I have built the Monogram version (yuk) and having a fit right now (see post I'll tell you what) with the Hasegawa version and have an Italirie waiting in the wings. I want a great kit both detail wise and engineering wise. Somewthing that goes together easily and the fit is close. The Hasegaw kit has no guide pins and the fit has required extensive use of filler and consequently sanding.

err.... what's your question?

I have the Fujimi 1/4 in the stash, somewhere I heard / read that it's a lot better than the Mono... Haven't popped anything off the sprues to know better.

Right...the question is...Is the Fujimi kit a quality kit. Great detail similar to the Hasegawa and well engineered with good fit.. I'm looking for something that is noticeably better than the Monogram Italerie versions.

I haven't built or seen the 1/48 Fujimi offering but i have built the Hasegawa, Italeri and Monogram Kits. I have built the 1/72 kits thought and to be honest Hasegawa are better in that scale.

My personal choice would be the Hasegawa kit depending on the molding that you have as Hasegawa reworked it's early releases to rectify some fit issues, but even with an early release and i little time and effort it builds into a brilliant kit. i get round the fit and lack of locating pins by making locating tabs, this makes the job a lot easier. David W Aungst did a four part series on the Hasegawa kit over on Hyperscale with some interesting tips.

"Tomcat Cockpit" F-14A Part One
"Tomcat Cockpit" F-14A Part Two
"Tomcat Construction" F-14A Part Three
"Painting an NSAWC Tomcat" F-14A Part Four

Thanks Allen. The articles won't help my construction as I have gotten to the point of assembling the major subassemblies and painting. I use Mr Surfacer 500 and 1000 to fill in gaps and I applies it liberally to the kit. I lost some surface detail and left a lot of flawa hidden on the bottom. I may venture out and purchase another version checking to make sure i get a later version. Still, I would like to know if the Fujimi is a good kit. Major concern is how is the cockpit area fusealage split. Up and down like the Hasegawa or sideways like the Monogram. Also, what is the level of detailing on it.?

Steve, are you sure Fujimi actually molded a 1/48 F-14 Yes, I know they did, I have one, kit no 29. But nobody has done a review on the Web that I can find. I may be able to dig thru the stash and find the box and shoot some pics it that would help.

that might help. I havelocated a couple as I think it is OOP, so I want to move on ths if it is worth the $30

Steve, FWIW here are a few shots.






The fuselage splits horizontal from the inlets back, vertical forward. Early F-14A with the vanes on the forward wing glove. More pics of the sprues if you want them.

MArk:

Thanks a bunch. It looks pretty good so i thnk I'll pick one up

I'm not sure where you guys have heard of or get the idea that the Fujimi 48th F-14 is a good kit. Having researched the F-14 in depth and built all the 48th Tomcats, I can assure you tha the Fujimi 48th F-14 is at the bottom of the barrel. It's shape is way off in many areas and the detail is joke. It's the last choice I would pick, next to the "original" Revell kit.

Mike V

Rats !!!! Where were you 4 days ago before i ordered it. Maybe I'll get lucky and GM won't have one they can get

Looks like I was few days too late. I used to check in here daily, but threads move at such a snails pace compared to other forums, I've been dropping in on weekly basis.

The Fujimi kit has been around since the late 70s, so you're not getting anything new. There are a host of major shape issues that take it out of the running, not to mention the lack of any useful detail. Heck, even the Italeri kit is better; which is saying a lot.

Good luck with it and hope you can do something. If it's any consolation, I was burned to when I bought 2 of the Testors' boxed Fujimi F-14s back in the mid 80s, when they heavily over priced at $40+!

Mike V