Italeri 1/48 Tomcat!

tempestjohnny

Ali-Cat camo. Awesome

 

Yes it Is! I actually have left over decals for US Navy Tomcats with desert and blue splinter camo and I've got Hobbyboss 48th scale Tomcat F14D. I really wanna do the desert splinter scheme but that's an A model and I wanna do the Tomcatters 48th scale last cruise Tomcat and also a low vis Tomcat so rather than decide which I think I'll just do all of them  at some point. Gonna have to find space but that's always tomorrow's problem when making a model or it is to me lol.

That's actually not a bad kit. It has nice recessed details. Looks very nice in the Iranian scheme. Great job.

plasticjunkie

That's actually not a bad kit. It has nice recessed details. Looks very nice in the Iranian scheme. Great job.

 

You're right it's a good kit for the price There's no kits I know of for £20 that are 1/48 Tomcats with recessed panel lines. I imagine that's not much more in dollars and it is basic if you want a detailed kit then this isn't it and if you want a good Tomcat kit then again this isn't the answer. If the wings are forward you can see inside the plastic fuselage from a gap which wouldn't be a difficult fix with white plastic card or evergreen whichever you call it. I've read it's quite slim for an F-14 but honestly I cant see an issue with the shape I think if you want a decent Tomcat that you can take a risk with for paint or modifications then this would be worth it.

Forgot to mention this Tomcat model.kit does not have a pitot tube it's the very first Tomcat which didn't.  I don't know the history well enough but I believe the first Tomacts into service didn't have pitot tubes so I bought a brass one online seperately. 

Kitwrecker

The early A ones had a tiny pitot tube in the nose, then the upgraded ones got the longer ones. I have built the Revell, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Hobby Boss and Italeri with Tamiya being the king. Hobby Boss is decent and Hasegawa being good but having several fit issues that require some mods but build up nice. 
Here is the last one I did an an upgraded A in 1/32 and was a huge model.

Again, you did a great job on yours

You definitely don't see too many Cats in camo. Beautifully done!

Very tidy, indeed, makes a nice change from the almost universal grey schemes!  And the base is nice, too - all of my aircraft are wheels-down, but one in that sort of attitude would make a nice desk ornament.

That is excellent work. I love it.

I want to build another F14 in Iranian camo like yours but Tamiya kit is too expensive. I think I will get the Academy kit again since it's decent , cheap, and comes with pilots (I love to have pilots in cockpit)

Below is my Academy F14 1/48

Hi guys thanks for the compliments i.was going to do the jolly Rogers like on the box art which for some reason looks far better in real life than on the internet. I think the cheap price is why I decided to try out the Iranian scheme but in my opinion I think a low vis Tomcat looks the best covered in dirt from carrier operations. Having said that the Iranian scheme is a top favourite, I don't know how many are flying with Iran at the moment but I know they still fly the Tomcat but I have seen a splinter camouflage Iranian Tomcat photographed in the last few years with the same colours as they have in mine. I like this though I tried making the paint look a bit faded or worn but didn't take it too far as I wasn't sure. But it's good to have models on stands as some just look better in the air. 

Kitwrecker

Hi guys thanks for the compliments i.was going to do the jolly Rogers like on the box art which for some reason looks far better in real life than on the internet. I think the cheap price is why I decided to try out the Iranian scheme but in my opinion I think a low vis Tomcat looks the best covered in dirt from carrier operations. Having said that the Iranian scheme is a top favourite, I don't know how many are flying with Iran at the moment but I know they still fly the Tomcat but I have seen a splinter camouflage Iranian Tomcat photographed in the last few years with the same colours as they have in mine. I like this though I tried making the paint look a bit faded or worn but didn't take it too far as I wasn't sure. But it's good to have models on stands as some just look better in the air. 

 

Last I heard, Iran still has about 20-30 still flying. 
Pick yourself up a copy of "Iranian F-14 Tomcat units in combat" by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop. Good read on how the Tomcat was selected and it's successful use in combat before the US Navy had their shindig with the Libyans. 
Yes, the TCS does look better though it's not accurate but the longer pitot tubes were accurate.