1/32 Tamiya F-14A Tomcat Part 1 of 2

Converted to F-14B Bombcat

by Douglas K. L. Chan

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Ever since I was a kid, I assembled tens of F-14 and F-15 in 1/144 scale (LS from Japan if I remember correctly).  I particularly like the Tomcat because of its swept wings, kind of fun to have the wings rotate forward and backward.  Then, as I got older, the scale got larger, 1/72 at 14, and 1/48 at 17.  At that time, it was just a dream to have one in 1/32 because it was so expensive to a kid.  I could easily recall how happy I was at 17, taking that large Tamiya box from the shelf high up in the model shop.  Opening the box... wooowwwooo....... I said to myself that some day I would have my hands on this one.  And then 10 years passed...........I have the old Tamiya version, 10 more years passed........ got a better hand, I have the Tamiya 1994 version, Teknics' cockpit and airframe conversions for a D-model.  I didn't want an A but a B or D.  Seeing you guys' good work on ARC created a kind of resistance for me to start the work.  Panel line re-inscribe, engine mount replacement, .......... it sounds so difficult.  Then a day I packed with enough research and courage, I started working on this one, making it a B model in VF-103 marking.

Here is a list of what I have added on :

(1) Black Box F-14A Tomcat cockpit set (CS32013)

(2) Teknics F-14D Tomcat/Bombcat Cockpit Superset (TK32012)

(3) Teknics F-14D Tomcat/Bombcat Exterior Conversion Set (TK32011)

(4) Eduard F-14 seat detail set MK GRU 7A (32502)

(5) Eduard F-14 Tomcat - exterior (32049)

(6) Eduard Mask F-14A Tomcat (JX030)

(7) Zotz VF-103 F-14B Tomcat decal sheet (ZTZ/32014)

(8) Crossdelta The Last Days of VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" (1994) decal sheet

It is well known that Tamiya F-14 is kind of sub-standard.  Making one is like having a nightmare. There are many many wonderful articles in ARC on this model.  So I will only talk about some things I think are a bit special.

First, replacing the engine mount.  I used the Tamiya Craft Knife (C shape) to cut the kit moulding. Using this tool ensured a clean and straight cut which was essential to reduce the filling and sanding work after mounting the new Teknics engine mount.

For the office, I used the BlackBox F-14A cockpit set, with modification.  Fitting the BlackBox set into the kits forward fuselage was not too much of a problem.  I cut steps on the bottom of the resin tub so it fit the forward gear bay assembly.  The forward and rear tubs are separated by a gap of several millimeters. Do your measurement with the canopy for the proper positions of the tubs and side walls.  

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I opened the inflight refueling bay and scratch built everything with styrene bars and sheets. The result looked good.

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I used the seats supplied with the BlackBox set.  They are the old seats with the ejection handles on top.  Adding the Eduard set would enlightened the appearence very much.

Instrument panels were a mix of kit parts, BlackBox set, Teknics set, Eduard set and scratch built.  I am satisfied with the result.

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Seals made of styrene sheets were added on the wing gloves. Center pylons were modified, again with styrene sheets.  The anti slip walk way on both side of the intake duct were painted by #500 liquid putty.  While the liquid putty was not yet set, sting a relatively hard brush directly onto the putty, lift up and sting again.  This created a very rough surface which looked quite similar to the actual anti slip walk way, of course after painting and dry brushing.

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Last thing for this part, the gun bay.  It was again all scratch build with reference to photos.

Douglas

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Photos and text © by Douglas K. L. Chan