Photos
by Horatio Aycardo
The
kit is molded in the usual gray plastic with recessed panel lines and rivets,
well molded with a little bit of flash and ejector pin marks. The kit also comes
with PVC tires and cast metal inserts for the landing gear struts (discussed
more below). An examination of the parts of the test shot provided shows this is
an F-14A kit. There are no parts to convert it to a B or a D, but the parts
breakdown indicates that these versions may follow.
The
test shot reviewed included a pair of the familiar 267 gallon external tanks,
pallets for the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, and underwing pylons. No ordnance was
provided, however.
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Fuselage
The front fuselage is
broken down into the typical left-and-right halves and nose affair. The left
half has open access panels on the gun- and LOX-bays. The crew boarding steps
may be posed in the open position. There is a curious looking raised panel
surrounding the RIO's boarding step, but an examination of pictures of actual
F-14s do not show this panel.
The
nose has parts for the AWG-9 radar assembly as well as a bulkhead for the nose,
so the modeler can choose to pose the nose cone in the open position. The open
access panels mentioned above have been given attention as well; there are parts
for the M61 Vulcan cannon. The gun is broken down into individual barrels and
rings which opens up super-detailing opportunities.
The
cockpit tub and instrument panels have raised details that ought to make this
area of the plane busy. A comparison with actual photos of the F-14A cockpit
shows that the details, i.e., the dials, switches and gauges, look right where
they should be.
The
canopy is provided with plastic parts representing the locking devices and
canopy ventilation couplings, normally represented in smaller scales by
photo-etched parts.
The
example given provides for Martin Baker GRU-7A ejection seats, with each seat
broken down into 9 parts, consisting of the seat frame, cushion, ejection
handles and related parts.
The
fuselage, as molded, appears to represent a D version, which did away with the
glove vanes. A model Cats still had the vanes. A close scrutiny of the insides
show an area of thinner plastic on the upper wing glove half which can be shaved
off to provide a slot for the glove vanes.
The
kit provides intake ducting for the engine, however, the modeler needs to fill
up the ejector pin marks found on the inside walls. Not a difficult thing to do
considering the size of the kit.
The
wing gloves are molded separately from the main fuselage, and there are details
that show beneath the gloves once they are removed. Parts 39 and 40 appear to be
bulkheads for the wing glove which would allow the modeler to open up the area
for details.
Landing
Gear
Two
sets of landing gear doors are provided, one for the in-flight position and one
for gears down position, which have actuators.
Trumpeter
provided cast metal landing gear struts which are actually inserts to halved
plastic landing gears. The idea is to glue the metal struts into grooves in the
center of the plastic gears to reinforce them.
The
landing gear wells themselves are interesting. The nose landing gear well is
broken down into 4 walls. There are different details on the right and left
walls, and a comparison with pictures of the real Cat shows that the plumbing in
the kit well appear to closely resemble those of the real thing. This is
especially true of the forward gear well bulkhead. The main landing gear wells,
are likewise superbly detailed.
Wings
The
wings are molded in upper and lower halves, with separate leading edge slats,
trailing edges and actuators, and separate, individual spoilers. The spoilers,
unfortunately, look too thick even for the size of the kit. A plus is the fact
that the trailing edges are molded into sections, and the bulkhead and actuators
(which, even at this scale, appear too fragile and easy to break) ensure that
there is sufficient detail even with flaps down and spoilers up.
There
are no parts to make the wings swing, which means the modeler will have to
choose whether to pose the plane with wings extended or swept. There are two
sets of inflatable bags appropriate for either choice.
The
test shot given provided only Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines, with both open
and closed nozzles. And two complete TF30 engines are included in the kit for
those who want to build a diorama or who want to add even more detail to the
kit.
Conclusion
While
many may have hoped for options for a B or D model Cat, this new Trumpeter is
certainly a much improved rendition over previous offerings of the F-14 in this
scale, and is therefore very much welcome. With the reinforcing metal inserts on
the landing gears and the added details, Trumpeter obviously engineered this new
F-14 with the modeler in mind. No need to cough up more money to come up with a
super-detailed, attention-grabbing Tomcat; the new Trumpeter kit thoughtfully
provided nose, access bay and cockpit/canopy details right inside the box.
Allan
Christopher Agati
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