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1/48 F-14A VF-143 'Pukin Dogs'


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Finally got this Hasegawa kit from the stash to the display shelf.

I have always liked the lines of the Tomcat and I miss not seeing her at airshows anymore.

One aspect of the F-14 I have always liked was how she looked on final. With wings fully forward, flaps down and gear lowered, the F-14 looks like a giant albatross. It is just cool to see this giant fighter gracefully slam the deck.

This kit was built out of the box. Since it was to be displayed inflight, I went with the kit cockpit. The only mods I made were to modify the landing gear to fully extend the struts.

Initially I was going to do the kit as a VF-84 'bones' bird but it seems like a popular subject and I was finding it difficult to motivate myself to produce a subject that has been done so many times. Instead I went with the 'pukin dogs'. The Eagle Strike decals depict a bird from 1977, back when the Navy had colorful aircraft.

Enjoy!

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Fantastic work! I really like the markings and in fact have the Microscale 1/72 sheet with similar option, which I really would like to do some day. Nice, subtle panel lines and weathering without over-extensive pre-shading. Looks much better this way!

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"Dog, one cero cero, you are on a 3/4 off a mile, call the ball"

Oh mi god!!!!!! I love your model...!!!!!!!!!!

I love a tomcats on the glideslope, in flight, parked, siting in cat shot, in flight refuel, in all positions hahaha...

If you take outdoor photos with the background sky the plane would seem real.

Only one question: The Tomcat can landing in a carrier deck loading four Phoenix, two sparrows, two sidewinders and two fuel tanks? No exceed the Max trap weight?

Cheers

FEDE

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Im doing the same thing,seeing this just made me want to finish mine..Nicely done..what is the brass rod attached to...STUMP

It is called a 'Plinth' block. Essentially a compressed paper block 4.5"x2.75"x1". It is dense and therefore heavy but is easy to drill and file out a square shaped hole to receive the other end of the square brass tube. They sell at Lowes for about $1.75 each. You can find them in the molding section.

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"Dog, one cero cero, you are on a 3/4 off a mile, call the ball"

Oh mi god!!!!!! I love your model...!!!!!!!!!!

I love a tomcats on the glideslope, in flight, parked, siting in cat shot, in flight refuel, in all positions hahaha...

If you take outdoor photos with the background sky the plane would seem real.

Only one question: The Tomcat can landing in a carrier deck loading four Phoenix, two sparrows, two sidewinders and two fuel tanks? No exceed the Max trap weight?

Cheers

FEDE

It is my understanding that trapping with as many six Phoenix and two sidewinders and tanks was actually done during the Tomcats development period in the early to mid 70s. That much weight could over stress the aircraft on landing so the Tomcat was never configured that way for normal operations.

However, I believe it was an accepted practice in the 70s to carry the 4x2x2 weapons combo and more than likely upon returning from a mission, the external tanks would probably be empty. I think this practice was discontinued in the 80s carrying only two phoenix missiles instead.

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Thank you very much for your reply.

I have searched in the net the data of the F-14A exact maximum weight of trap and did not find much.

I think with the real data can be done the calculation.

It is assumed that the external fuel tanks are empty and some of the internal fuel are burn or be released by the purge to lose weight.

But I think the plane must have a security level of fuel in case of "Wave Off" or "Bolter" and try again.

According to naval pilots "landing on a aircraft carriers is the best you can do with your clothes on", hahahaha.

Cheers

FEDE

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Thank you very much for your reply.

I have searched in the net the data of the F-14A exact maximum weight of trap and did not find much.

I think with the real data can be done the calculation.

It is assumed that the external fuel tanks are empty and some of the internal fuel are burn or be released by the purge to lose weight.

But I think the plane must have a security level of fuel in case of "Wave Off" or "Bolter" and try again.

According to naval pilots "landing on a aircraft carriers is the best you can do with your clothes on", hahahaha.

Cheers

FEDE

try the tomcat association website. You will find out more about the tomcat than you can imagine. www.tomcat-sunset.org/forums

Here is a great topic on what goes on as f-14s come into land. http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/forums/index.php?topic=6044.0

For this time frame the max trap weight was 51.8K pounds. It was later revised to 54k. The Aux tanks would be empty, the would have dumped fuel to get to landing weight. VAguely think they have enough gas for a couple of bolters then it is off to the tanker. Unless of course the weather sucks and there is no divert or tanker then you are either landing or swimming! Check out the website, you will be glad you did!

THIS IS SUCH AN AWESOME BUILD! That pukin dogs jet is just beautiful.

Edited by tomthegrom
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  • 4 weeks later...

That is one very beautiful piece of modeling. I love this sqdn's markings, but I just wish that Flag grade officers wife had stayed home, and not said that the emblem looked like a "Pukin Dog".......some folks have no business being associated with the military, and that includes masculine members also.

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