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Todays Hobbies F-14a Tomcat by Don C. Viewed 403 times.
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Image Comments
Don C01-Sep-18 18:22
Trying to decide whether to follow the steps in the plan or finish the fuselage first.
David Duckett01-Sep-18 18:57
Looking great!!
heywooood01-Sep-18 19:09
shaping up nicely, Don...and I am reminded of how fragile the tail piece was. I think I snapped it off twice and left it off after the second time until I was ready to do the final prep for paint.
Don C02-Sep-18 10:22
So far I've only done it once. :)
Don C02-Sep-18 10:32
David: It looks like you just went ahead and finished the fuselage before building the wings, etc. That's what I am thinking of doing. And...No dope, just filler and Gesso? Thanks.
David Duckett02-Sep-18 11:01
No gesso on this one but lots of filler. It was doped, covered, and doped again before painting which is the normal routine. Compared to the fuselage, the wings are child's play so I probably finished the fuselage first.
Don C02-Sep-18 11:32
Thanks, DD. The Gesso question was for me and this one. If I understand it right, gesso takes the place of dope and silkspan. I thought I would give it a try. Gesso and filler, repeat, etc., but the last coat would be gesso?
David Duckett02-Sep-18 12:00
I think the last coat would be filler. Gesso dries hard and is prone to leave brush marks on balsa but gets very smooth with filler and sanding. Dope, by the way, on top of gesso is not a good idea as it seems to dissolve the gesso. Gesso on top of dope is fine. Julnick used gesso on his so maybe he can offer some insight. I would think that no more than two coats of gesso will suffice. Heywooood has the most experience with it.
Don C02-Sep-18 16:59
Thanks, DD. OK Heywooood and Julnick. What do you think?
heywooood02-Sep-18 21:47
I wasn't using Gesso yet when I built the Tomcat..I just spackled and sanded it over and over, maybe 4 times - then Deluxe Sand n' Seal was brushed on and allowed to dry for two days. I also built and completed the fuselage as if it were the entire model, tail, gear, canopy, the whole nine. I had pre-drilled the pinion holes for the wings so all I had to do was locate the wings when they were completed and drop in the pre-sanded dowel pins..But do whatever feels best for you.
Don C03-Sep-18 11:01
Deluxe Sand 'n Seal? Is that what you used on the "Bull Dog" over the Gesso?
heywooood03-Sep-18 15:33
yes - but I let the Gesso dry for two days prior and then let the Sand.n seal dry for two days, before I applied any paint..
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