HASEGAWA 1/48th SCALE F-14A VF-32 "GYPSY SWORDSMEN"

Sounds like music! Will be fantastic!

Bring it on bud

Really looking forward to this

Thanks for the comments, gents! I started the paint work on the F-14. VF-32 carried the FS35237/36320/36375 variation of the low viz scheme so I started off by spraying the middle color, Dark Ghost Grey (36320, Model Master enamel) which will also be a primer coat. I did miss a couple of seams and divots so I applied some Tamiya putty to get those cleaned up. Due to space concerns, I have shifted gears and I am going to build it wings back-wings clean. Wings forward will just take up too much space and wings back will be a more accurate depiction for being on deck, anyway. 

Regards,

Ian

Nice smooth paintwork Ian looks ace

Thanks, guys!

Regards,

Ian

Thanks, Boots! Lots of activity in the VF-32 Corrosion Control Department today. The fuselage, wings and horizontal stabs have all been painted, shaded and weathered. The Furball Decal VF-32 sheet provides excellent reference material on the various details of this VF-32 paint scheme. I also downloaded the equally superb VF-32 decal instruction sheet from Fightertown Decals for their decal sheet version of Gypsy "202" and "207" from the '89 dogfight. The upper surfaces were painted with Model Master Enamel Medium Grey, FS35237, and then post shaded in small splotches with a lightened shade. VF-32 Tomcats evidently had a hard demarcation line on the nose and interestingly enough, the border of the FS 35237 extended very forward on the forward fuselage below the RIO's cockpit, where it meets the Dark Ghost Grey. The border here also showed a very defined demarcation line in the photos.

I almost missed this in both instruction sheets but around the timeframe of the 1989 engagement, VF-32 Tomcats were having their low-vis schemes modified and were in the process of being repainted. The application of Light Ghost Grey, FS36375, on the lower surfaces of the planes was being removed and was going to be replaced with Dark Ghost Grey, FS 36320, which was going to just to be extended downwards from the sides of the aircraft. However, it is believed "207" did not have a complete application of the Dark Ghost Grey on the undersides at the time of the dogfight. Apparently some Light Ghost Grey still remained in the "Hellhole", the area between both engine housings behind the intakes on the belly. Based on this information, I sprayed the fuselage sides with Dark Ghost Grey as well as the undersides of the forward part of the nose. I used Model Master Enamel Dark Ghost Grey for that. I then sprayed the remaining part of the belly with Vallejo Light Ghost Grey, FS 36375, to depict the area which had not been repainted yet on the actual aircraft. I post shaded the Dark Ghost Grey with lightened splotches as well. 

The vertical stabs have been painted with Dark Ghost Grey. However, I have to mask those off to paint the areas of FS 35237 Medium Grey where the VF-32 motif and "AC" tail code are to be placed. Next step will be some panel line work and some touch-ups on the Light Ghost Grey areas (the 2090 tape pulled up a patch of the Vallejo). Stay tuned.


Regards,

Ian

Thanks, Boots!

Amazing researching and paint work!