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Skull Leader

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Everything posted by Skull Leader

  1. I'm pretty sure I've stated before... I don't see the utility of such a book. It's not as if the Tamiya kit were in any way a challenge to build. In fact, if the kit were any easier, a drunk monkey could build and win an IPMS regional with it. but hey, it's your money!
  2. No, we need people to give it a rest.
  3. Not to bag on Martin, who is likely just the messenger, but (proper) transparency is a lost art. There might be an inbound, canned response now that they've missed their most recent shipping date that neatly dodges the real concerns of everyone here, but I don't expect anything of substance
  4. Summer 2018 has officially come and gone.
  5. a little transparency would go a long ways towards bolstering that faith.
  6. no one's done LGTRs in plastic form that I'm aware of, but they wouldn't be difficult to scratchbuild.
  7. But the number of people going full-potato on this feels excessive... even for ARC.
  8. Model Master french blue is a close match.
  9. Tamiya has a very simple fix for that.
  10. they DO have navy colors... just not in acrylic. Only their new enamel line
  11. According to the command history file, VF-103 made their transition in January of 1989 and were fully checked out by that February, immediately followed by a whirlwind det to Key West. The rest of the year was spent flying in FFARP, Operation Eagle Thrust, and Top Gun exercises, spending some time on 'Sara's shakedown cruise that August.
  12. I can't give you the exact date of the transition (I have the command history file, but it's stored on an external drive I can't get to at the moment), but they transitioned before they deployed to the gulf. Also, squadrons (barring the RAGs, who were responsible for training on multiple types) transition their jets all at once. VF-101 took all the sluggers F-14As on strength and issued them 12 F-14A Plus airframes over about a week to two week period as I recall. There may have been a mix for a few days on the ramp at Oceana, but by the time they went to the 'Sara, they would have all been F-
  13. No, 163 prefixes were all new-builds. As I said, I know better than to say for certain, only that it seems VERY unlikely.
  14. the VF-2 jet in question was a new-build F-14D and would not have had that panel blanked off. F-14Ds had the TARPS wiring re-routed so that the sparrow well would not have to be blocked. If it were an A model rebuild, that might be different. I would be very interested to see the research Tamiya did that led them to make that decision... I learned long ago to "never say never" when it comes to what one can find on a Tomcat, because there always seems to be an exception to the rule, but this indeed would be a first.
  15. That is an error on Tamiyas part. F-14Ds did not make use of those panels. Those were F-14A/Bs that were wired for TARPS pods. D models were wired differently and didn't require station 5 to be blocked off.
  16. It is my understanding that the AMK measurements are very similar to the Tamiya in terms of overall shape. Shouldn't be an issue.
  17. Here's the thing... the world isn't exactly hurting for a new 1/32 F-14. We weren't hurting for a new one in 1/48. We didn't NEED the tamiya, and we don't need the AMK. People didn't want a BETTER tomcat kit, the hasegawa kit is amazing. They really just wanted an easier one. I'm not saying they aren't nice (I own some tamiyas and I've got 2 amks on preorder), but that's creative energy that could have been better spent on a less represented subject. Especially so in 1/32.
  18. I'm not saying it should never be made... I'm sure if enough of the LSP mafia got together and collectively screeched at Tamiya long enough, something might happen... it just isn't practical. I can't imagine they sell a ton of their existing 1/32 Tomcats.
  19. given the price creep on the existing F-14A kit now edging it close to $200, the cost of a new-tool F-14 kit in 1/32 would be obscene. The new 1/48 kit MSRPs for nearly the cost of the 1994 1/32 kit. I appreciate that this hobby is making it easier for those who don't prefer to actually "model" to build, but that simply isn't a cost effective idea... most people, if they bought one at all, likely wouldn't buy more than one. I'll pass.
  20. Monogram/Revell also has the F-111A kit in 1/48 that was originally an Aurora mold, with all the joys that entails.
  21. not AS common, but common enough. I've got plenty of photos with the canopy up and the boarding ladder closed (some with steps open, some with steps closed), it was probably most common after a jet had been re-spotted, either before or after a flight.
  22. In terms of decal availability, early A+/B paintschemes are some of the most under-represented Tomcat paintschemes available.
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