Hajo L. Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I know the following picture is a test load-out with dummies, but does anyone have any intel what kind of ejector racks they were usung? Looks like TERs...? HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sarathi S. Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I can't remember the designation, but they're not TERs. Originally I believe the Phoenix pallets had hardpoints for bombs on the corners. The DCS F-14B has the loadout sort of modeled if you want more documentation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 Yeah, I´ll have to check with someone who flies DCS... I´m still on FSX. 😉 HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 (edited) It's from when the very first Tomcats were flight testing (early 70's). There was a type of Phoenix pallet made with bomb hardpoints (thus not technically making it a Phoenix pallet, but hey...). Completely different from the Bombcat racks that came about after Desert Storm. Another shot: Closer view: I even tried it years ago on a "What-If" USMC Tomcat build, although I goofed and put the aft-most bombs inboard rather than outboard of the pallets.... http://hsfeatures.com/f14amarinesad_1.htm Edited May 27, 2020 by Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 Yeah, your ground pounder F-14 is cool! I have the idea of doing a "what-if" with exactly that bombload from above, and was wondering if I just glue them to the Phoenix rails or have some sort of Bomb Rack Unit between. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sarathi S. Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 The clearances are so tight that you probably could get away with just gluing the bombs to the pallets, unless it was in a large scale. Heck, the DCS F-14 doesn't actually have the racks modeled yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 The racks used were BRU-21 and BRU-22 bomb racks, they bolted to the side of the Weapon Rails (after you opened the panel on the side of the rail). The BRU-21/22 is basically a modified rack off of a MER/TER, two (1 forward, 1 aft) per each side of the rail so a rail could carry 4 x Mk 82 with the exception of the aft rails. The aft rails could only carry 3 x Mk 82 (2 forward, 1 aft outboard) due to not enough space between the rack and the fuel dump mast. The racks were tested during the initial testing phase of the Tomcat but it was decided not make them operational due to restricted release conditions caused by the racks weak ejection velocity which under certain conditions cause the bomb to "float" in the tunnel (area between the nacelles) and strike the bottom of the aircraft. When the Tomcat was sold to Iran several sets of the racks were also sold, there are several pics of an Iranian Tomcat (including the pic above) configured with these "initial" bomb rails. If you notice, the LAU-93 Phoenix Launcher is still in the rail. To make one of these "bomb rails", simply carve out the angle side of the rail forward and aft to so you have a 90 degree cut out and glue in a bomb rack from a MER/TER. Pic of a BRU-22 https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarvineng.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F5%2F2018%2F02%2Fbru22_tn2.png&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarvineng.com%2Fproduct%2Fbru-22a%2F&tbnid=e1aMECkL-QkmRM&vet=12ahUKEwin7JKOwdXpAhVIBt8KHZiFC7sQMygPegUIARDzAQ..i&docid=mZ-qrbPHa0_quM&w=360&h=200&q="BRU-21"&ved=2ahUKEwin7JKOwdXpAhVIBt8KHZiFC7sQMygPegUIARDzAQ#h=200&imgdii=6ud7nM3cXykCjM:&vet=12ahUKEwin7JKOwdXpAhVIBt8KHZiFC7sQMygPegUIARDzAQ..i&w=360 The side of a rail normally looks like this I \ \_______ Cut it out to look like this I___ I I________ This only applies to Weapon Rails used on the F-14A/B, the rails used on the F-14D did not have the side panels and thus could not be configured with the bomb racks. hth GW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted May 28, 2020 Author Share Posted May 28, 2020 Sarathi, GW, thanks a lot for your help, that was very useful! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phasephantomphixer Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Yes, Thanks to y'all. I would like to "rack up" in 1/32 scale, try something with one of the Tamiya or Revell kits. Although I have two Trump. F-14D kits, would like to modify one into as different a build as I can from the other as a regular D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Yeah, I´m also looking for a decent F-14 to turn it into a heavy mud-mover! 😉 I´m considering the new Academy F-14A in 1/72. Any idea if Academy is doing any new versions on this kit soon? HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Ooh! I have to build this one in 1/72! Thanks for the excellent photos and references. Kind regards, Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 You are welcome! My WIP is here: Looking forward to see your build! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Hello, even if it is not a very recent post, I have a complementary question: on which operationnal squadron(s) was this configuration used (even just for exercices)? Because in the Squadron/Signal walkaround book, it is possible to find a picture of this kind on bomb rack installed in the forward position on a Tomcat from the VF-32 (grey/white scheme), but was is used on other squadron(s) and when? Thanks, colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 To my knowledge no operation squadron flew that configurations, they may have installed the racks but I don't know of any operation squadron actually employed bombs using that configuration. All the info I've been able to gather was that configuration was only flown by the LRIP test birds. There is a slight possibility that pic is of a test bird and not a VF-32 aircraft (even though VF-32 is painted on the Phoenix Fairing), the test community was known for "borrowing" gear from operation squadrons from time to time (happened to me when I was in VF-101, NATC Strike (now VX-23) came down to Oceana in a box truck and "borrowed" a couple of weapons rails and fairing from us for a test). hth GW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
colargol Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 On 2/3/2023 at 12:27 AM, GW8345 said: To my knowledge no operation squadron flew that configurations, they may have installed the racks but I don't know of any operation squadron actually employed bombs using that configuration. All the info I've been able to gather was that configuration was only flown by the LRIP test birds. There is a slight possibility that pic is of a test bird and not a VF-32 aircraft (even though VF-32 is painted on the Phoenix Fairing), the test community was known for "borrowing" gear from operation squadrons from time to time (happened to me when I was in VF-101, NATC Strike (now VX-23) came down to Oceana in a box truck and "borrowed" a couple of weapons rails and fairing from us for a test). hth GW Thanks for the informations ! colargol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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