1/32 Tamiya F-14D Tomcat

VF-31 Tomcatters - Part 1  

by Eric Lowe

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I would like to begin by attributing the success of this build to Masa Narita.  Without his website's masterful solutions and, quite literally, step-by-step descriptions of assembling this model, it would either have A) ended up smashed to pieces, or B) been a poor example that never would have found its way onto this website.  Thanks Masa!!!  His website can be found at www.naritafamily.com and I highly recommend it anyone and everyone.  His 1/32 F-14D can be found in the ARC gallery as well as on numerous other websites.

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As we all know, the Tomcat is on its way out and I was fortunate enough to see the last Tomcat tac demo at NAS Oceana last September.  I had been working on this kit for quite a while prior to this airshow, but I really started slacking and seeing the 'cats in action really got me going again.  This model is dedicated to the pilots of VF-31 who are on their last cruise with the famous 'King of the Flight Deck'.  This particular aircraft, BuNo164600 was the 5th-to-last Tomcat ever built (back in '92) and served as the CAG for VF-31 from the late 90s through Operation Iraqi Freedom.  This Tomcat is quite distinguished as having the traditional red twin fins and a gloss black radome (US Navy F-14 Tomcat Units of OIF, Holmes, p7).  Felix (on the tails) was recently replaced with "NK".  Anyway, onto the build. 

Well, there really isn’t that much that hasn’t been said about this kit, so I'll just hit the highlights (and low points).  Having a lifelong love affair with the F-14, I always saw the Tamiya kit as the Holy Grail of big Tomcat models, especially after being so disappointed with the Revell renditions.  I had heard bad, bad things about this kit, but I was in denial until it arrived and I cracked the box open. 

First of all, the cockpit is a joke; decal panels might work for a 1/72, but come on!  Needless to say, the original cockpit (which even my wife had to laugh at) went right out the window and was replaced with the oh-so-expensive Cutting Edge kit.  This cockpit is fantastic, but does require a bit of convincing to get it into place.  It’s actually a bit off, but I won’t say anything again if you don’t.

Secondly, the panel lines on the upper and lower halves of the fuselage are raised.  Come on!  Who knew that the 1980’s method of model fabrication was still in use?  Anyway, rescribing the panel lines (many of which were just blatantly wrong and had to be corrected using numerous references, Masa’s website being first and foremost) took me quite a while, especially since this is only the second kit I’ve ever rescribed (the 1/32 Hasegawa F-16 being the other, ugh!).  Well, in the end, it was worth it, but [expletive]!

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Lastly, the air intakes – Good God!  They might fly for a 1/350 Tomcat, but not here.  Luckily, I was, again, saved by Masa’s most merciful and instructional website.  Using styrene sheets, the intakes were scratch built and look great!  Unfortunately, digital camera is rather aged and picture attempts all fell flat. 

Anyway, the updated weapons all went together like a dream, although a layer of thinned Squadron putty had to be applied to the GBU-24s to simulate the coating that the navy uses on their bombs.  Anyway, the ‘cat is all together and I’m in the process of paining her up real nice (you all know how painting navy jets goes), so I’ll hopefully have part two of this article up within the next few weeks.  Thanks for looking!

Eric

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Photos and text © by Eric Lowe