POMPEO Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 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 the version that i choose coming soon i will start the build for the complete review, click here SPECIAL THANKS FOR HOBBYEASY.COM AND FCM DECALS cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 nice review! :lol: and i approve your choice for the version. low viz Sundowner is awesome! here is mine: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....3&hl=tomcat bye! rom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 thanks rom tomorrow i post the first update cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Manuel J. Armas S. Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Always TOMCAT... ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Qian Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Can never get enough of Tomcats! I'm looking forward to this! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 hi POMPEO! Do you have any reference pics of this lowviz 1994 Sundowner? bye Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 thanks Manuel and Quian, Tomcats are one insoiration for me Rom, i had just two pic's, both send me by Felipe miranda from FCM decals,the decals designer that i will use on my tomcat the pics are this cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 starting the job, the separation of the cockpit pieces are started, the cockpit parts had a good detailing, the eject seat are builded, and i post one one coparation of the nose section parts of the tomcat in side of my WIP mig-17 from hobbyboss too. no is time to paint the interior colors cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
musangpulut Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Ejection seats look very nice and detailed. IMHO,no need aftermarket seats for this! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 musang, is a really nice detailed seat, no need the resin aftermarket thanks for watchig cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Pompeo, After reading your review and seeing that Hobbyeasy has this kit at a price I could actually see myself spending, I really look forward to watching this WIP. Off to a great start. I like how detailed the cockpit parts are. Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Great start, loved your review. I was thinking, if you put have as much effort into your building as you did on the review this will be an amazing build, cant wait to see more! Jeremy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) thanks or the comment Denis, keep with us to share your ideas and opinions about my WIP, the hobbyeasy is the bes place to by this kit cheers Edited February 13, 2011 by POMPEO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Jeremy, thanks for the comment, i trying to made a good job, i hope made a nice tomcat, i I count on your support with suggestions and ideas for the build cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 some photo references for the build: Panels, seats and plane details thanks for Rom, that send me some photos cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin Czarnowicz Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I will be watching your work with grate interest. Do you think HB F-14A is a good choice for IRIAF Alicat? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diego Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) I will be watching your work with grate interest. Do you think HB F-14A is a good choice for IRIAF Alicat? As the HB F-14A is currently the only Tomcat on the market with provision for an open IFR receptacle ( i.e. with doors removed), it seems indeed to be the best option for an IIAF/IRIAF Tomcat. Also the included hi-viz stencilling and weapon options make from this kit a natural Alicat candidate. Greetings Diego Edited February 14, 2011 by Diego Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Manuel J. Armas S. Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 WOW, great Squadron... B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin Czarnowicz Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 As the HB F-14A is currently the only Tomcat on the market with provision for an open IFR receptacle ( i.e. with doors removed), it seems indeed to be the best option for an IIAF/IRIAF Tomcat. Also the included hi-viz stencilling and weapon options make from this kit a natural Alicat candidate.Greetings Diego I know about IFR but are there any other major differences between usnavy A'toms and alicats Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 thanks marcin for the support, about the use the HB tomcat to made a Alicat, for the initial variants, you not need bigger changes, is just take care with the antennas, but if you want made a modernized alicat, with grey camo, had great changes on cockpit, panels and fuselage, all this changes still do not seen in the ocident, but you could try. for the initial variant of the alicat the FCM decals had a good sheet see here cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 thanks diego for help cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 manuel, me and you on the classic squadron builds...its a great time to tomcats cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diego Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) thanks diego for helpcheers It was my pleasure! BTW: HDL made a sheet for IIAF/IRIAF & Agressor Tomcats: http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev2...021/rev1194.htm Funny how, looking at certain details, you can discern that Felipe based his Alicat decals on the HDL sheet Greetings Diego Edited February 14, 2011 by Diego Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin Czarnowicz Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 (edited) It was my pleasure!BTW: HDL made a sheet for IIAF/IRIAF & Agressor Tomcats: http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev2...021/rev1194.htm Funny how, looking at certain details, you can discern that Felipe based his Alicat decals on the HDL sheet :D Greetings Diego I will use your set Diego with plesure but pleas tell me, the film it was printed on (I mean F-14 IRIAF set) is more like the set for IRIAF F-5 or old Mi-24 (in 1/72scale)? Thank you all for the help, expect workbrench topis as sooon as I will finish RJAF F-104. Edited February 14, 2011 by Marcin Czarnowicz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diego Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I will use your set Diego with plesure but pleas tell me, the film it was printed on (I mean F-14 IRIAF set) is more like the set for IRIAF F-5 or old Mi-24 (in 1/72scale)?Thank you all for the help, expect workbrench topis as sooon as I will finish RJAF F-104. Hi Marcin, The carrier film is exactly like on the F-5E, RF-4E, F-4E, F-4D sheets... (The Mi-24 has been printed already some years ago on older, white paper) Pozdrawiam Diego Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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