wm_cheng Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Hi all, Building the GWH F-14A with the Wolfpack markings (1974) - great kit, amazing details, horrible instructions (missed parts and so many mistakes!). I can't seem to decide upon which chinpod configuration to use for the modex 100 bird BuNos 158979 (1974) I see that almost every bird in the squadron has a different chinpod configuration depending on when the pictures were taken. I'm torn between the IR Sensor with the ALQ-100 antenna underneath or just the smaller ALQ-100 antenna underneath. If its just the smaller ALQ antenna, then I have to use a Hasegawa spare as the GWH only has the IR pod and ElectroOptical pod with the ALQ. It does have the best representation of the back turkey feathers over the wing slot of any kit (both versions separately for wings out and in) and puts the Hasegawas to shame. So many optional parts but you have to be very careful when building because the instructions are wrong. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quixote74 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 My understanding is that the undernose fit can be changed out at the squadron level, so theoretically the IR seeker or ALQ-100 antenna are valid options (similar to the mid/late 80s units with TCS vs the "bullet" fairing when there weren't enough camera systems for the whole fleet). That said, for Wichita 100 in 1974 I believe the ALQ-100 would be the normal fit, as seen in this photo: Instructions for Fightertown Decals' early Wolfpack sheet also indicate ALQ-100 for this airframe at that time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Great! Thanks so much!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 There was at least one VF-1 bird that had black trim on the canopy. I remember seeing it in a photo in the old Aero book on the F-14. Also, several issues of the Airfix kit had decals with black trim on the canopy rails. Someday, that is the one I want to add to my Vietnam collection. Looked really sharp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quixote74 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Paul Boyer said: There was at least one VF-1 bird that had black trim on the canopy. I remember seeing it in a photo in the old Aero book on the F-14. Also, several issues of the Airfix kit had decals with black trim on the canopy rails. Someday, that is the one I want to add to my Vietnam collection. Looked really sharp. I believe the VF-1 Tomcat with black canopy rails was BuNo 158627, Wichita 101 - reportedly the first F-14 delivered to the squadron. In 1/48 it's another option on the Fightertown sheet. In God's Own Scale (aka 1/72), it was done by Microscale waaaayyyy back on sheet 72-119. VF-1 F-14A Wichita 101 Edited August 28, 2020 by Quixote74 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 (edited) Just pick a photo of the jet you want to build and build it in that configuration at that time. You’ll go stir crazy trying to nut out the whys, where’s and what’s of it all. Just build. Edited August 29, 2020 by Andrew Maverick Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 6 hours ago, Andrew Maverick Taylor said: Just pick a photo of the jet you want to build and build it in that configuration at that time. You’ll go stir crazy trying to nut out the whys, where’s and what’s of it all. Just build. +1 on that. My understanding was that they had a limited number of the IR sensor chin pods and they got passed between the various airframes. Maybe so everyone got some air time with them? So chances are the airframe you want to build might have had it installed at some time, or maybe not, who knows. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Mstor said: +1 on that. My understanding was that they had a limited number of the IR sensor chin pods and they got passed between the various airframes. Maybe so everyone got some air time with them? So chances are the airframe you want to build might have had it installed at some time, or maybe not, who knows. Agreed. I’ve studied this one for years on the Tomcat. Unless serving in the Navy on a squadron or know someone in the know, it’s not really important at the end of the day when it comes down to scale modelling. I gave up trying to be so accurate all the time. Reasons can be serviceability, Air time, operational, front line fleet requirements, the list goes on. Just build what you want or to photographic proof rather than trying to second guess stuff. It drives you nuts otherwise. Edited August 30, 2020 by Andrew Maverick Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 Thanks! That 101 with the black canopy rails is beautiful - it doesn't have the white nose with the radome tan portion which was always iconic to me. I have the ALQ from Hasegawa on there, funny it looks a bit small on the GWH kit - maybe its because I'm always used to seeing it with a IR or ElectroOptical attached. Another question, how about the hydraulic actuators on the rear airbrakes, from what I see, the top ones are white inside the red well and brakes and the bottom ones are red inside the red well and brakes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) 56 minutes ago, wm_cheng said: Thanks! That 101 with the black canopy rails is beautiful - it doesn't have the white nose with the radome tan portion which was always iconic to me. I have the ALQ from Hasegawa on there, funny it looks a bit small on the GWH kit - maybe its because I'm always used to seeing it with a IR or ElectroOptical attached. Another question, how about the hydraulic actuators on the rear airbrakes, from what I see, the top ones are white inside the red well and brakes and the bottom ones are red inside the red well and brakes? The actuators themselves on the airbrakes are white with a chrome piston as normal with any hydraulic cylinder. There are no actuators underneath as they are interconnecting push rods between the top and and bottom airbrake panels. Edited August 30, 2020 by Andrew Maverick Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 Oh, thanks, so are the pushrods red or white? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, wm_cheng said: Oh, thanks, so are the pushrods red or white? The push rods, airbrake panels and the airbrake bays are all red. Only the actuator cylinders are white with the chrome pistons. See picture here: http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-speedbrake-01.htm Edited August 31, 2020 by Andrew Maverick Taylor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) On 8/27/2020 at 12:49 AM, wm_cheng said: Hi all, Building the GWH F-14A with the Wolfpack markings (1974) - great kit, amazing details, horrible instructions (missed parts and so many mistakes!). I can't seem to decide upon which chinpod configuration to use for the modex 100 bird BuNos 158979 (1974) I see that almost every bird in the squadron has a different chinpod configuration depending on when the pictures were taken. I'm torn between the IR Sensor with the ALQ-100 antenna underneath or just the smaller ALQ-100 antenna underneath. If its just the smaller ALQ antenna, then I have to use a Hasegawa spare as the GWH only has the IR pod and ElectroOptical pod with the ALQ. It does have the best representation of the back turkey feathers over the wing slot of any kit (both versions separately for wings out and in) and puts the Hasegawas to shame. So many optional parts but you have to be very careful when building because the instructions are wrong. Thanks in advance. This Detail & Scale edition has several pictures of early (1974-1975) Wolfpack F-14A's... Photographs herein (plus others) reveal that at least the following VF-1 aircraft had the enlarged (infrared) chin pod c. 1974-75: NK 102 BuNo 158996 NK 103 BuNo 158990 NK 104 BuNo 158998 NK 105 BuNo 158984 NK 107 BuNo 158982 NK 111 BuNo 158993 NK 114 BuNo 159000 Hope this helps, Rich Edited August 31, 2020 by RichB63 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted September 1, 2020 Author Share Posted September 1, 2020 Thanks, I was doing NK 100 BuNo 158979 - I already glued just the little ALQ from a Hasegawa spares on (it does look small) already. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 On 8/31/2020 at 1:58 PM, RichB63 said: This Detail & Scale edition has several pictures of early (1974-1975) Wolfpack F-14A's... Photographs herein (plus others) reveal that at least the following VF-1 aircraft had the enlarged (infrared) chin pod c. 1974-75: NK 102 BuNo 158996 NK 103 BuNo 158990 NK 104 BuNo 158998 NK 105 BuNo 158984 NK 107 BuNo 158982 NK 111 BuNo 158993 NK 114 BuNo 159000 Hope this helps, Rich Correction - The chin pod on the A and B models is not infra-red, it’s a radar guided tv camera. Only the D model had the infra-red as well as the tv camera system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Andrew Maverick Taylor said: Correction - The chin pod on the A and B models is not infra-red, it’s a radar guided tv camera. Only the D model had the infra-red as well as the tv camera system. The very early Tomcats had an IR tracker which were soon replaced with the TCS, for a 1974 period Tomcat having the original IR Sensor would be accurate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 22 minutes ago, GW8345 said: The very early Tomcats had an IR tracker which were soon replaced with the TCS, for a 1974 period Tomcat having the original IR Sensor would be accurate. That is correct but they were mostly used on the development aircraft and not on the fleet jets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Here's what I was referring to.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Andrew Maverick Taylor said: That is correct but they were mostly used on the development aircraft and not on the fleet jets. That is incorrect, the IRST Sensors were fitted to the aircraft during their work ups for the 74/75 cruise and were installed during the initial part of the cruise. Here is the 74/75 cruise book, you can look through it and find pictures of the IRST installed on VF-1's aircraft. Also, here are numerous pics of VF-1 aircraft with the IRST installed taken in the 74/75 time period. http://www.f-14association.com/gallery/vf-1.html https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Ff%2Ff3%2FF-14A_Tomcat_of_VF-1_in_flight_near_Hawaii_on_28_September_1974_%28NNAM.1996.253.7417.051%29.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcommons.wikimedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AF-14A_Tomcat_of_VF-1_in_flight_near_Hawaii_on_28_September_1974_(NNAM.1996.253.7417.051).jpg&tbnid=Z5K1JVesA4iHkM&vet=12ahUKEwjzlJfSrcnrAhWCEN8KHWJaCjwQMygCegUIARCqAg..i&docid=dQt779nvUyqFIM&w=2853&h=2208&q=VF-1 1974&ved=2ahUKEwjzlJfSrcnrAhWCEN8KHWJaCjwQMygCegUIARCqAg https://www.pinterest.com/pin/475340935672579940/?d=t&mt=login https://www.pinterest.com/pin/695876579897206606/ https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F8%2F80%2FGrumman_F-14A_Tomcats_of_VF-1_aboard_USS_Enterprise_%28CVAN-65%29_on_14_September_1974_%28428-GX-K-105909%29.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcommons.wikimedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AGrumman_F-14A_Tomcats_of_VF-1_aboard_USS_Enterprise_(CVAN-65)_on_14_September_1974_(428-GX-K-105909).jpg&tbnid=1lCiGuTRfETt3M&vet=12ahUKEwjzlJfSrcnrAhWCEN8KHWJaCjwQMygdegUIARDmAg..i&docid=QHXkKY7N3rf1JM&w=2956&h=2152&itg=1&q=VF-1 1974&ved=2ahUKEwjzlJfSrcnrAhWCEN8KHWJaCjwQMygdegUIARDmAg It was either during the cruise or shortly there after IRST's were removed but they were installed during the work up cycle and when they went aboard for their first cruise. Maybe not every aircraft had one but a good number of them did. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 hour ago, RichB63 said: Here's what I was referring to.... That is an IRST with a cover installed, the TCS did not come out until 76/77 and the covers were cloth/vinyl and would have a flat front. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Boyer Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Interesting modeling note: Notice how the saturation of the red bands of the VF-1 markings change as they go from the gray fuselage to the white radome (same on the rudder/fin). So, you say your decals are too thin and show the color demarcation lines underneath? Oh stop complaining!🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Also notice the stripes aren’t aligned across the fuselage/radome joint. Maybe the radome is from another airframe? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Maverick Taylor Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 4 hours ago, RichB63 said: Here's what I was referring to.... I knew what you were referring to but I was trying to make this post no more confusing for wm_cheng but once the TCS was introduced, the IR pod was seldom seen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 On 8/27/2020 at 2:24 PM, Paul Boyer said: There was at least one VF-1 bird that had black trim on the canopy. I remember seeing it in a photo in the old Aero book on the F-14. Also, several issues of the Airfix kit had decals with black trim on the canopy rails. Someday, that is the one I want to add to my Vietnam collection. Looked really sharp. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wm_cheng Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Boy does that ever look sharp!!! It also looks like it has NO chinpod at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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