah this one's going to be a stunner. 🙂

Slavo Hazucha
I can already hear the pilot comm & all the background sounds of the carrier deck..!😉 👍

Jos Jansen
Ready with the decals and I applied the Gloss seal layer...! Thx Nathan...haha, me too Slavo...especially the Jolly Rogers cats from the movie "The Final Countdown"...👍!!

Clifford Keesler
Splash the Zero's. One of my favorite lines from that movie. It is going to be a stunner sir, no doubt about that.

Michael Hickey
Like everybody is saying, really nice.👍

Stefan Fraundorfer
This will be a very nice and absolutely convincing Tomcat.

James C
Looking fantastic Jos 👍

Patrick Hagelstein
I just slipped on the floor..... Looked too long at these pictures and started drooling......

Clifford Keesler
I can't add anything that has not already been said. I will just do like Patrick and sit back and drool. LOL.

Patrick Hagelstein
😄

Jasper Breur
All these beautiful Tomcats, is this heaven? Fantastic result so far Jos!

Jos Jansen
Many thanks, Clifford, Michael, Stefan, James, Patrick, and Jasper...such kind words from some fantastic modelers is a great compliment! In the meantime, I started a small Bf-109 GB with some good model building friends. The "Fear the Bones" cat is almost ready, have patience friends hopefully next week I will finish this build...can't wait to see this cat shining in my display cabinet...! 👍

@Patrick and Clifford...be careful my friends if you fall wrong because of the drool, you might be off for months to model...! 😉

@Jasper...hopefully we can continue modeling in heaven ... haha! 🙂

Sergej I
Hummm, a 109 GB... wanna share that to SCM? I have a Gustav on the shelf 🙂

Clifford Keesler
I have 4 of them. LOL.

Michael Phillips
This is looking fantastic Jos! You have done the bones justice so far!

Hmmm, seems to be a lot of interest in a potential 109 GB.... just need someone to set one up!

Clifford Keesler
I have Adolf Galand's 109E-4. Looking for an excuse to build it. LOL.

Patrick Hagelstein
@ Jos: 😄 👍

Tim Heimer
I wish I could get this good at building planes, most of you guys amaze me!

Jos Jansen
Thanks, Michael and Tim, the modeling of my Cat has stood still for a while due to the Bf 109 GB, my plan is to finish this model before the end of the year! It's just a matter of adding some PLW, weathering a bit with oil paint, placing wheelbase doors, and hanging the ordnance ... piece of a cake LOL 😄!

Christian Kohl
Wow, Jos! Great result. Very well done mate🙂

Patrick Hagelstein
On the end stretch Jos. 👍

Jos Jansen
Oh yeah Patrick, I felt like modeling outside of my standard interest area. Currently working on a U-boat, working on my weathering skills... but the planning is for the end of the year that this mighty cat will be ready ...!

Patrick Hagelstein
Well, a U-boat is definitely a wonderful canvas for weathering with so many elements and substances acting on each other. Enjoy! 👍

Jos Jansen
Hello fellow modellers, started again with my Cat...I've only a couple of weeks left for ending this GB... 😉

Sergej I
It looked finished to me already, haha... you got this Jos 👍, 3 weeks is plenty...

Jos Jansen
Thx Sergej...haha, no not yet...finished all the washes, gonna seal it with a Gloss and then the final weathering with some black and raw umber oils...!

James C
So close now Jos. It's looking stunning mate and was one of the builds that inspired me to start my own. Can't wait for the final reveal! 👍

Jos Jansen
Thanks James...what a great compliment, one more week of work and then two weeks of Christmas leave ... enough benchtime to finish on time...👍

Arif Saeed
Looking amazing dude !

Jos Jansen
Thx Arif...I think during my Christmas leave there will be a roll-out of this amazing kit from Tamiya...stay tuned to all of my fellow modelers!

Clifford Keesler
Very nice so far.

Patrick Hagelstein
So, yeah... there was this thing with a group build until end of December, right? Next week my leave starts, let's see if I can cobble something together then.... 😛 😄

Dominik Weitzer
oh yes, like what i see.

Jos Jansen
Thx Clifford, Patrick and Dominik...really appreciate your kind words!
Almost ready, it's definitely a swing-wing...😉

Nathan Dempsey
Looking awesome 🙂

Nice work on the wing sweep area too.

Jos Jansen
👍 Nathan..!

Coming along nicely, today removing the masking tape from the canopy and putting all the decals on the missiles. Only the sidewinders left... 🙂

James C
I'm drooling with anticipation Jos! 👍

Maciej Bellos
Oooooooh nice missiles! Getting there!

Daniel
those wingsweep stains looks like perfection, also the subtle streaking...quite a sight for sore eyes 👍

Sergej I
More and more beautiful! 👍
Jos, which reference did you use for the AIM-54A with gray radome? All I've seen were white.

Tim Heimer
Looking Good!

Jos Jansen
Many thanks guys...overwhelming all those nice words, awesome!
@Sergej I...probably you're right, Iam probably misled by Tamiya's paint recommendation...see below link:

tamiya.com/english/products/61114/index.htm

Sergej I
Jos thanks for that link, I never knew that page existed 🙂 Some really nice tomcats there...

Clifford Keesler
Great looking weapons.

Erik Leijdens
Amazing array of weaponry Jos! Greatly executed too

Jos Jansen
Such a shame that they no longer produce these mighty Fleet Defenders, what an air power...!!!

Almost ready, only to paint the pilots ... I'm going to realize the deadline ... 😄

Maciej Bellos
I second that! Well said Jos!

Nathan Dempsey
The weapons look great ( along with everything else)! I feel the same way when I see that D sitting at the Florida Air Museum. You can still feel the raw power in that retired bird.

Clifford Keesler
Very impressive Jos.

Tim Heimer
Damn that looks good!

Dmitry Agafonov
Perfect Cat! A lot of jobs and a nice result.

Sergej I
So beautiful... I love watching your builds, Jos.

Jos Jansen
Thanks, Maciej, Nathan, Clifford, Tim, Dmitry and Sergej...much appreciated your overwhelming words...👍!

The Cat is almost ready, I've to wait on the ordered PE seatbelts...so hopefully the final photoshoot before 01-01-21, fingers crossed😄 😉

James C
Now your just teasing Jos!

Jos Jansen
Haha...one more day James! My PE seatbelts arrived, added in a layer Gloss before some wash on those seatbelts...tomorrow the final pics, stay tuned for the big final!

An absolutely awesome Tomcat GB guys, what a high level of modelling...🙂

Daniel
oh dear, I am tuned! 👍 very delicate work on the seats, awesome

Jos Jansen
Thanks Daniel...it was a close finish, but tomorrow the final photoshoot...it was a long ride but Iam more than satisfied with the build!

Tim Heimer
Nicely done!

CE GR
Very nice work.

Jos Jansen
Thanks Tim and CE GR!

So the big final of our F-14A Tomcat Group Build...! Enjoy the roll-out pics of my Fear-the-Bones Cat 👍!

Happy New Year Mates and happy modeling in 2021...! 🙂

Nathan Dempsey
Wow Jos that is an absolutely beautiful Cat in one of the most striking schemes worn by this aircraft. Perfect indeed!

James C
Such a stunning looking build Jos, and a real joy to follow. Very inspiring work, and just pure class from every angle! 👍👍👍

Jos Jansen
Thank you very much Roland, Nathan and James...you're all great modellers and I appreciate your kind words!

Donald Dickson II
Fabulous as always sir!

That just leaves me. *sigh* LOL

Spanjaard
it looks amazing!!!

Murad ÖZER
when i grow up i'll build a kitty just like Jos', yep! 😄

stunning all the way, you did justice to this magnificent beast. nothing else to say. 👍👍👍

Augie
Lovely Turkey Jos, really nicely done.

Dominik Weitzer
Love it !

Daniel
Stunning result, a real classic in all its glory 👍 fantastic work

Eelco Gregoire
Fantastic work Jos!

Soeren R.
What a fantastic result Jos!

Kees Kleijwegt
Fantastic Tomcat Jos!👍

Slavo Hazucha
Chhers Jos!

Back from the pits of Covid-home-office induced depression and what do I see... One of the best Tomcats ever! Great job mate! I just read a copy of COMBAT AIRCRAFT with a "Tomcat is 50" feature on my iPad... Yours looks better that most the pics in the magazine!😉 👍

Excelent job in & out, love all the color work and the balance - it´s not a small feat to get a piece with so many different reds and yellows look realistic and not toy-like even in 48-scale, yet here we are! 😄 Small jab though, just color-wise, I still love your Indonesian F-16 more...😉

Sorry I was not here to cheer you through all the steps towards finish, but looking at the result, maybe it was all the Cat needed...

Happy new year, all the best & I hope to catch-up with some model-building of my own in 2021 and maybe come within visual range with some of the mastery shown here 👍

Clifford Keesler
Amazing Jos, well done.

Neuling
Scalemates hat wieder eine Literaturbeilage. Welcome back Slavo! You´ve said everything true about this formidable build.

Maciej Bellos
(searching for words)



(still searching)



(you get it)

Jos Jansen
Many thanks guys, I really appreciate your great comments...you'll are great modelers!

@Donald...it was also a fabulous kit to build 😉

@Spanjaard...🙂

@Murad OZER... you already grow up my friend, as a great modeler by yourself you're giving me to much credits 😄 👍

@Augie...this navy 'Turkey' was a joy to build 😉

@Dominik...thanks!

@Daniel...this livery was a must-have, many thanks, my friend, you're a true follower!

@Eelco...thanks buddy!

@Souren...fantastic compliment!

@Kees...also thx buddy!

@Slavo...cheers my friend, glad you're back at the bench! I think the whole jet fighter scale community missed you. Your inspiring words are sometimes poetic and your descriptions of the modeling process are motivating and appropriate. I loved to read all your comments by all the great modelers here on SCM...! You're giving me lots of credits, I really appreciate that...but it's also a joy to follow your perfection in modeling 🙂 👍!! Happy New Year my friend...

@Clifford...thanks mate.

@Neuling...Vielen dank...mate 😄!!

@Maciej...I've some words for you...thanks mate 🙂 You're also a true follower and you're giving me always great compliments 👍

...last but not least, I want to wish to whole modeling community a Happy New Year...thx mates!

Nathan Dempsey
Happy New Year Jos! Here's to more great reference builds by you !

Sergej I
Pro stuff there Jos! Cockpit is my fav 👍

Michael Phillips
Be still my beating heart!!!! Wow, this this is just fantastic. Absolutely love pic #133, really looks like it could be a screen grab from the movie The Final Countdown if you put a background to it! This is my 2nd favorite scheme from my favorite squadron of my favorite aircraft, so to see this beauty brings a tear to my eye. Bravo!

Clifford Keesler
A Happy New Year to you also Jos. Your builds are always inspiring.

Jos Jansen
Thanks, Nathan, Sergej I, Michael, and Clifford...great compliments from great modelers!

Neil
OMG! This is absolutely stunning! I am humbled even more at your comment on my efforts! Amazing work! 🙂

Rui S
Beautiful 👍

Jos Jansen
Thx guys, 👍!

@Neil; ...not so modest mate 😉, you posted a great collection on SCM, one that you can be proud of.

Alexander
Stunning result - spot on weathering, great paintjob, really good detail work - this build is a joy to look at! 👍 👍 👍

Tim Heimer
Nicely done!

Jos Jansen
Thanks Alexander en Tim...appreciate it!

Erik Leijdens
Extraordinary result Jos! Perfectness overall, as we say in Dutch; I'm looking for nails at low tide! But off course there aren't any 🙂

Stéphane Jayet
That's what I call an excellent job ! Congrats

Jos Jansen
Thanks, Erik and Stéphane!

@Erik...perfectness is sometimes a pain in the ass 😄

Clifford Keesler
Beautiful job Jos, a great looking CAT. well done sir.

Yuri S
Wat een beauty Jos, echt waanzinnig mooi resultaat! Mag ik vragen, heb je alles met paint brush gedaan? En hoe krijg je die lijnen en nagels zo mooi in contrast met het grijs? Nogmaals, echt Vakwerk met een grote V. Ik heb al de foto's al drie keer bekeken. Vriendelijke groet, Yuri.

Ruben Castillo Osuna
Nice job!!

Fritz01
Helemaal prachtig! Highend modelling! That looks really realistic!

Jos Jansen
Thank you Ruben and Fritz, much appreciated 👍🏻!

DuperScale
Thats a fantastic build, hope i get there one day.

Jos Jansen
Thanks DuperScale...I didn't succeed in one day either...😉

Clifford Keesler
Just beautiful Jos.

Jos Jansen
Thanks Clifford, exactly three years ago I finished my 'Fear the Bones' cat, and she is still my favorite model!