Hobby Boss 1/48 F-14A Tomcat

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program following the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat against MiGs during the Vietnam War.

The F-14 first flew in December 1970. It first deployed in 1974 with the U.S. Navy aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65), replacing the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 served as the U.S. Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform. In the 1990s it added the Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod system and began performing precision strike missions. The F-14 was retired from the active U.S. Navy fleet on 22 September 2006, having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. As of 2009, the F-14 was only in service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, having been exported to Iran in 1976 when the US had amicable diplomatic relations with the nation.

This is the sixth 1/48 F-14 kit that has been presented to the buying public. First was the Monogram kit then the Fujimi kit, then Hasegawa, Academy and finally the Italeri kit. Most modelers will agree that the Hasegawa kit was the best available in terms of detail, but the Monogram was probably somewhat easier to build. In truth, until now, no 1/48 Tomcat has been really easy to build. All of them have suffered from various problems with fit and only those few folks who have built dozens of 1/48 Tomcats (yes, I mean you, Darren), have figured out how to breeze through construction.

Now we have a new player on the block. Obviously not the least expensive of the bunch, but it is loaded with detail. The kit

Kit features fine engraved rivets and panel lines, well detailed tandem cockpits with nicely done bang seats, radar package face and antenna (with optional open radome), cannon bay interior, optional position slats and flaps, intake trunking, fully detailed engines, optional position multi-part canopy, refueling probe, optional deployed boarding steps, separate speed brakes, very nicely detailed wheel wells and landing gear, vinyl tires and a nice photo etch fret for the radar array, seat harnesses and the canopy rails. The interior instrument panels and consoles have nicely done raised detail and decals that one can use if that is the desire.

Like almost every Tomcat kit, the forward section is split vertically with the aft split horizontally. The kit wing leading edges will need small strips removed for the little vanes that were part of the F-14A airframe. You may be pleased that the wings are not interconnected, at least not that I could determine from the instructions. There are different pieces to fit into the fuselage at the wing root depending on if you build the kit with the wings swept forward or back. Both wide open and closed exhaust nozzles are provided. Tomcats normally shut down one engine first and then the other, which results in one set of burner cans being wide open while the other are closed. Look at photos to verify this. Frankly, I'm not sure why Hobby Boss provided full engines as you won't see them when the kit is finished. From the final compressor aft would have been enough.

The kit does include a full weapons suite, including different wing pylons if you wish to mount a pair of Phoenix out there. You get four Sparrows and two Sidewinders as well as a pair of drop tanks. The instructions are well done with the usual nicely drawn construction steps. There is a list of parts that won't be used on this variant, which is nice to halve. A full color painting and markings guide is offered for two light gull grey over white planes; one from VF-32 as shown on the box art and another for a black nosed VF-41 plane from their initial operations. There are five decal sheets (the one for the instruments isn't shown) that provide all the data and unique markings you'll need. They are well printed and I've found them to be quite good when I've built Hobby Boss kits.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent packaging. In addition to the usual careful bagging of the sprues, there are two additional boxes within. One is compartmentalized for the upper and lower fuselage halves and the other contains the clear pieces, tires, intakes and a few other pieces. As usual, some of the more delicate bits are wrapped for additional protection.

So now we have another player in the 1/48 Tomcat game. Is it the best so far? Well, it certainly looks very nice and it couldn't be any more difficult to build than the Hasegawa kit. It offers a bunch of options that will appeal and includes weapons that are separate items with some other kits. Two nicely done markings in the box and a ton of aftermarket decals that should fit make for a very attractive new kit.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in and reminded me that I forgot the Fujimi and Academy kits. Heck, there may even be more!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat

March 2011

Thanks to Squadron Products for the preview kit. Get yours at your local shop or on-line retailer.

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