Original Monogram 1/48 F-14A

[Plumbum]

Trying to find an older F-14A, the Monogram mold before Revell changed the molds.

What was the original kit # ? Was it 5803 with the orange box?---John

Monogram 1-48 Tomcat by jvandeu53, on Flickr

[John B]

The original Monogram kit was #5803.   There was the orange boxtop with white ends.

 

The same molds with the limited-edition photo-etch was #5832 (It was the gray or light-blue box-top with VF-33 markings).

 

 

There was also boxing with the original molds and VF-111 markings on the box-top. It was #5822.

 

  

Be careful to NOT confuse the above kits with 85-5803.   It has similar to the original boxart, but it is deceiving.   These kits have the altered molds!

 

[Plumbum]

Thanks, I was fooled once by the 85-5803 kit, NEVER again!!!!!!---John

[aircooled]

What's different about the moldings?

 

[Plumbum]

Revell modified the molds. They removed the stiffener plates on the fuselage strakes,

modified the original gun vent to make a D model. There may be more mods but it isn't

strictly an A model anymore, not as accurate I would guess.---John

[aircooled]

Thanks for the info. I'm also interested in one of these old monogram birds. I've got the new Tamiya kit but I think it would be cool to do a dual build. Old vs New.

[Giorgio N]

A D style gun vent is not inaccurate on the F-14A as all Tomcats received this style of vents starting in the early '90s. There are however a lot of other details in the original Monogram kit that wouldn't be completely accurate for a 1990's F-14A.

Speaking of the Monogram mould, Revell later cleaned the mould to sort some worn areas, particularly the radome. The current Revell 85-5803 also contains both the original and the D style gun vents, so it can be used to reproduce an earlier aircraft.

It should also be said that the original Monogram mould may have been accurate for a late '70s Tomcat but was not accurate for the aircraft proposed in the decal sheet as this had the earlier 7-grilles gun vent system...