JP Models

Hello! Finished up another replica aircraft, this one after the Growler Airshow Team out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. This particular build is meant to replicate the aircraft flown at Aviation Nation in November, 2022. Hobby Boss Kit with Eduard cockpit detail kit. Tamiya acrylic paint and Mr. Color clear. It's really unfortunate Tamiya hasn't come out with a FA-18 or EA-18 model! The Hobby Boss / Meng kits struggle with a few parts of the aircraft. Took quite a bit of sanding, putty, more sanding and some admitting defeat on this one. Wasn't until I was looking at the final pictures of the model that I noticed Hobby Boss has the wingtip pods positioned too far back on the wing tips 🤦‍♂️. Will probably move the pods at some point forward as they are with the real aircraft. The Growler Airshow Team puts on a great show if you get a chance to see them live! Thanks for looking. Inspiration: More inspration:

Majel - Thank you!! I just finished up a pair of Tamiya F-14 Tomcats that were a dream to build. The Tamiya Mustang GT4 the same. The Nunu's a bit hit and miss. Way better than the Revell C7R kit, but the body to chassis fit on the Nunu kit could be better. The factory rubber tires are horrific in the Nunu kit. I went with 3D printed tires from Indycals. Otherwise, the Nunu kit really wasn't too bad, but it doesn't quite fall together like a Tamiya kit. The Nunu brand photo etch parts on the other hand... stay away!! They are terrible. Don't fit properly (or at all), curves don't line up, and the scale is off. If going with PE parts for the Nunu, look elsewhere beyond factory Nunu for PE parts.

Finished! The Nunu Audi R8 LMS EVO GT3, dressed in the Land Motorsports Montaplast livery from the 2019 IMSA Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. I spend a lot of time pouring over my race pics to get the details and intricacies accurately replicated. Every time I looked at a new picture I seemed to find more exposed carbon fiber! A few custom parts, a few PE parts from the Nunu detail kit (DO NOT recommend), and decals from Taylor Made decals / Decal Doc. Really quite pleased with the end result, really like this Land Motorsports livery and the details this team puts on their race cars. Tried multiple green colors to get the right dark green shade, and landed on multiple coats of Splash Paints 'Isle of Man Green' for the darker shade. A few of my race pics from the 2019 WGI IMSA race interspersed as my inspiration and reference. Thanks for looking!

Thank you all for the comments and compliments! I really wanted to focus on the replica part with realism in a flying type display. I appreciate your comments!

I've wanted to build this livery for quite a few years, and finally made it happen. Was fortunate to see the Tomcat Demo team back in 2003 prior to the decommissioning of the mighty and gorgeous Tomcat. Tamiya 1/48 scale F-14D Tomcat kit. Used Fightertown Decals 'Reaper Domination' decals for the VF-101 specific decals. Massive praise on the Fightertown Decals, they are phenomenal - best I've ever used. They're extremely thin and lay down over edges like they're pre-solvaset without being too fragile. Really fun to work with. Pretty much exclusive Tamiya paint and clear. Used a Factory Direct Models mount for in flight display. The Demo team of course didn't run ordinance or Phoenix missile rails, so I took a little liberty and added the air-to-air element for display. Thanks for looking, hope you enjoy:

Pushed the Tomcat through the finish line. These Tamiya kits are fantastic builds. The fit and finish really make the build and customization process quite enjoyable. Model wash panel line details and weathering: Wing weathering: Missiles: Cockpit unmasked finally following matte clear: Just about assembled complete! Thanks for looking! Completed shots over in the under glass section.

Panel lines are coming along. Using a combination of Tamiya panel line paint and Vallejo dark gray model wash. Using the Vallejo model wash, letting it try and then using hot water and/or Tamiya X-20A acrylic thinner works pretty well.

Didn't do a great job of getting progress shots through the painting, pre-shading, and assembly... but the 2003 Demo Tomcat is nearing the finish line. Gloss is on over the Tamiya Light Ghost Gray bottom and Dark Ghost Gray top. Using decals almost exclusively from the 'Reaper Domination' set from Fightertown Decals. Again, these decals are phenomenal. They lay down like they have solvaset already applied without being too delicate. Very enjoyable decals to apply. Onwards to painting panel lines!

Making more progress. Airframe is together and primed. Using some cotton balls for support for the front landing gear doors. Foam would have likely been better but... it's what I had. Demo Team never ran Phoenix missile / bomb pallets, but I'll be putting on some air/air ordinance for display. My only knock on the Tamiya kit, it'd be nice if it came with internal canopy masks as well as the external! Primed using Tamiya AS-10 Ocean Gray.

Progressing here on the Tomcat - another shot of the cockpit before assembling into the nose, and starting to put the fuselage and body together. This shot before I weathered the cockpit and sanded the stick boot (oops). Doing this build as a gear up flying replica, so needed to cut out a couple pieces to bridge the landing gear doors. A bit of cutting, sanding, fitting , and bracing, but overall okay. Kit's not designed for gear up display but it'll do! Starting on the nozzles as well. Thanks for looking!

I certainly miss the Tomcat as well! What a beautiful, functional, and BA fighter jet. Putting the seats and Pilot / REO together. Using Fightertown Decals for the Tomcat Demo Grim Reapers specific livery. So far really enjoying the Fightertown decal quality. They are extremely thin and lay down wonderfully.

Working on a Tamiya F-14D in 1/48 scale, in the livery that the Tomcat Demonstration Team ran in 2003; the one and only time I got to see a Tomcat live (and it didn't disappoint)! Here's a few reference shots on what I'm trying to replicate: Started as the box describes with the cockpit, but shaving most of the raised surfaces and replaced with eduard F-14D cockpit PE detail kit. The eduard stuff is really good. This is my 3rd aircraft model using their detail up photo etch and it's top notch.

Outstanding build. You nailed the paint and exhaust colors, looks fantastic.

Highest quality, level of detail, and realism. Top notch is an understatement!!

My take on the Revell C7R kit. What a frustrating kit at times!! Didn't do a great job of taking WIP pics, chassis built more or less as it comes from the kit, with some fairly major sanding and trimming to get the body to sit down properly. Getting started. Using the Classic Racing Resins upgrade kit: Fit was pretty good, used CA Accelerator to get the glue to hold. Primer and sanding: Cut the plastic apart using a Dremel with a thin cutting disc. Not sure there's a way to get this body to sit properly with the factory plastic windows. More filler and sanding: Final assembly beginning: Used fuel filter screen to add more detail to the mesh grille opening: Used a 3D pen to and staples to make the front pitot tubes: Thanks for looking!