Just recently I was introduced to Testors Modelmaster Metalizers. There had been talk that MM Metalizers were on their way off the hobby shop shelves in Canada (something to do with environmental problems???), however I was able to find them at Burnaby Hobbies and the proprietor said that that "if they kept catering to the environmentalists...they'd be out of business..." They get them directly from Testors.
With the Polished Steel metalizer, I did the open and closed burner cans and buffed them with a Q-tip. Then I took a somewhat sharp pen, and using the graphite did the inner petals of the burner cans to give it a somewhat darker shade. Didn't turn out all that great, but I'll do better next time. ~evil grin~
The F-14 interior cockpit is supposed to done in a Dark Gull Grey, or what Humbrol calls it's #140. I ended up doing it in Humbrol #87 which was actually Matt Steel Grey, which would be more adequate for the hull of a U.S. Navy battleship. So this time, I'm asking Paul at Three Floors to find me Humbrol #140 which is Matt Gull Grey
The F-14D Prototype's Ejection Seats are actually GRU-7s. The prototype was flight-tested with the old seats and then was outfitted with the NACES for the production "D"s. Right now the seats are partially done, and require me to do some work on the seat cushions, which will end up being painted with Humbrol #86 which is Matt Light Olive. It approximates the seat cushion color and I can lighten it a bit with Testors yellow. As far as the ejection seat loops, I painted the whole loops with yellow and then painted the black stripes on with Sharpie pen. In later models, I'll do them with an architect drafting pen. As far as the harness and buckles, I'll do them with a brown harness and silver buckles (when I get the silver marker). (pic below right)
(pic middle) The F-14D's rear cockpit instrument panel cover. I have a gut-feeling that this cover color is a little too dark and I intend to find a better brown color for this. I feel the color needs to be a slightly lighter brown.
(pic upper left) The rear instrument panel is being worked on. At one point I wanted to do a scratchbuilt, but it costs too much to get some styrene, so I figure, I'll stick with the decals and work on scratchbuilt cockpits later on when I feel up to it.
(pic right) The cockpit section has been assembled but not painted yet. When I get the #140 Matt Gull Grey, I'll brushpaint that section, then place the decals denoting the control panels on.
(pic left) When I tried to remove some spillage of white paint from the canopy, I ended up running into a problem with fogging because I stupidly decided paint should be removed with paint-thinner. I will now have to take some Micromesh 2000 grit, some Novus plastic polish and sand the fogging out
This is the front and rear views to the rear fuselage that I assembled last year, and haven't managed to get past yet...But hopefully, I'll be able to do that this year sometime.
The F-14D cockpit after I brush-painted Humbrol 140 on it. Or otherwise known as Matt Gull Grey. The cockpit is decal, and is really in need of a good aftermarket kit, but considering the shape issues of the Fujimi F-14D, I figured, I'd better not waste my money on the aircraft and save my resin seats for the Hasegawa.
After a long hard night of sweating over the decal cockpit, it turned out like this. BLEECH...oh well. This will probably end up becoming a test bed aircraft rather than waste the decals on a prototype aircraft. I'll turn a Revell-Monogram bird into an actual "D" Prototype. I'll bring over the decals from Fujimi.
After redoing the ejection seats, they don't seem to look any better. Could it be "shaky hand" syndrome? Hmmm, I have to wonder.
