PNW_Modeler Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 (edited) So, I have the four major players versions of the F-14 Tomcat.....Hasegawa, Academy, Revell/Monogram, Italeri. I am going to build each of these kits and document the differences between the four different Tomcat kits. These are all 1/48th scale I will be using the following kits... Academy F-14A "Bombcat" Fujimi F-14D "Super Tomcat" Hasegawa F-14B "VF-11 Red Rippers" Italeri F-14A+ Revell/Monogram F-14A This will be a OOB build, meant to demonstrate how each kit goes together and how well the look when complete...not how many upgrades and how much resin you can cram into each...the real purpose of this comparison build is to answer the universal question when shopping for a new Tomcat kit...which kit? I will show the strengths and weakness of each kit. Edited February 11, 2008 by paul.nortness Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mist Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Ambitious....Ain't ya! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Good idea, where is Fujimi?? :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 22, 2008 Author Share Posted January 22, 2008 I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid! Plus...I can't find one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 very intructionnal project! i have the Italeri and the academy kit!! i will learn a lot! bye! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slick95 Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 SWEET! I'm currently doing the same sort of thing with my viper builds. Can't wait to see the progress!! SLICK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marine4 ever Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 ;) you are a glutten for punishment! Semper Fi Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Hummm that title looks kinda familiar... good luck Paul and you are crazy... .....like a fox! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simon L Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Good luck your gonna need it. I will still keep an eye on this though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderGrunt Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 hey paul Dave Tellers. (telly)has the fujimi d for trade?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Do you know if it's 48th scale? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boscosticks Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 hey paul! ambitious build you have here! i checked up on ebay, and there is a guy selling a fujimi 1/48 f-14A for 19.99 (excluding shipping) here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Fujimi-F-14A-Tomcat-Mo...7QQcmdZViewItem its not an actual bid either, so you can just "buy it now" for 19.99 and not have to deal with other bidders or wait for days before the auction ends. goodluck with this build !! im very excited to see your work! regards, bosco Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 hey paul Dave Tellers. (telly)has the fujimi d for trade?? I just shot Telly a PM. Thanks for posting the link, boscosticks...I will see what Telly says. I hate dealing with Ebay, and will avoid it if possible Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 gotcha.....ok then....email inbound! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 (edited) Cockpit time.... Academy This cockpit has nice raised detail molded into a tub. Fujimi This kit is the prototype F-14D, I am not entirely sure if some of the details (such as that big square thing on the back) should be there or not. But as you can see, the detail are all decals. Very bare bones cockpit. Hasegawa The Hasegawa cockpit is a simple bare tub with seperately molded instrument panels. The nice thing is you get an accurate depiction of the variant you are modeling....no A model cockpit going into a D, etc. Italeri This is the weirdest cockpit I have seen. Very nice raised detail...but it doesn't make sense. Screens aren't where they should be, just looks like they fudged it. Revell/Monogram (looks kinda familiar, eh? Looks like Academy "borrowed" the design) This is a little nicer than the Academy molding. The Revell cockpit tub has the panel lines on the instrument panels, whereas the Academy just has the buttons, dials etc on the panel...no lines telling you where the panel stops. And finally a group shot. Don't they look pretty together? Next up......instrument panels and seats! Edited February 5, 2008 by paul.nortness Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxtype Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I'm following this with interest,Paul. -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I'm rooting for the monogram kit. Go, Monogram, Go!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Alright, I just spoke with Dave Tellers and we worked out a trade for a Fujima F-14D....so it looks like it will be all five 48th scale Tomcats Quote Link to post Share on other sites
speedlimit Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I'm following this with interest,Paul. me too! Eric Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderGrunt Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Good Deal Paul Telly iss a good dude. I have a Cat coming for the Gone But Not forgotten GB. so I am watching Intently Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 (edited) Instrument panels.... Academy Nicely detailed, raised detail. As this is a carbon copy of the Revell/Monogram cockpit and panels, you should be able to use the True Details resin cockpit for the Academy without problem. Fujimi More decals for the instrument panels. Not much to say here except bland. Hasegawa The screens on the Hasegawa's IP are big...and look like the only ones that got it right based on pics I have seen....the other panels seems a tad too small (could be that this is for a B model while the others are A models..not sure) Italeri Again...just like with the cockpit tub....nicely detailed...but what the heck were they going off of? Nothing I have ever seen before. I think I may need to add a flight crew just to cover up the weird and misplaced detail. Revell/Monogram The Revell Monogram instrument panels are exactly like the Academy panels. As the RM kit came out a few years before, I will name them the winner in the "who copied who" game. Next up....bang seats! Edited February 5, 2008 by paul.nortness Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Simon L Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 looking good, keeping an eye on this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 (edited) Ejection seats.... OK, here is the seats. For the sake of time saving, I will be documenting the Academy and Revell/Monogram as one until the fuselage assembly as they are indentical in the cockpit and seat area. Academy-Revell A nice four piece seat, all the major parts are there. The nice thing the Academy kit has is warning decals for the seats...RM does not. (looks like I need to get the touch up brush out on this one!) Fujimi Well....at least it has the eject handle. Otherwise very bland seat. This seat screams "cover me up with a pilot figure!" Hasegawa A little more in depth with this one....well detailed. Goes together easy even though it has some more parts. Cusions are two pieces, whereas the others are one molding. Italeri What? Something is missing! That's right folks, Italeri missed the overhead loops to fire the seats....oops! If you want to drop a few extra bucks, spring for resin replacements....a side note....I have found that with a bit of modification...the nice Hasegawa seats will fit here in case you have an some extra seats lying around. Next up.......Assembled cockpits Edited February 5, 2008 by paul.nortness Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Assembled Cockpits..... Academy Pretty standard fair....panels attach to the front of each crew station. Side note.....The panels included in the "Bombcat" boxing of the Academy kit are incorrect. Bombcats have a square MFD in the center of the RIO panel, rather than the typical round MFD. Another side note.....just to further drive home how close the Academy and RM cockpits are, I accidently used the tub from the RM with the Academy panels...can't tell a difference at all Hasegawa This is where the seperate panels make a difference. Lots of extra construction, but the detail is much better than any of the pits. Note that the front panel is not attached. That panel actually goes on with the HUD later. Italeri Pretty simple construction. Simple glue the cockpit tub to the lower nose piece (which has the front wheel well molded in. Again, note the lack of panels here. They get attached to the top of the nose....see below... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomcatter727 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Thats looking sweet man. I'll be watching this build with interest. If you want i'll send you a couple loop things from the hasegawa kit to stick onto the italeri seats, not having those bright yellow things is pretty noticable. Hell, if you want I'll send you the whole seats, got plenty lying around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.