1/72 HobbyBoss F-14D Super Tomcat VF-2 Bounty Hunters

1/72 HobbyBoss F-14D Super Tomcat. I went with the VF-2 Bounty Hunters CAG bird (the kit has 3 decal options!). Overall the kit was a really nice build that went together well. No major issues at all. A couple of areas needed just a bit of putty and the HUD needs to be shaved down to about half its height in order for the windscreen to fit. Panel lines are nice and fine. The kit came with 4 Phoenix, 2 Sidewinder, and 2 Sparrow missiles. I decided to give her a full Phoenix load of 6 missiles. I had some phoenix missiles left over in 1/72 from another tomcat build so that was no issue. Funny thing about the Phoenix decals is they only have dummy stripes and even funnier is that the markings are for AIM-54A's even though this F-14D carried AIM-54C's. So since the markings are for A's, I gave the missiles the white paint scheme with a gray head. I didnt mind the dummy stripes so much considering the full Phoenix load was never used operationally, only for testing and photo-ops. So i just said "it's for a photo-op!" ? I used Mr. Surfacer primer and Tamiya enamels. I used a high gloss acrylic then used a Tamiya black detail wash as well as dry pastels for the weathering and finished it off with Testors dullcote. After looking at reference photos I decided to weather the living s*** out of it. Those tomcats out at sea were some dirty birds! The decals are standard HobbyBoss decals (can we just take a moment to admire HobbyBoss decals?!). They are thin like Hasegawa but more durable so you can move them around a bit. They fit super snug and just love to get in those panel lines. I only used a little microsol and those puppies were set! I made the intake covers (cardboard, masking tape) and "remove before flight" tags (paper). I really enjoyed this build and it ended up getting 3rd in Aircraft 1/72 and smaller.

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