Solo Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 I am thinking about forthcoming F-14D from GWH, which seems to be beautiful kit, but without any A2G ordnance or pods. Following that I am going to use some resin aftermarkets available, but the problem is the targeting pod. I know F-14D used LANTIRN AN/AAQ-25 pod, which is, as far as I know, not available in resin nor plastic. Is it possible to use Eduard’s LITENING AAQ-28 pod, or maybe there is some other proper for F-14D targeting device available on the market? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thegoodsgt Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 (edited) Enjoy! HLJ linkage (Fixed link.) Edited July 17, 2019 by thegoodsgt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 LANTIRN pod, LANTIRN adapter and BOL rails https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/m/10013101 Paveway II bombs and Tomcat bomb racks https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/m/10012005 Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 Did F-14D used ever AN/AAQ-13 or 14? I have never seen any picture of F-14 with those pods. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Leader Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 they tested with an ALQ-14 in 1995 before creating a pod that combined the two Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 3 hours ago, thegoodsgt said: Enjoy! HLJ linkage Steven, your link just points back to this thread. It don't go nowhere A different Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Skull Leader said: they tested with an ALQ-14 in 1995 before creating a pod that combined the two So this pod is not suitable for operational aircraft. What about AAQ-28? Eduard has got this resin available. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Solo said: So this pod is not suitable for operational aircraft. What about AAQ-28? Eduard has got this resin available. No, the pods are different. The -28 has a straight air scoop while the -25 has an angled air scoop among other shape differences. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 I know the differences, but according to some source, this AAQ-28 has been used by F-14D. Am I wrong? If so, I do believe there are no suitable targeting pods for operational F-14D available? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joscasle Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 (edited) Fine Molds 1/72 Tomcat weapons came with the pilon and LATIRN pod https://hlj.com/1-72-scale-us-military-aircraft-missile-set-fnmfp-31 Edited July 16, 2019 by joscasle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Solo said: I know the differences, but according to some source, this AAQ-28 has been used by F-14D. Am I wrong? If so, I do believe there are no suitable targeting pods for operational F-14D available? No, the -28 was never used on the Tomcat. I can't remember off the top of my head when the Litening Pod was cleared on the Hornet but it was only a few years before the Tomat retired and to my knowledge they were not even tested since the Tomcat was retiring and already had the Lantrin. I never saw any flight clearances for Litening Pod's on Tomcat's and part of my job was to track all weapon/store fleet flight clearances for all USN/USMC platforms. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Haven’t thought about this in years but IIRC only the LANTIRN targeting pod (TGP AN/AAQ-14 ) was ever used operationally on the F-14, and the AAQ-14 was modded with improved targeting capabilites for use on the Tomcat LANTIRN system was a pair of pods, the AAQ-13 was the Low Altitude Navigation pod (LANtirn) and the AAQ-14 was the Targeting InfraRed Night pod (lanTIRN), together they were LANTIRN. Since the F-14 only needed the targeting capability they only used the AAQ-14 half of the system. Since the mods were fairly extensive and the timing of availability of newer pods vs the impending retirement of the airframe, I doubt anything newer was ever integrated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 Any picture of F-14D with AAQ-14? According to Skull Leader this pod has never been used on operational aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inquisitor Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) External appearance and in plastic AAQ-14 and AAQ-25 pods are practically the same. You're completely fixated on the designation and electronics which don't matter and maybe the stencil data which at 1/72 couldn't even be read. Edited July 17, 2019 by Inquisitor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LaunchRanger Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 The LANTIRN targeting pod for the F-14 was designated as the AN/AAQ-25. The LANTIRN targeting pod for the USAF and other users was designated as the AN/AAQ-14. There were slight modifications of the AN/AAQ-14 for Navy usage to include a panel in the rear cockpit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 Ok, so now I understand that -25 and -14 do not differ externally and I can use AAQ-14 for F-14D. Thankfully, I forgot I have got Fine Molds weapon set with AAQ-25, so I can use it. It is funny, I have always thought those weapon set is so bad I will never use it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, Solo said: Any picture of F-14D with AAQ-14? According to Skull Leader this pod has never been used on operational aircraft. For what its worth, from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LANTIRN#/media/File:F-14D_LANTIRN.jpg States its cropped from a pic of a VF-213 F-14D. The article goes on to say that the pod used on F-14s was a modified version. So, technically I suppose you could say the the AAQ-14 was never used and the pic is of an AAQ-25. Edit: actually, if you Google "LANTIRN F-14" you get quite a few pics of F-14D's with LANTIRN pods. Edited July 17, 2019 by Mstor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 LANTIRN for F-14D it is AAQ-25, not AAQ-14. See 2 posts above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Solo said: LANTIRN for F-14D it is AAQ-25, not AAQ-14. See 2 posts above. Yea, I refer to that in my post. If you Google "AAQ-25 F-14" you get the same pics as when you Google "LANTIRN F-14". I guess that technically it an LTS pod (LANTIRN Targeting System), which is a modified LANTIRN. As far as I can see, they look the same as the AAQ-14. So, from a modeling standpoint, if it is a pic of a "LANTIRN" on an F-14, it is an AAQ-25. That does make you correct though . The AAQ-14 was not used on F-14s. For modeling purposes, it really doesn't make any difference though, does it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 I believe so, but this really doesn't matter. There is no resin AAQ-25 nor AAQ-14 on market, so I am very limited to pod from Fine Molds set or Hasegawa's one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 8 hours ago, LaunchRanger said: The LANTIRN targeting pod for the F-14 was designated as the AN/AAQ-25. The LANTIRN targeting pod for the USAF and other users was designated as the AN/AAQ-14. There were slight modifications of the AN/AAQ-14 for Navy usage to include a panel in the rear cockpit. I knew the AAQ-14 had been modded/upgraded but did not know about the redesignation to AAQ-25. Interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Leader Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 it's a misnomer, but most people still usually call it the -14. (smart people looking to avoid a banal argument about semantics just call it a LANTIRN and move on... probably the best idea here too.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joscasle Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Solo said: I believe so, but this really doesn't matter. There is no resin AAQ-25 nor AAQ-14 on market, so I am very limited to pod from Fine Molds set or Hasegawa's one. Problem? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 4 hours ago, Skull Leader said: it's a misnomer, but most people still usually call it the -14. (smart people looking to avoid a banal argument about semantics just call it a LANTIRN and move on... probably the best idea here too.) Wise advice. LANTIRN it is! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 4 hours ago, joscasle said: Problem? Eagle Designs makes an AAQ-14 with either F-15 or F-16 pylons. You'd still need to source the F-14 pylon from Fine Molds or Hasegawa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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