Fujumi 1/48th F-14A Tomcat review?

I have the Monogram F-14, and got it for $11.97 at Wal-Mart. Granted a Hasegawa kit it aint', but it is still a very nice kit. The D release doesn't have all the updated parts though, but it's still all right. I would go with this one. There are plenty of aftermarket decals for the Jolly Rogers out there.

B-wolf is right. The Hasagawa kit is not in the same ball park as the Fujimi kit. The Monogram kit, I think is very nice if you want to build an early A model. Also the Academy kit is very nice if you can find one.

Toad, the Hasegagme kit is the way to go.

The Minicraft kit is decent, but needs a bit of work. Also, if you've built a bunch of the Mongram kits, the Minicraft kit may seem somewhat familiar to you. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's an improved version of the Monogram offering, but it does go together in much the same way at certain stages.

The Fujimi kit is awful. The only really redeeming factor is that you can build an early Tom with the original boat tail configuration. (known as a "whale tail" to some) And at that, I'd chop it and slap it on another kit. I'm not a rivet counter, but the rest of the Fujimi model is really bad in outline, shape, etc.

Fade to Black...

Thanks for the advice. I went ahead and got the hasegawa F-14A Millenium Special. This is a jaw-dropping awsome kit. I also got the black box cockpit set and Areomaster decals for VF-84.

I've built the Monogram one half a dozen times back when I was a teenager- good kit for a low price. However I don't think I'll ever build another Monogram F-14 after seeing the Hasegawa kit.

I am Kelvin Sung from Singapore. I have the Fujimi kit. I had to use a sanded down chaff dispenser launcher from a badly damaged Italeri 1/48 F-14 to place at the tail-end. That is all I have done! The kit had flaws but I am grafting parts from my scrapped Italeri kit to the Fujimi. Moreover, I have spare Phoenix pallets and many TARPS Pods from my Hasegawa Tomcats. To save yourself all the trouble, get the Hasegawa kits. You can source from GreatModels.com and SprueBrothers. I have currently 3 unbuilt F-14Ds (HAS 7212) and I VF-2 Bounty Hunters F-14D (HAS 9374 - which has BOL rails). Try the F-14As as well (I have 2 un-built F-14As Millenium Specials HAS 9357 which also have BOL rails), the other Hasegawa F-14A which I have is the Atsugi 25th Anniversary one HAS 7085. All Tomcats were purchased from Great Models and SprueBrothers! To modify all 1/48 F-14s to Bombcat standard, visit www.blackboxkits.com for F-14 Bombcat Update Sets CS48001 - features 4 Phoenix pallets with bombracks and mk83 bombs. Also included is the LANTIRN pod and adapter pylon.

My best advice - get the Hasegawa kits. They take a lot of effort but they can be built! Consult Dave Aungst's article on Hyperscale. The above Hasegawa Tomcats I have mentioned are all new releases which have been re-worked. The Hasegawa kit which will have you pulling your hair out is the Pacific Fleet Squadrons version. Possibly the Atlantic Fleet version as well - fit of engine intake trunks to fuselage is a pain!

Visit GreatModels - I think they have some HAS 7212 F-14Ds (VF-11/VF31). They have also taken in some Atlantic Fleet Hasegawa Tomcats with VF-84 markings!

To sum up, go for the Hasegawa kits. If you are on a budget, consider the Revell-Monogram F-14A and F-14D (which is not so accurate). The kit with the best bang for buck will be Academy's, even though it has the older gun vents. I have built the Academy kit in the markings and colours of the Iranian Air Force.

For more info, you could contact me at shengyi1701@yahoo.com

Dick McC I had the idea of breaking the vanes and glued them into place then I was able to swing the main wings back and forth, I know it is to late for you but that is what I wound up doing.

Further thoughts on a scale of one to ten I give this kit a 3.5. The detail also leaves a lot to be desired and the fit like I said before is not very good, I did however like the decal sheet. Four aircraft are provided for, one from VF-1 CJ Heeatley (Heater), he is the auther of "The Cutting Edge" one from VF-41 Black Aces, VF-84 Jolly Rodgers and one from VF-111 Sundowners.

I have built both the Hasagawa and the Academy F-14 and both are great kits. I used the Hasagawa kit in a diorama on the launching block. I like it that you get two nosegear struts with it which doesn't require modifying for launch. You might consider the Monogram F-14 which is the early type F-14A used by the Navy. It can be built into a nice kit.

Thanks for the advice gentelmen. I'm also considering the Academy 1/48th kit. However I like that the Hasegawa can display flaps down and has the boarding ladder.

I agree with Berny and Jimz. I built up the Hasegawa 1/48th F-14 a couple of years ago and had little or no fit problems. Then last month I drug down a Fujimi F-14 "Black Bunny" I'd had on the shelf a number of years. Actually it was put out by Testors, but its by Fujimi. The fit is less than good and if I'd spent another two or three weeks on attempting to get the swing wing/vane mechanism corrected I might have succeeded. However, frustration set in and I gave up yesterday and glued the wings in a swept back mode with the vanes extended. My suggestion is to stick with the Hasegawa kit.
Dick McC

I am working on this kit now and I agree with berny13. I also have had lots of fit problems, the area I had the most trouble with was the front of plane. The Body is in six pieces, the fueslage (if you can call it that with a Tomcat because of its shape) backend is in two pieces, the front is in four, their is two halves, a nosecone and a center connecter section under the cockpit and the wheelwell. I had huge gaps between the center connector, the two backend pieces and the fuselage front area's. Stick with Hasegawa's it is the same price range and I hear their better, I have two on order. When I get them I will know for myself.

Stay away from this kit.

I built the Fujumi 1/48 F-14A over 15 years ago. Unless they have improved the kit over the years I would not recomend it. The fit is very poor and especially at the wings to fuselage. The fuselage area under the wings had a large gap which had to be filled in with plastic card. The pylons and stores were not the correct shape. It will take a lot of work to make it look good.

Take a look at my Fujimi Tomcat kit on ARC.