What's the best 1/48 F-14A Tomcat around???

Hasegawa. Detail is superb. I haven't built mine yet but I've heard that it's a fussy build. I got the Aires resin cockpit for it which is nice but debatable if it's an improvement that's worth the money.

Just as an addition. Here's my Hasegawa 1/72 tomcat in progress (I'll do the 1/48 later). The detail on this one is fantastic but the build on this one was fussy in terms of fit as well. Probably good preparation for the 1/48 version.

http://www.plummersmines.com/modelling/f_14b-5.jpg

I just got the 1/48 Academy F-14A and it looks sharp. The parts break down and detail is mostly the same as the Monogram Tomcat. The cockpit tub, instrument panels, ejection seats, and landing gear are EXACTLY like the ones from the Monogram kit. Supposedly Academy had a lot of help from them when they went to make their kit. However, the Academy Tom has well done recessed panel lines, the intake areas have been simplified which got rid of most of the gaps there, it has a TARPS pod included, and radar. The Hasegawa ones are the best though. They include dropped flaps and slats and positionable speed brakes, but the Academy is more affordable. If you don't have a lot of money to spend on a Hasegawa, Academy is a good bet.

Hi F-14 fan,

Hasagawa is definately the best Tomcat kit in 1/48. It's got the panel lines, a decent cockpit OTB for doing an "A" and as mentioned before you can pose the flaps and slats and you can also have the boarding ladder and gun on show.

The kits build-up is tricky but the result is well worth it. Most people will tell you that the intakes are truly awful to build-but with care it can be done. All you need to do is take your time. Out of the four Tomcat's I've built(Monagram/Italieri x2 &Hasagawa) I would certainly say Hasagawa's is best.

Darren

QUOTE: Originally posted by plum1030 Just as an addition. Here's my Hasegawa 1/72 tomcat in progress (I'll do the 1/48 later). The detail on this one is fantastic but the build on this one was fussy in terms of fit as well. Probably good preparation for the 1/48 version. http://www.plummersmines.com/modelling/f_14b-5.jpg

I'm a big dummy, here's the real link

http://www.plummersmines.com/modelling/f-14b_5.jpg

Ricardo,

I won't repeat the post from over on SHF, but I just had a thought. I may have some extra D&S sheets for Fast Eagle 107 and 102. I'll dig 'em out and see. No promises though...


Fade to Black...

Plum1013- That's 1/72 ?!?[:0] Looks beautiful! What squadron markings are you going to put on it? BTW, I forgot to mention the gunbay and ladder options on the Hasegawa model. Sorry! Academy had the upper speed brakes molded as separate pieces, but the lowers are molded closed. That means the only option is to build it closed, or go to the trouble and cut out the bottom ones. It looks like it'll be nice to build but I do agree with you guys- if I had the extra money I would've gotten the Hasegawa. I eventually will get the Hasegawa B model. I have the Twobobs decals for the Space Shuttle Columbia memorial Tomcat (A/C# 107 from the Swordsmen) and wanted to do a real nice model. I found out that one of the guys I work with is related to Michael Anderson who was the payload specialist on that mission, so I wanted to make sure the model is fitting.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rebel99 Plum1013- That's 1/72 ?!?[:0] Looks beautiful! What squadron markings are you going to put on it

Thanks, yes it is 1/72. And thankfully you don't get to see it in person. I build it about 4 years ago and just started painting it in the past month. (I wanted a good low-vis scheme and shelved it until I thought I could do it) I got lazy and left some seams. I will be doing a VF-32 swordmen plane that was at a local airshow. I bought a shirt and patch from the pilot (nice display addition). I'll use the two bobs sheet with minor modifications. My next F-14 (have the 1/48 and another 1/72) will be where I don't slack off.

I had to think about this one for a while. I think that the Hasegawa kits are definately the best. I know that they are very expensive. But I will never buy another Monogram Cat again. I have one Fujimi kit as well and that kit is almost as bad as the Monogram kit. I will never buy any other kit for the Tomcat except the Tamiya kit, but thats a few years from now. I love the Hasegawa Toms.

Yes they can be a challenge to build but when they are done they will be more than worth the effort. You just cant beat the detail. The landing gear, the wings the cockpit are far superior to the Mongram kit, at least in my opinion. I have never seen the Academy kit but it is based on the Monogram kti so I don't see how it could be much better. Well thats my input, I love them and hope to get more in time, but there is no money at this point.

QUOTE: Originally posted by plum1030 Originally posted by plum1030 I'm a big dummy, here's the real link http://www.plummersmines.com/modelling/f-14b_5.jpg Looking good Karl! Mike “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 4:36 AM Hi, For me the Academy kit!!!!!! Happy modeling Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 7:58 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV QUOTE: Originally posted by plum1030 Originally posted by plum1030 I'm a big dummy, here's the real link http://www.plummersmines.com/modelling/f-14b_5.jpg Looking good Karl! Mike Thanks Mike. My first attempt at low-vis techniques. Can't wait to put into use what I learned from this one. Other than preshading the panel lines it was easier than I thought it would be. In addition to the color variations I plan to vary the glossyness of the finish, I think it will help. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 1:03 PM Plum- sounds like me! Start something, get sidetracked, shelve it, then eventually get back to it. I'm going to do a Swordsman bird too. As I mentioned above I have the Twobobs sheet for #107 the Tomcat that had the Space Shuttle Columbia memorial patch painted on it. I also thought that if you get a Hasegawa Tomcat and build it with the flaps and slats down the wings can only be fully extended. My question is what problems everyone seems to have with the Monogram model. I have several and have never had a problem. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 1:49 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Rebel99 Plum- sounds like me! Start something, get sidetracked, shelve it, then eventually get back to it. I'm going to do a Swordsman bird too. As I mentioned above I have the Twobobs sheet for #107 the Tomcat that had the Space Shuttle Columbia memorial patch painted on it. I'm doing #104. Funny, the RIO didn't know what an F9F Panther was.(a pic of it was on the T-shirt I bought from them) It won't quite be accurate as I'm not going to model the smashed stabilizers under the engines(one too many hard landings!) Reply Edit gibsonk Member since November 2003 From: Toronto,Ontario Posted by gibsonk on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 1:56 PM Ricardo FSM did a F-14 kit roundup in Feb.03 issue. Its got them all from 1/444 to 1/32. There,s also a story on weathering a F-14 Mig Killer. Cheers Reply JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy