McFly Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 (edited) I´m looking for a F-14A, what is the best currently in 1/72 scale? GHW, FineMolds, Hasegawa (1988 mold), HobbyBoss, Academy (new mold), AMK? Thx and regards Edited July 21, 2020 by McFly Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 GWH i s the best, without any doubt. But also is the most expensive. FineMolds is almost as good as GWH one and is little cheaper. Academy (new tool) is also very nice and much, much cheaper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 The Fine Molds kit has serious shape issues. The GWH is much better but also is expensive. Shape wise it's very close. Myself, I have a half dozen Fujimis, and maybe one Hobby Boss. I'm good to go with the Fujimis as they go to together well, and the shapes are right for an early pussy cat (only cat I care anything about). I have not seen it in the flesh, but the new Academy kits seem to be very nice. gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 10 minutes ago, ChesshireCat said: The Fine Molds kit has serious shape issues. Oh, that is surprising for me. Any details? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dmanton300 Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I would take the Academy kit over any of the others in a heartbeat. And in fact have. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BraggPeak Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 There was a post in this form a few months ago, comparing the shape of wing in Academy/GWH/Hasegawa and Finemolds. I remember the conclusion is Academy and GWH are the most accurate ones, Hasegawa and Finemolds suffer the same error. Tried to search but couldn't find the link now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 10 hours ago, Solo said: Oh, that is surprising for me. Any details? do a search on here, as the folks in the know caught it. I was taken by surprise by the data supplied. Think the thread was two or three months back. I was ready to spring for a couple Cats from Fine molds, but think now I'd just go with the new Academy kit. it has the parts to build the very early airframe as well as the later f14a. gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 5 hours ago, BraggPeak said: There was a post in this form a few months ago, comparing the shape of wing in Academy/GWH/Hasegawa and Finemolds. I remember the conclusion is Academy and GWH are the most accurate ones, Hasegawa and Finemolds suffer the same error. Tried to search but couldn't find the link now. Perhaps you're thinking about my pictorial digression ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Solo Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Oh yest, I remember. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BraggPeak Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 2 hours ago, Laurent said: Perhaps you're thinking about my pictorial digression ? Yes, that is exactly what I meant, thanks for posting the link again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 I like the Italeri and Hasegawa kits myself.... Talking about the best kits of it though What kits have A wing that can be over swept back into the storage position without modification? Wings with the LE slats, TE flaps down and the bags inflated with a 2 position option on the U/C legs? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 19 hours ago, Laurent said: Perhaps you're thinking about my pictorial digression ? what I remember most about it was the side by side comparisons with said to be accurate drawings. gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 6 hours ago, ChesshireCat said: what I remember most about it was the side by side comparisons with said to be accurate drawings. The 1/48 Tamiya also matches well those drawings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 I just built the Academy F-14A. The kit is very nice, but I don´t like that the wings can´t be swept "symmetrical" (there is no provision to link the wings together, like on - I think - all other kits) and the front landing gear is coming only in a "in-flight"-configuration (hydraulics are completely "released" and not weighted in). HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 5 hours ago, Hajo L. said: I just built the Academy F-14A. The kit is very nice, but I don´t like that the wings can´t be swept "symmetrical" (there is no provision to link the wings together, like on - I think - all other kits) and the front landing gear is coming only in a "in-flight"-configuration (hydraulics are completely "released" and not weighted in). HAJO Are you sure about this? I compared the oleo struts of both the Academy 1/72 and Tamiya 1/48 models and they seem to be pretty close relative to their respective scales of course. The Academy one looks longer as it lacks the rods linking the drag brace to the launch bar. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 On 7/23/2020 at 10:48 PM, gb_madcat_sl said: Are you sure about this? I compared the oleo struts of both the Academy 1/72 and Tamiya 1/48 models and they seem to be pretty close relative to their respective scales of course. The Academy one looks longer as it lacks the rods linking the drag brace to the launch bar. Mark but neither one is in a loaded state. They are as if they were headed to the crusher. A CAT launch bird will look a little different gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hemspilot Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 If you want the compressed nose gear strut, you need to go Hasegawa or Fujimi (also its KA Models reboxing). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hemspilot Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 On 7/23/2020 at 10:48 PM, gb_madcat_sl said: Are you sure about this? I compared the oleo struts of both the Academy 1/72 and Tamiya 1/48 models and they seem to be pretty close relative to their respective scales of course. The Academy one looks longer as it lacks the rods linking the drag brace to the launch bar. Mark Those missing are actually the shimmy dampers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 The new GWH F-14s in 1/72 also have the compressed nose gear strut (for launch position). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, hemspilot said: If you want the compressed nose gear strut, you need to go Hasegawa or Fujimi (also its KA Models reboxing). Nope. Edited July 30, 2020 by Laurent Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hemspilot Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Laurent said: Nope. Whadd'ya mean "nope", yes, in both kits. What model is that, GWH? Expensive taste! Edited July 30, 2020 by hemspilot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 1 minute ago, hemspilot said: Whadd'ya mean "nope", yes, in both kits. What model is that? Nope to "you need to go Hasegawa or Fujimi". GWH. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hemspilot Posted July 30, 2020 Share Posted July 30, 2020 3 minutes ago, Laurent said: Nope to "you need to go Hasegawa or Fujimi". GWH. Your choice, but both Hasegawa and Fujimi have the option for compressed and uncompressed nose gear struts, while not as detailed as the much morexpensive GWH. Fujimi parts 78 and 79, Hasegawa parts 13 and 16, these ones with the shimmy dampers missing from the Academy kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
McFly Posted August 4, 2020 Author Share Posted August 4, 2020 Thanks to everyone, I have ordered GWH´s F-14A 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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