F-14B Tomcat on busy flight deck by Arjen Balk
Brand: Fujimi
Scale: 1/72
Modeler: Arjen Balk

 

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Introduction

 

(This contribution is an enhanced version of the flight deck diorama already displayed on this site)

After building my first F-14 Tomcat (1/48 scale) years ago, I wanted to create a busy flight deck diorama which included an F-14 being pre-flight checked for a Combat Air Patrol mission, together with all associated vehicles, sailors and equipment. Due to the expected size of the flight deck diorama, I chose the 1/72 scale for all items.

Useful references for building a flight deck diorama are www.navy.mil and www.combatedgeproductions.com



F-14B Tomcat

The F-14 is built from a Fujimi kit. The Fujimi kits provide several options for building the F-14 (F-14A, B or D) and have excellent details. The final choice was an F-14B of VF-143 “Pukin’ Dogs”, since these included the low-visibility decals which have been used until the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2005.

One of the challenges was to include aircraft and flight deck lighting. LED-lighting is installed within the aircraft in the internal space available, and where necessary the light is transmitted by small glass-fibre cables. The cockpit screens are illuminated, the taxi, chinpod and navigation lights are working and the position lights are made of illuminating strips. The electrical cables are “camouflaged” in the diorama by the external power supply cable from underneath the flight deck to the nose gear compartment (which in reality consists of only one cable).

The deck-edge lights are also working, as well as the head- and back lights of the tow trucks and fire truck.

The cockpit is enriched with several details, like the canopy locks, flight crew harnesses, ejection seat accessories, communication wires on the oxygen masks, instruments installed on the windscreen in front of the pilot, canopy ejection handles and canopy ventilation couplings. These details are all built from electrical wire, plastic strips, tape, etc.

The aircraft is fully loaded with air-to-air missiles for a Combat Air Patrol mission. The safety pins for the Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles are made from electrical wire and the “remove before flight” streamers are printed on the 1/72 scale. Streamers are also included at the nose gear (external power supply), main landing gear and flare container. The aircraft is “earthed” near the nose gear. The rudders of the vertical stabilisers are cut and reassembled with a deflection.

The tie-downs are from White Ensign Models. This kit also includes the padeyes in the flight deck and the tie-down straps.

Finally wear-and-tear on all surfaces is simulated by using charcoal (e.g. the gun and underneath the canopy) and chalk (flight deck).

      
      
    
Click on the images to enlarge!



Fire truck and tow trucks

All trucks are Fujimi kits and include several flight deck figures. Several details are added to the trucks, like the chocks, tie-down straps and handholds on the trucks, fire hose and foam cannon. One of the tow trucks is being used as air starter. The air hose is made of a painted shoelace with black iron wire wound around it.

      
  
Click on the images to enlarge!



Flight deck figures

The flight deck figures come from the fire- and tow truck kits. Three such kits are used, so most figures have been manipulated to make them look different. Most heads, arms and legs have been cut off and the figures have been reassembled in the correct position. Some figures are enriched with further details, like hand torches (flight crew & plane captains), whistles (plane handlers) and decals on clothes and helmets.

      
      
      
      
Click on the images to enlarge!



Other accessories

The other equipment on the flight deck (towbars, chocks, bins, fire extinguishers) come from a Verlinden kit. All towbars are enriched with their locking pins. The chain is made of twisted electrical wires.

The ordnance trolley to transport Sidewinder missiles is completely made of surplus plastic parts. The fuel hose is made from electrical wire and its nozzle of surplus plastic parts.



Diorama

The flight deck is cut from a carving board, which provides the necessary texture of the flight deck. The holes for the padeyes are drilled, filled with clay and the padeyes are glued inside the holes. A wooden framework underneath the diorama is provided for the necessary strength and to support the angled deck at the stern.



 


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  Photos and text © 2011 by Arjen Balk

August 19, 2011

www.carrierbuilders.net