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Converting Hase's 72nd F-14A into a B or D


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Apart from burner cans and a new 'pit?

I ask, because my favourite webshop carries the F-14A Tomcats at almost half the price of the B's or D's:

F-14A "Tarsiers" @ 19,30 € vs. F-14B Red Rippers @ 34,99 € or F-14D "Grim Reapers" @34,99 €

For the money I'd save I'd be able to get decent burner cans or even new cockpits ...IF... they're all I need!

I looked trough the F-14A kit I have several days ago and there seemed to be different beaver-tails and chin pods.

IIRC there are issues concerning the chin podsw, beaver-tails and gun-vents. Is that all?

Weaponry will come courtesy of Hasegawa's weapon sets.

Markings...I'm not sure. One will definitely have to be a Black Lions scheme. Maybe a Jolly Rogers aircraft. But I'll decide after having read Osprey's "F-14 Units in OIF", which will arrive in a couple o' days.

Sooo! Suggestions??? Or answers to my question???

Thanks in advance! :banana:

Edited by ChernayaAkula
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The engine fairings (the areas that extends out onto the burner cans on the sides) on the A are more of a round shape but are squared off on the B. A little work with some putty though should correct that.

Edited by David Walker
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If you can get the burner cans and cockpit, you can build a B or a D.

Other mods required:-

As David metioned you would need to need reshape the engine fairings (B & D).

F-14A Fairing

F14A_001.jpg

F-14B & D Fairing

F14D_001.jpg

The double chinpod on the D is not supplied and would require a scratch build, the B chinpod is included (parts J17 & P10).

The ECM bumps on the ex-glove vane box above the intakes need adding, and also the left nose gear door. (B & D)

The NACA Gas gun vents would need to be added. (B & D)

The last two are provided on the Sprue N in the B & D boxings, and you can request one from Hasegawa through the likes of HLJ, using their spare parts service.

Sprue N

Sprue_N_001.jpg

HTH

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Well, THANKS everybody! :D

Looks like the building of any B's or D's will have to be postponed...

I took a look at my Revell F-14D and the sanding/puttying of the engine fairings doesn't seem to be that hard. But the chin pod and gun vents will be hard to scratch! At least for me! Maybe I can lay my hands on some cheapo Revell D's and use their parts...

Any idea why the Hase B and D versions are that different in price??? Beats me! :unsure:

Nevertheless, thanks again!

EDIT: I found another boxing of the B in another webshop for only 24,95 €! It's the "VF-143 Pukin' Dogs"-boxing. QUESTION: Does it contain a D chinpod??? I don't think so, but I'm not sure.

Anyways, I'll get this one for the Black Lions' "Last cruise"-outfit! :banana:

Oh, and what bang seats would I need?

Edited by ChernayaAkula
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I always forget something, as Andrew metioned, the seats will need changing to NACES for the D :lol:

Any idea why the Hase B and D versions are that different in price??? Beats me! ;)

Because they can :lol:

QUESTION: Does it contain a D chinpod??? I don't think so, but I'm not sure.

Anyways, I'll get this one for the Black Lions' "Last cruise"-outfit! :thumbsup:

Oh, and what bang seats would I need?

The VF-143 boxing doesn't contain the NACES seats or the double chinpod. >> VF-143 Contents <<

For the NACES seats I would use these >> True Details << (2 seats) or >> Pavla << (1 seat)

Edited by Andy Mullen
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If you're still considering getting the VF-33 F-14A, check that it isn't the original tooling as Hasegawa still produce it. The difference in price suggests that's the case. The older kit is good but the new one is head and shoulders above it. As a guide, if pictures of the kit on the box shows it has weapons then it's the older version. If you can look inside then even better as the differences will be obvious (no etched details fret, raised panel lines and a lot less parts!)

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Don't forget the new shrouds--the piece the nozzles attach to. (The nozzles attach to the aft end of the shroud, the engine fairings attach to the side of it). They are quite different--A's are made of many segmented plates, B/D's are smooth and shorter with a different curvature. This is the #1 place most diecast and plastic kits miss, even if they get the fairings right. New nozzles means new shrouds, and new shrouds means new fairings. Look above at Andy's drawings---see the black part on the B/D? Compare to the A. The B curves a lot less, is shorter, and tapers more rapidly.

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Thanks again!

The VF-33 boxing I was talking about is this one:

1060735.jpg

According to the website I wanted to order it from, it does contain the more recent kit with PE parts. THIS REVIEW suggests the same.

Thanks for the info on the D. I'm not sure whether I'll get one, but I doubt I'll convert it. I'd rather get a "proper" D in the first place...

Oh, for those of you who intend to buy a BIG 32nd Tamiya Tomcat, CLICKY HERE!

For more info, see my post in THIS THREAD.

I'm not sure if the price is that low, at least here in Germany it is...

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Thanks again!

The VF-33 boxing I was talking about is this one:

1060735.jpg

According to the website I wanted to order it from, it does contain the more recent kit with PE parts. THIS REVIEW suggests the same.

Unless you want the VF-33 or VF-21 markings in the >> Tarsiers boxing <<, you will find the >> Atlantic Fleet Squadron boxing << cheaper - the higher price and markings are the only difference.

Edited by Andy Mullen
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Unless you want the VF-33 or VF-21 markings in the >> Tarsiers boxing <<, you will find the >> Atlantic Fleet Squadron boxing << cheaper - the higher price and markings are the only difference.

No, it's not that I'm after the decals, just the kit. And this one's relatively cheap (for a Hasegawa, at least).

But, are there any decals out in 72nd for this beauty. Is it a real aircraft at all? Is it a B or a D? Or an A+? My money is on a D! Gun-vents. Am I right?

f14-squadron-vf101-06.jpg

It's from the signature of ScreamingEagles.

I kinda like the dark shark-mouth in conjunction with the black fins and canopy-glare-thingy pulled all the way down the nose...

Edited by ChernayaAkula
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You're in luck.

Hasegawa just released a VF-101 boxing of the F-14D in 1/72 with Modex 164 included in the decal options. Best of all they are Cartograph decals; far better than the standard Hasegawa offerings.

The kit number is: 00805

Here's a link to it at Hannant's: http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=HA00805

Edited by volzj
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Yup, it is a D model. I've got plans to do one in 1/48 using a set of aftermarket decals for it. But, the tail art on the bird I saw was different. I like that tail art a little better though, probably because it was bigger then the flying reaper skeleton I saw on the bird that was at Offutt in 2003.

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You're in luck.

Hasegawa just released a VF-101 boxing of the F-14D in 1/72 with Modex 164 included in the decal options. Best of all they are Cartograph decals; far better than the standard Hasegawa offerings.

The kit number is: 00805

A look at whats in the box >> 00805 <<

Yup, it is a D model. I've got plans to do one in 1/48 using a set of aftermarket decals for it. But, the tail art on the bird I saw was different. I like that tail art a little better though, probably because it was bigger then the flying reaper skeleton I saw on the bird that was at Offutt in 2003.

You probably saw this one (Superscale)

F14D_VF101_AD163_163414_001.jpg

Edited by Andy Mullen
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No one has done the 2003 version of the scheme (with Flying Reaper). VF-Decals has done the final scheme (both line and show birds) in 48th, and is planning 72nd--but again, not the 2003 version (which I really want--only F-14 I've seen fly)

Don't know why it's so ignored---it's the only F-14 demo team, the only F-14's a lot of people see without being on a carrier, and 99% identical to the 2005 scheme--all we need are new tail logos.

Edited by David Hingtgen
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f14-squadron-vf101-06.jpg

Does anybody know on what occasion they were painted like this? I mean, high-viz roundels? They must have been gone for ages...

Would the air-defence load-out be a typical one? Or rather a bomb-load as Andy's pics of the instructions suggest?

Or no ordnance at all?

And thanks for the info. Were it not for you guys, I would have never found it... ;)

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No one has done the 2003 version of the scheme (with Flying Reaper). VF-Decals has done the final scheme (both line and show birds) in 48th, and is planning 72nd--but again, not the 2003 version (which I really want--only F-14 I've seen fly)

Don't know why it's so ignored---it's the only F-14 demo team, the only F-14's a lot of people see without being on a carrier, and 99% identical to the 2005 scheme--all we need are new tail logos.

I thought Superscale did one in 1/72 at least, not sure about 48

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