F 14 swing wings

Saber78

Hey guys espically the jet guys.  I have a real quick question Im working on Revells 1/48 scale F 14 D . My question is whats the best way to install the wings. I can't wrap my head around this one either I follow the kit instructions or is there a better way on installing them. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the help

 

Fastest and easiest way is to dump the Revell kit and go buy the Tamiya F-14D.

(GRIN)

But seriously, if I remember from the last time I built one, lay the top half on the bench upside down, put your wings on their mounts(make sure they’re sanded and all cleaned up first cuz there’s no turning back now), then tape the lower fuselage half on. 

Once taped, start with the liquid cement one inch at a time, removing the tape as you go. It’s a pain but that’s why it’s a Revell/Monogram Kit. 

Or Hasegawa F-14 Tomcat kit.... 

I have built many of the old Monogram/Revell  Tomcats and never had an issue with the wings. Just follow the instructions. Dry fit and see how the mechanism works.

The Hasegawa Tomcats have decent details but do have an issue when joining the forward and rear fuselages together that require some work.

The old Monogram/Revell Tomcats require LOTS of filling ,sanding and work but do make great Tomcat subjects at a fraction what the others charge.

The Tamiya Tomcat tough pricey is just a pleasure to assemble. Parts fall in place with an excellent fit and details are fantastic.

The old Revell F-111 had me screaming in my sleep back when.

GMorrison

The old Revell F-111 had me screaming in my sleep back when.

 

The one with the retractable landing gear? 

And removable crew escape pod, moveable stabilators, plus the wings. Fit was not an issue, none existed.

I have always wanted to build a 1/72 F-14 model that's decent.

GMorrison

I have always wanted to build a 1/72 F-14 model that's decent.

 

The Hasegawa 1/72 Tomcat is a smaller version of the 1/48 and makes a nice small F14. The ROG 1/72 D Tomcat is pretty decent and fits well. The panel lines look a little deeper but it builds up nice, great looking pit too.

GMorrison

And removable crew escape pod, moveable stabilators, plus the wings. Fit was not an issue, none existed.

I have always wanted to build a 1/72 F-14 model that's decent.

 

Back when I built 1/72, I didn’t care much about such things... I just enjoyed building what I could. I built a few of those Revell F-111s. I even converted one into an EF-111. And I made the F-111B version. Scratched up some Phoenix missils for that one. Can’t remember if I used the Revell kit or just the wingtips on the Airfix 111 to make a FB-111A...

Last 1/72 Tomcat I built was in 1982 or 83... I tried all available 1/72 Tomcat kits at that time, including the Monogram snap tite. The best one back then was the original Hasegawa kit. Between all those kits and Microscale decals I had  nice bunch of squadrons represented...

Back to Sabre's question, there was a how-to back about a decade that showed removing the front (inner) half of the "rings" that fix the wings in position over the internal fuselage pins, allowing you to insert the wings later on. 

mrmike

Back to Sabre's question, there was a how-to back about a decade that showed removing the front (inner) half of the "rings" that fix the wings in position over the internal fuselage pins, allowing you to insert the wings later on. 

 

Depends if you want the wings to remain movable. This approach is fine if you want to permanently fix the wings in place.

It's been a long while since the article, and my experience with the kit. If memory serves, the "gears" still engaged, allowing the wings to move in unison. I think I had to shim them a bit to correct some sag. Mine became a paint mule; too many fit issues for me to sort out at the time. If I attempt another Tomcat it will definitely be the new Tamiya.

Interesting topic.

I fondly remember the ESCI Mig 27.

Straycat1911

 Fastest and easiest way is to dump the Revell kit and go buy the Tamiya F-14D.

This. 1000% this!   

The Revell kit has the small fins that move outward when the wings are swept back?  If it does the F-14D didn't have them. Problem solved if thats the case. Close them up.  I built the Revell 1/48 F-14A, I taped the parts together with drafting tape. Not much adhesive on the drafting tape and it came loose when I moved the wings back and forth.