1/48 Hasegawa F-14D VF-103

Gallery Article by Jonathan Li on Dec 23 2016

 

      

This is my Hasegawa 1/48 F14D VF-103 Jolly Rogers on-board the USS John F Kennedy.

Built OBB inflight with slight modifications made to the cockpit cushions with tissue paper to add realism. The anti skid pads were done with dapping Mr Surfacer 500. Re-reinforcements were added to support the upper and lower fuselage halves to eliminate "flexing".

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The kit was an absolute joy to build but not without issues and slight dramas. The joint between the front nose section and rear fuselage presented a big step both top and bottom, I added Tamiya white putty, sanded smooth and re-scribed all the panel lines. The intakes did not line up well to the under body fuselage and work was required to make things flush.

The kit canopy is not designed for closed configuration so slight modifications were made to make it fit flush. 

I used Tamiya and Gunze Acrylic paints and sanded the planes smooth with some 3000 grit sandpaper. Then a thin coat of future followed by decals. I sealed the whole model with another cost of future to protect the decals then gave it a light salt weathering treatment with various shades of thinned enamel grey.

The Tomcat is my all time favourite jet and I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Jonathan Li 

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Photos and text © by Jonathan Li