Trumpeter F-14D Tomcat - Trumpeter (03919) 1:144 scale

[bootneck]

F-14D Tomcat

Trumpeter 1:144

 

 

 

The final variant of the F-14 was the F-14D Super Tomcat. The F-14D variant was first delivered in 1991. The original TF-30 engines were replaced with GE F110-400 engines, similar to the F-14B. The F-14D also included newer digital avionics systems including a glass cockpit and replaced the AWG-9 with the newer AN/APG-71 radar. Other systems included the Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), SJU-17(V) Naval Aircrew Common Ejection Seats (NACES) and Infra-red search and track (IRST)

Although the F-14D was to be the definitive version of the Tomcat, not all fleet units received the D variant. In 1989, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney refused to approve the purchase of any more F-14D model aircraft for $50 million each and pushed for a $25 million modernization of the F-14 fleet instead. Congress decided not to shut production down and funded 55 aircraft as part of a compromise. A total of 37 new aircraft were completed, and 18 F-14A models were upgraded to D-models, designated F-14D® for rebuild. An upgrade to the F-14D's computer software to allow AIM-120 AMRAAM missile capability was planned but was later terminated. While upgrades had kept the F-14 competitive with modern fighter aircraft technology, Cheney called the F-14 1960s technology. Starting in 2005, some F-14Ds received the ROVER III upgrade.

 

Source: Wikipedia

The Kit

The kit comes in a typical top and bottom card box layout; with an evocative rendition of the F-14D Tomcat, 100 AJ (BuNo164342) of VHF-31 "Tomcatters" in flight with wings fully extended; these markings are included in the decal sets. Within the box are four grey plastic sprues, one clear canopy sprue, two sets of decal sheets and an illustrated instructions booklet also with colour callouts.

For anyone who has the earlier F-14B kit (Trumpeter 03918) it will be clear that this new kit is exactly the same kit; however, there are differences and some parts will need to used in place of the F-14B version. Even with their first F-14 kit, the F-14A (Trumpeter 03910) the producers obviously planned to issue all the U.S. versions as there are interchangeable parts for all the types here. With this latest offering there are various components which are used in place of the F-14B kit; namely, ejection seats, TCS units and wheels.

The first sprue (A) has the lower component of the main fuselage unit, the wings, plus two pylons for the AIM-9 sidewinder missiles

Sprue B holds the upper unit of the main fuselage, the tail fins and the mounts for the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles.

 

Next up is sprue C1 and this, along with C2, has the remaining items that would be attached to the main fuselage unit. The parts here consist of the nose unit, intake fairings, front & main undercarriage struts external fuel tanks; plus AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. It also has one set of the two forward fuselage pairs and a pair of Martin Baker GRU-7 ejection seats,all of which are not required for this variant.

 

 

The final grey plastic sprue is C2 and has the cockpit internal base, more missiles; plus the forward fuselage pairs, Martin Baker NACES ejection seats, electronic chin-pod (consisting of TCS, IRS-seeker, ALQ-100 antenna and position light) and wheels specific to the F-14B & D variants (parts no.C30). Also included are the exhaust vents for the, not required, Pratt & Whitney TF-30 P-414A engines, and the General Electric F-110-GE-400 units that will be used with this kit. Each exhaust vent has a plug, representing the turbofan blades, in order not to leave a gaping hole when viewed inside.

 

 

 

The canopy sprue holds a single, closed, canopy piece. The frames look to be well defined and the glazed area is very clear.

 

 

 

 

Instructions and colour cards

The kit comes with a 4-page booklet, containing an illustrated parts list and a set of assembly instructions.

 

 

 

 

There is also a 2-sided sheet of colour details and marking placement guides. One is for a VF-31 aircraft of the "Tomcatters" based on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

 

 

The second sheet depicts another aircraft from VF-31 "Tomcatters"; this time in low vis markings.

Decals

The decal sheets for this kit are the most comprehensive that I have seen for such a small model. There are two sheets of decals and, remembering that this kit is in 1:144 scale, measuring approx. 13cm by 13cm (fully extended), there are no less than 175 markings, insignia and stencils etc on the first sheet alone.

The second sheet is smaller but it as over 90 more stencils and demarcation strips. This lot should keep the most dedicated modeller busy for quite a while with this lot!

 

 

Conclusion

This is a lovely little kit of the F-14D Super Tomcat; however, as mentioned previously, there are appears to be enough parts to be able to F-14D or even backdate to the F-14B or possibly even a late (upgraded) F-14A.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of
UK Distributors for

[danieltomcat]

I bought one recently. I noticed the error in the decal on internet views and reviews. Is there any replacement decal?

[Homerlovesbeer]

Are you sure that's an error? It may be the "E" is supposed to be like a flag where the flag pole is always towards the front of the aircraft so the flag flaps backwards in the wind (making the flag look reversed on the starboard side).

[Julien]

That is an error, however the E was not always there so you can paint over it.

 

http://aviationphotodigest.com/f-14-tomcat/#APD-1/27/Tom-28-09182014-1.jpg

 

Julien

[danieltomcat]

The kit has many reviews on the web and I never heard anybody speaking about this error in the decal . Yes, the kit is the best on this scale to the F-14 Tomcat, but the decal is wrong. They represent the retirement scheme of 2006. The E was inverted.

 

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000972418L.html

 

[Giorgio N]

The "E" in the insignia represents the so called "Battle E",  today known as "Battle Effectiveness Award" and earlier as "Battle Efficiency Award". The award is issued every year, so the unit carried this in some years and didn't in others. Being a letter E it's always represented the same way on each side of the aircraft.

I don't know of any aftermarket decal, never seen any with this scheme in 1/144. Personally I would try correcting the kit decal with a small brush, not the easiest job but feasible.

[DarrenH]

Thats one nice looking little Tomcat...