tomfomes Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 (edited) Hi all, I am starting a new build - Tamiya 1/48 F-14D Tomcat VF-2, BuNo 163894. What I am planning to use for this build: Tamiya 1/48 Grumman F-14D Tomcat Eduard Brassin 1/48 F-14D Cockpit Eduard Brassin 1/48 F-14D Wheels Eduard Brassin 1/48 AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN pod Eduard Brassin 1/48 AIM-9M/L Sidewinder Eduard Brassin 1/48 GBU-12 Eduard Brassin 1/48 GBU-16 Kasl 1/48 F-14D Exhausts Master 1/48 F-14 Pitot & AOA SAC 1/48 Grumman F-14 Tomcat Landing Gear Fightertown Decals Grumman Tomcat F-14A/F-14B/F-14D Data and Weapons The cockpit and seats seem to be mostly done. Small mistakes here and there, but I guess I can live with that. I have to say I was quite impressed with the amount of detail the Eduard cockpit set has in this scale. Compared it to my previously done 1/32 F-14D cockpit, it is not that far off! Also the Fightertown Data & Weapons decals set provides lots of useful and detailed decals for the cockpit. Thanks for watching. Tomas Edited November 2, 2021 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighter84 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 (edited) Hi Thomas nice paintjob! to your questions 1. yes 2. Tomcats never used the AN/AAQ-13, only the AN/AAQ-25! The typical loadout at the last cruise 2005 was: 1x AN/AAQ-25 1x AIM-9 1x GBU-12 + 1x GBU-38 or 2x GBU-38 here some references 3. any type cheers Edited June 17, 2020 by Fighter84 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 17, 2020 Author Share Posted June 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Fighter84 said: Hi Thomas nice paintjob! to your questions 1. yes 2. Tomcats never used the AN/AAQ-13, only the AN/AAQ-25! The typical loadout at the last cruise 2005 was: 1x AN/AAQ-25 1x AIM-9 1x GBU-12 + 1x GBU-38 or 2x GBU-38 here some references 3. any type cheers Thanks for the answers! Looks like I will need to re-visit my list of items for this build. 🧐 I think I might go with 1x AN/ANQ-25, 1x AIM-9, 1x AIM-120, 1x GBU-12 & 1x GBU-38. That could be pretty realistic loadout? Here are few more photos of cockpit assembly and dry fitting: Thanks for watching. Tomas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, tomfomes said: Thanks for the answers! Looks like I will need to re-visit my list of items for this build. 🧐 I think I might go with 1x AN/ANQ-25, 1x AIM-9, 1x AIM-120, 1x GBU-12 & 1x GBU-38. That could be pretty realistic loadout? Here are few more photos of cockpit assembly and dry fitting: Thanks for watching. Tomas The Tomcat was not cleared to carry the AIM-120 operationally. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SERNAK Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Am I the only one who hasn't bought yet Tamiya's new F-14??? Superb work so far my friend!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Gorgeous scheme! 😍 Nice work on that cockpit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighter84 Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 5 hours ago, GW8345 said: The Tomcat was not cleared to carry the AIM-120 operationally. Right, AIM-120 is not realistic...AIM-7 and AIM-54, at the las Tomcat-Cruise in 2005, also...only 1x AIM-9 perhaps 2x Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I’m of the understanding that the AIM-54 was phased out in 2004. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Sorry, I made a mistake! When I said AIM-120, I was actually thinking of the PHOENIX, which is AIM-54C. But looks like this one is also not realistic for the last cruise 😞 If I go for GBU-38, I see there are two types: thermally protected and non-thermally protected. I assume the thermally protected would be the choice for carrier use? Out of curiosity, what is this red "item" you can see them carrying sometimes? Thanks, Tomas Edited June 18, 2020 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Great start so far on the cockpit, just a FYI, the ejection seat pull rings between the seat should be a dirty orange with black stripes not yellow and black. I'm confused why you purchased all the extra items, the AIM-9's, LANTIRN pod ( which should be the AN/AAQ-25 as already stated ), Phoenix and, the GBU-16's when the kit already supplies those. VF-31 and 213's jets were upgraded with the ROVER mod, during their last cruise, which enabled them to drop JDAMS, which is more likely the loadout and, they would be thermally coated. The red "item" is actually painted International Orange and, it's called a ACMI pod, used to track the jet in the air. This would not be carried during war time missions, it would be used during workups and training missions only. Good luck with the rest of your build, I'll be following along. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 3 minutes ago, A-10 LOADER said: Great start so far on the cockpit, just a FYI, the ejection seat pull rings between the seat should be a dirty orange with black stripes not yellow and black. I'm confused why you purchased all the extra items, the AIM-9's, LANTIRN pod ( which should be the AN/AAQ-25 as already stated ), Phoenix and, the GBU-16's when the kit already supplies those. VF-31 and 213's jets were upgraded with the ROVER mod, during their last cruise, which enabled them to drop JDAMS, which is more likely the loadout and, they would be thermally coated. The red "item" is actually painted International Orange and, it's called a ACMI pod, used to track the jet in the air. This would not be carried during war time missions, it would be used during workups and training missions only. Good luck with the rest of your build, I'll be following along. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Hi Steve, thanks for info and also for the comment on ejection seat pull rings. I wasn't even thinking, just automatically went for yellow/black. I will fix this. I knew all the items are already in the kit, but the reason I have bought the aftermarket items was that I wanted more detailed ones. I love the extra detail these aftermarket resin items have. Now most of them will have to wait for another build 🙂 I assume with the ROVER antenna on the right front pylon, they were still able to carry any of the mentioned GBUs. I will probably go for the following two, which should be GBU-12 on the left and thermally coated GBU-38 on the right if I'm right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Correct, GBU-12 and a GBU-31(V)2/B. I don't know if GBU-38's were available during OIF ? Just remember, the key to a great build is research. Steve TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Small progress on the nose gear bay.. Edited June 19, 2020 by tomfomes Added few more photos from the progress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 The orange pod is a AN/ASQ-40T LATR Pod. For the last Tomcat cruise, VF-31 and 213 were authorized to carried and employed the GBU-38(v)/B JDAM in addition to GBU-31(v)/B JDAM. The Rover Antenna had nothing to do with JDAM, it allowed ground forces (FAC) to see what the aircraft was seeing in real time. All bomb bodies will be thermally protected (TP), non-thermally protected bombs are not authorized onboard ships. The SJU-17's used in the F-14D had yellow/black ejection handles, the one in the DACO book is from a F-18 (I have no idea why they are different). hth GW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 33 minutes ago, GW8345 said: The orange pod is a AN/ASQ-40T LATR Pod. For the last Tomcat cruise, VF-31 and 213 were authorized to carried and employed the GBU-38(v)/B JDAM in addition to GBU-31(v)/B JDAM. The Rover Antenna had nothing to do with JDAM, it allowed ground forces (FAC) to see what the aircraft was seeing in real time. All bomb bodies will be thermally protected (TP), non-thermally protected bombs are not authorized onboard ships. The SJU-17's used in the F-14D had yellow/black ejection handles, the one in the DACO book is from a F-18 (I have no idea why they are different). hth GW Good to know GW, thanks for the clarification. Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Great start. Looking forward to your progress. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Thank you all for nice comments. I have another question, which I can't figure out: On some photos of the right side of nose gear bay I can see just these cables: And on some other photos, I can see these additional "instruments": Which one belongs to the F-14D version, i.e. which one should I go for? Thanks for help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Top pic - F-14D Bottom pic - F-14A/B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 (edited) Great! I chose the correct one. Here are few photos of finished nose gear bay and ready for painting. Edited June 20, 2020 by tomfomes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 WOW, awesome work ! Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 Productive weekend! The nose gear bay is done, here are few photos: I have also corrected the color of ejection seat straps. The original photo etched parts color seemed too light green compared to the real thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Fantastic!!! Can't wait to see the rest of your progress. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Very nice and clean work !! Steve "TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfomes Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 Thanks gents! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BastianD Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Great piece of work so far, and very nice colour scheme! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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