BAM News - F-14B conversion set and F-14 PDU cameras released!

[arnobiz]

The Airfix Sea King detail sets are now officially released! and available here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[arnobiz]

Most of us have Hasegawa Phantoms in the stash. While they are still great kits, the lack of proper intakes is a serious letdown in comparison with the recent Meng and ZM kits.

 

I thus thought it would be useful to design an affordable fix

 

BAM48102 allows you to add full depth intakes to ANY Hasegawa Phantom II kit: F-4B, F-4C, F-4D, F-4E, F-4G, F-4J, F-4EJ, F-4N, F-4S, RF-4C, RF-4E, RF-4EJ, FG Mk.1, FGR.2, etc..., anything that uses sprue D, including the Revell reboxes of course

 

A tiny amount of blending with parts D31 and D42 is required but nothing major, the front edge of the parts is 0,2mm thick 😉

 

Arnaud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two J79 engine face versions available: Early and late

 

 

 

[serendip]

Hi,

Regarding the set for the F4, does anyone know where the bits circled in black below go?

 

Sorry for the awful quality of the picture, but the circled location should give a way the bits I mean.

 

Thanks:

 

 

[andyf117]

 

Edited March 8, 2025 by andyf117

[arnobiz]

5 hours ago, serendip said:

Hi,

Regarding the set for the F4, does anyone know where the bits circled in black below go?

 

Sorry for the awful quality of the picture, but the circled location should give a way the bits I mean.

 

Thanks:

 

 

Hi,

They are reinforcements that go on top of the main part, at both ends - their location in engraved on the main part 😉

Arnaud

[serendip]

Thanks all, all clear now.

[arnobiz]

It's been a while since I last posted on new releases, the new day job is keeping me busy alright!

 

Two Tomcat subjects are now available:

 

F-14B conversion set for Tamiya F-14A Late

The F-14A Late contains almost everything you need except the SparrowHawk HUD and GE F110-400 exhausts, which is exactly what this set contains - not more, not less, which also makes it the cheapest way to make the Tomcat version that carried some of the coolest schemes out there!

 

 

F-14 Wing and ventral fin PDU cameras

Often used for weapon testing, fits the Tamiya Tomcat kits

Edited October 4, 2025 by arnobiz

[F4DPhanv3]

Arnaud, F-14B update looks nice! Are you currently able to ship to the US? 

Thanks,
Mike

[A-10 LOADER]

4 hours ago, F4DPhanv3 said:

Arnaud, F-14B update looks nice! Are you currently able to ship to the US? 

Thanks,
Mike

I believe BAM is located in France so no, they are not currently shipping to the US.

FYI, not all F-14B squadrons were equipped with the SparrowHawk HUD. Only VF-103, 11, 101, 143 and, 32 had them.

Steve

 

"TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!"

[F4DPhanv3]

Steve,

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I heard Phase Hanger made a set but no longer available. Also have to figure out which airframes were part of that upgrade, and if there are decals that cover them.

 

Best,

 

mike

[A-10 LOADER]

1 hour ago, F4DPhanv3 said:

Steve,

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I heard Phase Hanger made a set but no longer available. Also have to figure out which airframes were part of that upgrade, and if there are decals that cover them.

 

Best,

 

mike

In order to use the SparrowHawk HUD, you have to have decals that include "F-14B UPGRADE", the HUD was part of that. The timeframe for this would be from 2000 to August of 2003.

Steve

[F4DPhanv3]

Thanks, Steve....I saw a project over on Britmodeller who had done one awhile back using Fightertown Decals 48086 for a VF-103 bird that turned out really nice. Will have to look around for proper markings.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mike

[arnobiz]

1 hour ago, A-10 LOADER said:

In order to use the SparrowHawk HUD, you have to have decals that include "F-14B UPGRADE", the HUD was part of that. The timeframe for this would be from 2000 to August of 2003.

Steve

As far as I know the SparrowHawk upgrade was applied to F-14Bs from 2003 until their retirement in 2005: https://www.aviationtoday.com/2003/11/01/new-hud-for-the-tomcat/

 

I'm building mine using the Fightertown Swordsman CAGs sheet, fantastic quality and it includes all the info you need regarding the specific bird configuration (in this case SparrowHawk upgrade, Lantirn handle, PTID and no TARPS/Phoenix).

 

7 hours ago, F4DPhanv3 said:

Arnaud, F-14B update looks nice! Are you currently able to ship to the US? 

Thanks,
Mike

Not at this time unfortunately, the exact way the new tarrifs will be collected has yet to be clarified and the post office is thus not accepting any shipment to the US 😕

 

Arnaud

[F4DPhanv3]

Thanks Arnaud! Will wait it out and hope to be able to get a set from you in the future

 

Best,

 

Mike

[A-10 LOADER]

Yes, thanks for correcting me Arnaud. Even though I had it written down in front of me, I still typed the wrong timeframe 🤦‍♂️.

Steve

 

"TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!"

[LDM]

5 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

In order to use the SparrowHawk HUD, you have to have decals that include "F-14B UPGRADE", the HUD was part of that. The timeframe for this would be from 2000 to August of 2003.

Steve

Being marked "F-14B Upgrade" doesn't necessarily mean it had the Sparrowhawk, VF-102 jets being an example, who had B Upgrades in 1997 yet not one of those five squadrons that eventually got the HUD later:

[ijozic]

12 hours ago, LDM said:

Being marked "F-14B Upgrade" doesn't necessarily mean it had the Sparrowhawk, VF-102 jets being an example, who had B Upgrades in 1997 yet not one of those five squadrons that eventually got the HUD later:

 

 

They didn't get OFP 321 upgrade in 2003 (which included the HUD) since they were transitioning to Super Hornets in 2002 from what I can read.

 

F-14B(U) is a series of OFP upgrades so without specifying a year, it's hard to tell what should be included.

 

https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/buIYXizvc3bA

[A-10 LOADER]

21 hours ago, LDM said:

Being marked "F-14B Upgrade" doesn't necessarily mean it had the Sparrowhawk, VF-102 jets being an example, who had B Upgrades in 1997 yet not one of those five squadrons that eventually got the HUD later:

Because in 97 the SparrowHawk HUD wasn't available. It came online in 2003.

Steve

 

"TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY...!"

Edited October 8, 2025 by A-10 LOADER

[ijozic]

1 hour ago, A-10 LOADER said:

Because in 97 the SparrowHawk HUD was available. It came online in 2003.

 

 

IIRC, they started with the integration process in 1997, but they had a bunch of unexpected issues (as it was a commercial unit) which got resolved by 2003 when it finally reached operation units.

Edited October 8, 2025 by ijozic

[GW8345]

The "upgrade" meant that the aircraft had the DFCS mod incorporated, the OFP was for the DFCS.

GW

[F4DPhanv3]

Ok, so not meaning to beat a dead horse, *but*, knowing it was airframe dependent and time frame dependent, was the LANTIRN controller on the left RIO station the same as the F-15E? Just trying to scavenge a controller for the model project......all my F-14 books are in boxes but hoping to get back on shelves soon.....

 

...not a great internet searcher, so couldn't find a pix.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike