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Academy F-14 Bombcat


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Hi,

I just picked up my Academy 1/48 Bombcat from the hobby shop this evening.

Just a heads up on something I don't recall seeing in the existing posts on the matter.

Academy has also updated the vertical tails by adding the strengthening plates, anti-collision lights and other details.

I must say that the revised vertical tails look a whole lot better than the dismal looking originals.

Jason

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Alrighty! That means it should be close to coming to the US. Maybe a month or so? I'm slowly building stock for A, B, and D update sets. All sets will include new wheel halves, PTIDS screen, hand controller, and a TACAN antenna. In addition, the B will include GE nozzles (covered at the moment, but I'm working on open ones) and the D will have nozzles, new instrument panels, chin pod, and the Sensor Slave Unit for on top of the RIO's instrument shroud. If you're going to do a D, you'll have to find seats. I'm not even going to attempt those!

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Would be in the market for one of your sets - managed to pick up 2 boxes of the Bombcat.

I'm pleasantly surprised we received ours so soon. It was an instant sell out over here.

Jason

Alrighty! That means it should be close to coming to the US. Maybe a month or so? I'm slowly building stock for A, B, and D update sets. All sets will include new wheel halves, PTIDS screen, hand controller, and a TACAN antenna. In addition, the B will include GE nozzles (covered at the moment, but I'm working on open ones) and the D will have nozzles, new instrument panels, chin pod, and the Sensor Slave Unit for on top of the RIO's instrument shroud. If you're going to do a D, you'll have to find seats. I'm not even going to attempt those!
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Darren,

Please keep working on a new nose section. It's worth the $10 or so it would cost to cast it. C'mon, like you need more to do. That is my (*and everyones) only beef with the thing and has been since it came out.

Jeff

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Its at a time like this that I wish I was living in Asia so I could acquire one right now. Oh sure there is always HLJ, but I think I'll be better off waiting for it to hit locally anyway. I've got plenty to keep me busy til then anyway. :)

The nose isn't really that hard to fix when all things are considered. But I do agree that a nicely done resin nose piece would be a thing I would buy if I had the opportunity to get one.

BTW Jason, if you could look over the parts, does this kit issue still have some of the original Tomcat pieces in it such as the two hole gun gas vent, the chin pods and the original style main gear doors in addition to the Bombcat pieces? It would be nice if they kept those original bits as there are still some standard F-14As I would love to build from this kit as I can't locate the original Minicraft Tomcat kits locally all that easy anymore.

Thanks for the update BTW. :D

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Jay,

All these items are still present on the sprues.

Jason

BTW Jason, if you could look over the parts, does this kit issue still have some of the original Tomcat pieces in it such as the two hole gun gas vent, the chin pods and the original style main gear doors in addition to the Bombcat pieces? It would be nice if they kept those original bits as there are still some standard F-14As I would love to build from this kit as I can't locate the original Minicraft Tomcat kits locally all that easy anymore.

Thanks for the update BTW. :D

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Hey, Jason, just wondering: what are the decals like? In terms of quality, I mean. I think I remember reading someone else here who'd gotten a copy say that they were pretty good, but I'm not positive of that. If they are, I'll probably have to pick myself up at least one of 'em (then hope Darren can get that replacement nose for it cast :thumbsup: )...

Daniel

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Daniel,

The printing & register looks OK. Can't speak for ease of use, etc.

Markings are for 2 VF-154 jets and include some mission markings.

Jason

Hey, Jason, just wondering: what are the decals like? In terms of quality, I mean. I think I remember reading someone else here who'd gotten a copy say that they were pretty good, but I'm not positive of that. If they are, I'll probably have to pick myself up at least one of 'em (then hope Darren can get that replacement nose for it cast :worship: )...

Daniel

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Here is a picture of the Steel Beach F-14D update. The B update will be the same minus the instrument panels, SSU, and chin pod. The A update will contain just the wheels, TACAN antenna, PTIDS, and hand controller.

Looks nice Darren- are these just for the Monogram & Academy kits are will they also do for the Hasegawa?

And one more thing- we need a HUD frame!

Edited by toadwbg
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This is just for the Academy kit. Everything you need comes in the Hasegawa kit. In regards to HUD frames, that will have to be done by someone else. That's beyond my meager casting skills.

Technically you might be correct.

I don't like the Hasegawa HUD- just a piece of clear plastic :rofl:

I've never seen a Hasegawa kit with the square PTIDs screen, however I could be wrong. Also havn't seen the RIO personal-pizza box on the Hasegawa kit. Do any of their boxings come with these?

Hasegawa's joystics don't look good to me either.

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