Hi this is my first article here to ARC and hopefully more to come. I just wanted to say that ARC has help a great deal with me getting info. for this model as well as the rest of my models. I have been making models since I was 6 years old. I am 18 now and I enjoy making a Tomcat model because it is my favorite jet. Ok this model is the great 1/48 Hasegawa F-14B. This kit is great but it's also a pain in the butt when it comes to construction. I won't go into detail with this kit because a lot has already been said in past articles. I wanted to make my Tomcat from NAWCWD or now know as VX-30 the "BloodHounds" from NAS Point Mugu, CA.  As I enjoy these test Tomcats the most, because these Tomcats are so weathered and get to test new weapons. This model is of Tomcat "210" from the BloodHounds, I have added a photo of the real thing. I live about 45 min. away from  Point Mugu, so as a kid growing up, I have always gone to the Point Mugu airshows, which is always one of my favorites. So I started the kit, all I used was the Black Box cockpit, Hasegawa weapons set and some decals that I made on my computer.

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Painting and Weathering:
I used Model Masters Dark Ghost Grey for the top side and Light Ghost Grey for the bottom side. I sprayed it using my Aztec air brush. I then used lighter shades of Dark Ghost Grey and Light Ghost Grey along with  Neutral Grey for paint patch work where ever needed to get that worn out and continually flown look. I did this by dry brushing these different colors inside panel lines, and other areas where Tomcats usually get the most weathered. I then used Pastel chalks with black and brown washes for the panel lines and oil streaks. The model was then sealed with Testors dull coat finish.

Decals:
I had a hard time finding any pics  of this great test squadron. I did managed to find 5 good enough pictures to help me out in reference to the real thing. So I had to make my own decals because there are no aftermarket companies that make this
squadron. I did this with my computer using just a pic of the tail art from one of the pics and just doing my best with drawing skills. When seen in person the tail art is 100% exactly the same as the tail art on that aircraft at that time. Now they have 3 dogs heads for tail art and man it looks great, this logo is already in the works for me for my next project that I will make an NF-14D from the same squadron but with new logo. Decals came out and went on great, I used decal paper and I sealed it. Then the jet was again sealed with a flat coat.

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Scratch Built and Weapons:
I also scratch built two bombracks using only football cards, yes football cards and some putty along with ejector pins from another kit. Football cards work great when it comes to bombracks. They look great and are pretty much the right size and
shape. I used 2 GBU-10's and 2 AIM-9's and the LANTIRN Pod from Hasegawa.

That's it I hope you like it!

Mike 

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