This is what is ariving in 2 weeks -
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/LoadProduct.do?productid=14880


Cant wait for it.....Can someone please tell me about the kit & what I should expect? This is the 1st time I will be building a F-14 so I dont even know the building procedures.
I know that Hasegawa is known for its detail but how detailed does it get? Tell me about the cockpit......
The only problem is the lack of weapons.
Cheers & thanks,
WD.

HI

If it is like their other -14s, it will be a very nice kit.

OOTB it builds into a great looking model. BUT, you need to take your time and be careful when building it because it can be very finicky fitwise. There are some small fragile pieces that are easily broken off.

HTH

Tom

As mentioned, from what I have heard, the parts, especially the intakes (?) can be really tricky and somewhat complicated. The idea is to go slow with a lot of dry fitting.

But given that all USN F-14s will be retired from active duty by the end of 2006 , it is a fitting tribute.

I, myself, want to get Hasegawa's new F/A-18F and a F-14B (?) and decal sets for both for VF-2 to do the Langley stripes (the Red, White, and Blue stripes) as a fitting tribute to a stellar career.

Jeff

Tell me what you think about my planned scheme. I was always planning on painting her gloss black. After months of searching I got the gloss black paints & now there is no turning back. The decals that the kit comes with are these - (VF111 Sundowners

I feel that those red decals will look great over the gloss black body work. What do you think? I will not be able to get any other decals as they are not available here. It will have to be OOB. Ofcourse it will be fictitious but who cares.
Please give me an opinion.

OK I tried a bit of photoshopping & this is something like what my model will look like -

What do you guys think??? Should I go with this decal-paint combo???
Cheers & thanks,
WD.

HI

I would be concerned with the opaqueness of the decals. It does look great on an all black AC. I have always liked VF-111 and your take on it will be neat.

Tom

WILDDOG<
The Hasegawa F-14 is by far one of the best. BUT you are in for a long road to build. The intakes will have you questioning your modelling loyalty. VF-111 is my favorite squad. Too. If you want an all black aircraft why not try one from VX-4 0r VX-9 in the Playbot Bunny scheme. I have decals to contibute to the project if you would like. send me an PM if you're interested.

sorry to interupt...

is VF-111 has a black scheme?? It looks real cool if the there is the right color. I'm about to finished my F-14 (hasegawa 1/72) in VF111 marking... according to the instructions, the fuselage color is grey...

VF-111 F-14's were only ever in Gloss Gull Grey over Gloss White or the Tactical Grey schemme. Each Type of scheme has High vis CAG aircraft and Low vis
tactical aircraft for operations.

sigh! thanks tood for the explanation. So that means no black color for the VF-111 ??

Never Black paint on VF-111 aircraft of any type.

haha..i figur eit out already. so what's up with the black sundowners above??

The only black 'Cats ever painted were from VX-4 and VX-9, the Navy's test squadrons. To my knowledge this was for visual reference; the idea to be seen by the chase planes and cameras. This is opposite to what the pilot wants the enemy to see.

F-14A, mid 1980s


F-14D, 1994


VX-4

VX-9

Your best bet is the original color scheme profile the you showed first.

As for the last of weapons, there are multiple 1:48 scale aircraft weapons kits. Do an online search an you should find some.

Also, remember to consider a couple of things when looking at color schemes. Currently, the only "color" scheme (such as what you showed) allowed in squadrons is traditionally the Squadron COs and the CAG (Commander, Air Group; the head of an aircraft carrier's air wing). The rest are painted in the "lo-viz" grayscale colors that you see in most pictures. So make sure you are portraying a squadron COs aircraft if you are doing the "hi-viz" scheme (the original profile that you showed looks to be the COs aircraft).

Jeff