TGarthConnelly Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Hi Guys, Well, today is the day of the week that I go over to my modeler, Stan's house to watch him build models for me. Our current project is a 1:144 Hobby Craft F-14A Tomcat. A couple of months ago, I was able to, via my brother, win two 1:144 F-14As - one from Hobby Craft and one from Ace on Ebay, ... something like $5 for the pair. I gave the one from Ace to Stan as a way to say thanks ... The Hobby Craft kit isn't a bad little kit. It looks like a Tomcat, but the rivet-counters out there will find tons of errors. Though, there isn't even so much of as a rudimentary cockpit or pylons for the wings. Stan will scratch-build pylons for the wings so that 4 AIM-9s can be hung there. My 14 will be configured in the short-ranged interception role, 4 AIM-9s, 4 AIM-7s and 2 external fuel tanks. A nice man named Jim Moses sent me a 1:144 weapons set with the required missiles, and it contains what looks like the external fuel tanks. I got the STARFIGHTER DECALS 1:144 set for VF-111 SUNDOWNERS. I am a little disappointed in that - a few years ago, when I originally ordered the set, I thought I was getting markings for MISS MOLLY. However, last week, when I was at Stan's and as he was gluing the fuselage and wings together, I looked at the set and whereas it's from VF-111, a F-14 with "200" on the nose with a sharkmouth's motif - there's no MISS MOLLY nose-art ... Oh, well. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGarthConnelly Posted January 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 Just before Christmas, I decided to do an experiment. Have a 1:144 kit built for me, to see if I'd like it and to see if it'd save shelf-space. Whereas, 1:144 would definitely save space, I was extremely disappointed in the 1:144 Academy F-14 Tomcat. Sure, my guy's a "master-modeler" with talent up the wahzoo, the kit is toylike with no detail ... there wasn't even a basic cockpit, just two GAPING holes there, the landing gear wheels were/are HUGE ... Even with a talented builder, a reasonable looking paint job, STARFIGHTER DECALS and aftermarket missiles - it was a disappointment (although I did not say that to my builder). I won't be getting anymore 1:144 fighters ... I MIGHT try and track down the out-of-production MINICRAFT 1:144 PBY-5A and see how that turns out ... Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 16, 2016 Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 Most people who build 1/144 build only the very largest planes such as bombers and transports, and even though only build them if they have very limited display space, or just want a "fast, undetailed" build. Many of the 1/144 molds are actually quite old, dating from the 70s and 80s, so scale fidelity and detailing are decidedly lacking at times. 1/144 is a tough scale to build for, no matter how talented a builder may be. It's certainly too small to try to duplicate anything but the largest parts of a cockpit (like a seat). The best thing is to do what you've been doing: ask here about something before you buy it. Generally, someone will know about it well enough to steer you to or away from it! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGarthConnelly Posted January 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 Thanks Gil! I'm going to try and down a MINICRAFT 1:144 PBY-5A and have Stan do it as a Black Cat. I've ALWAYS wanted one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimpearsall Posted January 17, 2016 Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 OK, I build 1/144. I tell people the reason is that my modeling room used to be the golf cart garage... and it's also the pantry and laundry room. VERY limited space. But I do build stuff smaller than a B-29. This one fits nicely on a penny. http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/mignet-hm14-pou-du-ciel-flying-flea Jim Pearsall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Wow! Nice to see I don't have a corner on plastic masochism! I cannot imagine trying to build with such delicacy in so small a scale. Congrats! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGarthConnelly Posted January 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Well, it's academic now. Two of my 4 Siamese cats (one aptly named Temujin ... i.e.: Genghas Kahn) DESTROYED the F-14 ........................ DESTROYED it ............. 0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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