POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 The kit: The kit recently released by Hobbyboss in 1/48 scale represents the A version, the initial model designed and manufactured by Grumman. The model is injected into dark gray plastic, contains 24 trees of pieces, plus the two halves of the fuselage has separated in a special box to avoid damage. The model has more than doubled over the parts from Hasegawa Tomcat. These parts make it possible to build the model with the gun bay open, and this session has all the separate parts for its construction which allowed a detailed assembly and the use resin sets without need to cut the kit. The panels and sessions of the fuselage has a great riveting, which caused suspicion at first, but that proved to have been a settling of hobbyboss. The kit also has pieces for assembly of both engines in full parts, something unprecedented in the F-14 on this scale. I particularly enjoyed the novelty. Flaps and ailerons as well as the geometry of the wings has to be maintained in variety of positions. The cockpit has a good level of detail, the panels are correct for the second block of the A version. The highlight of the kit and what makes it a real candidate to beat hasegawa kit is the diversity of external loads, are missiles AIM-9, AIM-7, AIM-54, tarps and designators pods, these pods are not used the versions of the box, to use him had buy the aftermarket decals, the kit also had option for two external tanks which allows for a full operational TOMCAT without relying on extra sets as in the kit hasegawa. The seats are nicely detailed and the PE sheet that came with the kit gives the modeler has belts and buckles for the seats. The PE foil behind piece still catching canopy and small antennas for the body of the model. One thing I did not like, and which is repeated in this and the kit hasegawa, are the rubber tires, that why they tend to crack over time (if anyone has a remedy for this, please share pro) The decals contained in the template option to bring two aircraft, belonging to vf-41 based on the Nimitz in 1978 and another (the box) of the vf-32 J. N F. Kennedy in 1976. The decal sheet also gives all stencils for one aircraft, and stencils for weapons tbem. The canopy is injected into and fully transparent plastic lens has a small seam at the top, something common in hobbyboss kits. Comparison: HOBBYBOSS x Hasegawa Taking advantage of the fact that I have here the hasegawa F-14A Tomcat, I decided to do a little comparison between both models. The Hasegawa kit has a shape of the 90's, but neither is it a model quash, by contrast, is still the best of the scale, although it now has a competitor that yes you can take the front of the modelers preference. Regarding hasegawa kit, the model of hobbyboss has roughly the same size, so that i had overposted parts of the fuselage a nd wings of both kits and you could noted that the size is exactly the same, so there is no difference in scale problems. The hobbyboss kit, I seem to have finer details of cladding and well sculpted, however the plastic hasegawa is still my favorite. Parts of the cockpit is another advantage, the panels of the hasegawa tomcat are wrong for the A version, but the side panels are more detailed. The gun bay of the hobbyboss comes with exterior parts for assembly, while in parts hasegawa injected is already there (I personally dislike) which takes some of the realism of the area. The canopy are similar in type of injection and quality on both kits. The big difference is precisely the news that hobbyboss behind compared to its pair of hasegawa. The engine and set of arms and external loads can put in front of hobbyboss hasegawa the will of the modelers. The decals are an advantage of possessing hasegawa tomcats of several squads just by the modeler will choose what to buy. Conclusion: In my opinion the Hobbyboss kit is a excellent news, because in addition to bringing innovations in one of the most popular among hobbyists, he joins the fight against a strong market competitor, which he could be equal or superior in quality, and still will result in a greater supply and price reduction by considering that hobbyboss model is being marketed at a low price in relation with hasegawa on hobbyeasy.com. I liked what I saw, in my opinion there is no longer an owner of the Tomcat scale, from here hobbyboss (already announced that F-14B and D in 1 / 48) and hasegawa will have to fight for the domination of the world of tomcats sale by sale. Good for modelers who incur great new options on the scale. Aftermarkets: decals, resins and P.E. The aftermarkets for the F-14A Tomcat is perhaps one of which has the largest number of options and diversity, are dozens of sets of resin, decal sheets and photo etched parts. Resins The leading manufacturers of resin sets for the Tomcat is the Aires, the Wolfpack and Avonix, these three brands together sets ranging from the cockpit, from the basement up to sets of wheels with weapons and pods, the Wolfpack this case. The resin market is varied and the prices too, so worth keeping an eye open, searching the Web for good prices, the aftermarkets is the branch of modeling the prices have gone up. P.E. The photo etcheds, popularized by Eduard in his series "zoom color", have become over the past year almost a necessity for many hobbyists, has the advantage of allowing a faithful representation of the interior and exterior parts of the model for a time lower cost than a set of resins. It is worth remembering the modellers requests by P.E. makes the Aires to put pieces of PE in almost of her sets of resin. Decals: The market for decals is perhaps the most varied, the U.S. have about a dozen companies working on decals for F-14, the most famous being the Fightertown, Twobobs, Afterburner and superscale. However, these American companies have mostly represented aircraft based on the same theme, the famous Final Cruise CAG Birds and Birds. These aircraft are repeatedly viewed and reviewed on forums and modeling sites around the world. However for those who do not want more of it, a Brazilian company is breaking with the sameness of the decals market for tomcats. FCM decals of Mr Felipe Miranda has worked in a new niche of market for tomcat decals. Decal versions are unusual but no less beautiful than the famous CAG birds represented by U.S. companies. FCM currently owns two market-sheet versions of sundowners VF-111, in a high viz and other low viz, one for the VF-301 devil diciples, and one for the VF-114 Aardvarks. The latter has a second part. But the projects, FCM does not stop there, Felipe Miranda expects to release at least ten sheets with new versions of the painting to tomcats in scale 1/48, some of them may be given in the profiles yielded by it and posted to the bottom. The FCM decals are now printed by microscale, the same that makes the impression of fightertown, the graphic quality and history is great, Felipe Miranda has worked to expanding the market possibilities and some versions of the decals for Tomcat . Your decal can be found at the best stores in Brazil, as well as Hannants, sprue brothers and shops in Eastern Europe. My F-14 will be builded using the set 48-36 representing low viz aircraft of the VF-111 Sundowners, these decals were, according to Felipe Miranda, designed based on material given by the official historian of this important USN squadron. The news announced by FCM Decals is a victory for the Tomcat aftermrkets branch and for all Tomcat lovers around the world. Special thanks to Hobbyeasy.com and FCM Decals continues with photos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 continuing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 contiuing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 continuing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 hobbyboss x hasegawa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 aftermarkets Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 This are the four sheets of FCM decals on the market this are the future projects continuing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 special thank's to Hobbyeasy.com and FCM decals thanks for all Quote Link to post Share on other sites
musangpulut Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Open refueling bay, Tomcat Tweeker's build at in-progress tread & free gift of complete weapon set are enough for me to ignore Hasegawa kit and get this kit instead! many thanks for deep insight and plenty of pictures,its really helpful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Looks like a decent kit, maybe its just the photo but the detail on the exhaust nozzles looked a bit soft Easy to fix though using spares from Hasegawa or Aftermarket. I have 3 Hasegawa kitties in the stash, will I trade them in for one of these? No way, but I would definitely buy one of the HB Tomcats if the opportunity presented itself. Has anyone seen any build reviews or pictures of the built up model? Hoping they didnt screw up thwe intakes like the Trumpeter 1/32 Tomcats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
T0M4ever Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Any idea how this is going to be priced compared to the Hasegawa version? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flanker27 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I asked my cowoker to get me one from China, its about US$36 in China, plus $1 for domestic shipping. If you have any friends going to China, its a good idea to ask them to get it for you but its a big box though Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ventris Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I have both, the Hase and HB kit and I think the HB kit is the better (it has a few little mistakes, but they are easily to fix). The Hase cat is a pain to put together, never had problems like these with HB kits. And the HB kits have lots of weapons and extras and they are much cheaper. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fulcrum1 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Over on Zone Five in the Centennial build they have a Hobbyboss Tomcat built up next to a Hase plane with a shot of both intakes and the real deal. Neither of them look to be correct compared to a real Tomcat with the HB kit being the worst of the two offenders if symetrical is what you're after. It might be a deal breaker for some, but for 95% of us it's not even an issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loftycomfort Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I've built the Hasegawa kit and its poor fit left a bad taste in my mouth. The 1/32 Trumpeter kit, as complex as it is, actually fits quite well. It's certainly not without faults (ie the intake trunks), but if that kit is any indication, the scaled down 1/48 HB kit will be a much better kit than Hasegawa as far as parts fit is concerned. Terry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I have been contemplating getting the HB kit and after seeing this post plus the discovery of Hobbyeasy.com I think I will be getting one soon. I have a few 1/72 Hasegawa kits but none in 1/48 though so I cannot add to that discussion. Another item to acquire in the near future. My only hurdle is the deal I have with SWMBO that I cannot buy any more kits until I build a few more from the stash. Good opportunity to put some cash aside. Time to get building! Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Thank you, Pompeo for the comprehensive preview. Nicely done, Sir. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THX1138 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 From what I'm seeying, I'm pretty sure this is a scaled down version of the 1/32 Trump kit. Which makes me curious about the intakes. On the Trump the leading edge of the intakes is improperly angled. To shallow. @Vini. Could you test fit the intake tunnels and do a front facing shot ? See this : http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....00260&st=40 Scroll down to see. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Manuel J. Armas S. Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Mmm... Maybe with the mix from Hasegawa and HobbyBoss we have a perfect Tomcat... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 friends, i will take some photos of the air intakes on the frontal position in 15 minutes i post here wait... cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) here some pics of the both kits hasegawa kit two from hobbyboss a real tomcat the both kits after build made by Dave in my opinion, or both are right or both are wrong, because the diference is minimal between two models cheers Edited February 7, 2011 by POMPEO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 and both looks like Tomcat after the build, the real and perfect plane just on 1/1 scale real birds cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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