I'm sure you all know all the pros and cons of the Hase 1/72 F-14 kit. I was reading a lot about it in ARC forums and decided to give it a shot. I opted for a lesser modelled squadron of VF-103 Sluggers and their markings from their last cruise and testing of the LANTIRN pod. I've used the Italeri's Flircat decals but I wasn't satisfied with the noseart decals and decided to build one without them (I still plan to make custom noseart decals at a later date). I've also replaced the cockpit thub and seats with the ones from Verlinden detail set along with the gun bay and ammo drum. I also added two GBU-12 bombs and LANTIRN pod from Hase weapons set. Since this was an early LANTIRN bird I didn't build PTIDS screen in the RIO's pit.

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This model was a number of first for me. For the first time I weathered GE engines (white with pastel powders); I sanded the nasty mould line from the main canopy and cured it with Future to get a shiny finish; I made a clear green colour with the use of Future and green mint food color; I preshaded the whole bird; made intake covers with tin foil... For a bunch of first times I am really satisfied with the end result... I managed to get quite a worn out and dirty Tomcat look...

Since most of the guys in the discussion groups were glorifying the Hase Cat I really wondered what would come out... At the end I was a bit disappointed... The main issues were:

- a nasty seam when I attached front fuselage to the rear one
- weird intakes (reason why I covered them)
- tricky part when installing the beaver tail into the rear fuselage
- installing the engine nacelles
- mould line on the main canopy
- two small holes on the inside of each exhaust feather
- too shallow panel lines

Still I somehow to overcome (mostly) these tricky parts and when I look at the finished model, it really looks like a Tomcat. I measured the whole thing and its also very near the real measurements... This ain't a model for a beginner however it is a base to build an outstanding model.

Sebastijan

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