Platycqb Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Thanks for stepping in with the information. :thumbsup:/> As was mentioned, the F-14Ds in the linked photos can be identified by either the distinctive dual chin pod or squadron markings. VF-2, VF-31 and VF-213 were the only 3 operational F-14D squadrons. Mark VF-11 did a couple of years on D before moving back to B models. And don't forget the RAG squadrons: VF-101 and VF-124. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 VF-11 did a couple of years on D before moving back to B models. And don't forget the RAG squadrons: VF-101 and VF-124. Ah, yes. Forgot about VF-11. Interesting that they moved to the D then B before transitioning to the SH. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Platycqb Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) Ah, yes. Forgot about VF-11. Interesting that they moved to the D then B before transitioning to the SH. Mark Same as with the VF-211 getting some time on the B models before switching back to the venerable A models, before transitioning to the SH. :)/> Edited April 24, 2015 by Platycqb Quote Link to post Share on other sites
White Wolf Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 Sprue shots and decal options are out. http://www.modelkasten.com/f14tomcat/index.html VF-31 as always, but very surprised at the chosen markings. If I'm not wrong, they're from the late 90s? At least it'll be easy to paint, overall Gull Gray! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 So, the slats and flats are molded to the wings, that means if I want to model the aircraft in the launch position, I have to use the wings from the Hasegawa kit? And someone will need to hunt for the 1:72 low-viz vf-31 decals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I like the details ( 3rd pic from left) : http://hlj.com/product/MDGMAG1507/Boo So, the slats and flats are molded to the wings, that means if I want to model the aircraft in the launch position, I have to use the wings from the Hasegawa kit? Yeah, I'm a little disappointed by that too. I wonder why FM decided against the separate slats & flaps. I mean if you're going to have such a detailed kit, why not throw in the slats/ flaps too? And if they are worried about production costs, just release those parts in another issue of the magazine. <_< Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galileo1 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 (edited) That picture on the mag looks amazing! Even at 1/72 (not my scale), I'm really looking forward to this one. And yes, it's a bummer the slats/flaps are molded with the wing. Oh well, can't have everything I guess. Rob Edited April 27, 2015 by galileo1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
galileo1 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I like the details ( 3rd pic from left) : http://hlj.com/product/MDGMAG1507/Boo Man, those seats will need replacing me thinks. They don't look much like the one on the D version... Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bartkoh Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Folks, there could be a possibility *fingers-crossed* that FM will provide two types of wings. One with options for the flaps/slats deployed, and the clean version (as depicted). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 (edited) Sprue shots and decal options are out. http://www.modelkasten.com/f14tomcat/index.html VF-31 as always, but very surprised at the chosen markings. If I'm not wrong, they're from the late 90s? At least it'll be easy to paint, overall Gull Gray! VF-31 never deployed with those markings... More specifically, they never deployed with the glossy poly gull gray, black tail, and yellow MODEX. That jet was BuNo 164348, and it was repainted to look like the markings depicted in the kit shortly after VF-11 left CVW-14 and went back east. VF-31 deployed with VF-11 in 1996 as a MODEX "2xx" squadron, and deployed next as the only F-14 squadron in CVW-14 with a MODEX "1xx" on the nose in 1998. By the time they deployed, 164348 had been transferred to VF-213, and NK100 was transferred to 164600. 164600 was given the black tail and ventral fins, but it did not have the flashy all-yellow MODEX and the skunk stripe, and it was the standard overall TPS paint job. VF-31 NK100 164348: VF-31 NK100 164600 on OSW mission in 1998: It wouldn't take too much modification to make 164348 into 164600, marking-wise. One of the cool things about 164600 as a CAG jet from a modeling perspective is that we had an awesome loadout on that cruise. Note the Rockeye on the belly next to an AIM-54... Absolutely yes the F-14D carried the Phoenix, by the way... Edited April 27, 2015 by Neeko Quote Link to post Share on other sites
glorystomper Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Folks, there could be a possibility *fingers-crossed* that FM will provide two types of wings. One with options for the flaps/slats deployed, and the clean version (as depicted). source? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dmanton300 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I'm prepared to stick my neck out and say the lack of deployed slates and flaps is, for me, a highlight of this kit, not a drawback. Apart from launch and recovery, you'll be hard pressed to find pictures of a Tomcat with them deployed, and certainly not generally when static. The slats were powered, not gravity operated unlike, say, a Skyhawk's, so it was much more common for them to be retracted. I'm also hoping for airbrakes moulded in the closed position! Commence firing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cvrle Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I don't think they will give us two types of wings. But I also don't think it's a drawback... If I must, I can crosskit with a Hasegawa kit. I only wish I could afford more than one... :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I'm prepared to stick my neck out and say the lack of deployed slates and flaps is, for me, a highlight of this kit, not a drawback. Apart from launch and recovery, you'll be hard pressed to find pictures of a Tomcat with them deployed, and certainly not generally when static. The slats were powered, not gravity operated unlike, say, a Skyhawk's, so it was much more common for them to be retracted. I'm also hoping for airbrakes moulded in the closed position! Commence firing! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
-Neu- Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I'm prepared to stick my neck out and say the lack of deployed slates and flaps is, for me, a highlight of this kit, not a drawback. Apart from launch and recovery, you'll be hard pressed to find pictures of a Tomcat with them deployed, and certainly not generally when static. The slats were powered, not gravity operated unlike, say, a Skyhawk's, so it was much more common for them to be retracted. I'm also hoping for airbrakes moulded in the closed position! Commence firing! No I totally agree. I built the hasegawa and fujimi kits for that reason. The Hasegawa kit I built at rest; wings at full sweep and slats/flaps retracted. That was a bit of extra work that wasn't really necessary. Conversely I built the Fujimi kit on the cat with flaps and slats out. The kit also comes with a compressed oleo and pilots, which is a nice touch for that option. Thinking about this logically, I think the FM/MG are aiming to be a very specific type of display model: an aircraft with its panels open inside the ship. If you are not concerned with that (i.e. want to build it sitting with panels closed), then you should basically go with the Hasegawa kit which can be obtained at far lower cost in Japan (there are a fair few of these kits on the shelves at local hobby stores.) Pre/post-flight aircraft are far better served by the fujimi kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 What? No pilots? It is unbuildable. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
172flogger Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 source: HLJ facebook: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anders_Isaksson Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) Looking good! Indeed a bit baffled by the lack of posable slats/flaps but the FM Tomcat is still a must have in my book. :) Edit: I may be way off but from looking at the sprue in the background it does look like the wings are somewhat modular? But that may be more of a construction aspect with upper and lower wing section and not a way to offer separate parts. Edited May 14, 2015 by Anders_Isaksson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 I'm prepared to stick my neck out and say the lack of deployed slates and flaps is, for me, a highlight of this kit, not a drawback. Apart from launch and recovery, you'll be hard pressed to find pictures of a Tomcat with them deployed, and certainly not generally when static. The slats were powered, not gravity operated unlike, say, a Skyhawk's, so it was much more common for them to be retracted. I'm also hoping for airbrakes moulded in the closed position! Commence firing! It was more common to see the flaps and slats deployed. Not sure where you got that info from..every F-14 I've ever seen on the ramp during my visits were typically parked with the wings swept back, or if the wings were out, the slats and flaps were deployed. It was a rare sight to see them not deployed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 I think I'll be getting a 1/72 Tomcat for the stash... This looks cool and worth getting. A few issues I see with the decals but nothing that 99% of us will matter too to much. ;) NAVY's are off - A should be a different font and all letters more spread out, the national insignia for the early 100 option should be larger. Hopefully the RESCUE and data box text is in red. I'm not seeing gear or canopy names. The modex is too spread out and corners too slanted. Buno is the wrong font. Flap numbers are too big... But like I said, who'd notice that ^_^ What's with the 1/48 scale AOA probe? Just stirring up the pot. Looking forward to this. -brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dmanton300 Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) It was more common to see the flaps and slats deployed. Not sure where you got that info from..every F-14 I've ever seen on the ramp during my visits were typically parked with the wings swept back, or if the wings were out, the slats and flaps were deployed. It was a rare sight to see them not deployed. Actually looking through 200 or so pics line I've just done, it was very rare to see a Tomcat on the ramp without the wings either swept or in oversweep, thus by definition being packed away. Of the two pics I found of them swept forward one was packed away and one was deployed. I'll defer to your knowledge in the everyday as you clearly spent more ramp time with them than I did (a couple hours with Pukin' Dogs B models at Yeovilton in 1994!), but pictures show its rare for the wings to even be in a position to deploy the slats and flaps when parked. But thats Google image search! ;)/>/> Nah, I'm happy those wings don't have slats and flaps separate! Edit:- just repeated the exercise on airliners dot net. Of the first 225 photos I looked at, not a single parked and unattended Tomcat even had the wings swept forward, never mind with deployed surfaces! So I'm happy on all the photographic evidence I have retracted slats and flaps is far more common than deployed. Edited May 14, 2015 by Dmanton300 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 I'm so looking forward to this kit (even with my stash of 4 Hasegawas languishing away). Great video showing the details! (fastforward to about 9:10) Hey if anyone is willing to create a new set of 1/72 Jolly Rogers, I'd happily apply those instead. (It's hard to find a decent set of VF-103 decals in 72 scale that is in stock anywhere) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 (edited) Actually looking through 200 or so pics line I've just done, it was very rare to see a Tomcat on the ramp without the wings either swept or in oversweep, thus by definition being packed away. Of the two pics I found of them swept forward one was packed away and one was deployed. I'll defer to your knowledge in the everyday as you clearly spent more ramp time with them than I did (a couple hours with Pukin' Dogs B models at Yeovilton in 1994!), but pictures show its rare for the wings to even be in a position to deploy the slats and flaps when parked. But thats Google image search! ;)/>/>/>/>/> Nah, I'm happy those wings don't have slats and flaps separate! Edit:- just repeated the exercise on airliners dot net. Of the first 225 photos I looked at, not a single parked and unattended Tomcat even had the wings swept forward, never mind with deployed surfaces! So I'm happy on all the photographic evidence I have retracted slats and flaps is far more common than deployed. Dude..I won't disagree concerning the model, but I've been in the know and pretty tight with enough aircrew and maintainers since 2001, sometimes making multiple visits to Oceana during the year. Was it rare to see an F-14 on the ramp with the wings out? Yep, but typically when they were, the flaps and slats were deployed. Regardless, if you'd like I'd be glad to send you a reference CD of every F-14 pic I've ever taken..maybe it can help you with your future model projects. Just a couple of examples of the norm.. Edited May 15, 2015 by VFA-103guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 The only reason that an F-14 would be parked on the line with the wings not in oversweep was to facilitate a maintenance or inspection requirement- normally involving the flaps, slats, or spoilers. If the wings were out on a parked jet, the flaps and slats would be deployed unless there was a specific reason to keep the wings slick (like replacing a crunched eyebrow door or something like that). I can't recall many or any time really that I saw a parked F-14 with slicked flaps and slats and wings out... Not saying it wouldn't or couldn't happen, but there would have to be a specific reason why this would be. Now that being said, a taxi shot like what I posted further up on this page is a perfect example of wings out/flaps and slats slick... but that is a lucky shot as the jet was going into oversweep shortly after the pic was taken. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Great info here. One point I'm still unclear about: If the wings were out and engine off, do the flaps and slats drop under gravity? Dmanton's earlier post indicate that these are powered (unlike A-4). But if no power, what happens? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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