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GROUP BUILD ENTRY no.84
Raffle no. 75

1/48 Hasegawa F-14A, VF-31 Tomcatters
by Matt Kuhn (TexasBlues)
Marietta, GA USA

This is my first ever group-build project and my second model in almost 20 years. It is the Hasegawa ‘Bicentennial Tomcat’ in 1:48 scale.  It is built OOB except for some of my own custom scratch-built items such as ballistic curtains and the total temperature probe in the intake. Unfortunately, neither of these items can be seen here.

After reading the many posts at ARC regarding the intakes, I decided to give them a try to see if I would be able to assemble them with any success at realism. They were difficult, but I was able to get them almost totally smooth on the inside.

I didn’t use any outside references other than my memory. I was in VF-31 in the mid 80s as well as VF-102, and VF-41. I used my experiences as an AE and my undying love and fascination for the Tomcat to detail, paint, and weather this entry.  Despite some problems with my final dull-coats, it went together pretty well, and I am quite pleased with the final result.  I used Tamiya Acrylics for the office furnishings, MM enamels for workspace lighting, Gunze Acrylics for the topside and underside main coats, as well as pastel washes and dry pastel powders from Bragdonent.com for the weathering.

Thanks for looking; I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

HAPPY MODELLING!

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