fewr9fkr9595 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Its here.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Initially quite pleased for £27 all in to my door from the other side of the world. one broken part from crush damage (internal canopy framing) A few unwanted ejection pin marks on some parts that other manufacturers have been able to avoid which detracts from the kit a bit. Some parts are simplified a bit more than other kits but then its better in some areas which is annoying. Also only one set of seat frames (gru-7) so can’t do an oob D if you wanted to even though the ‘cushions’ are there. Will get some pics up over the next few days to expand above points. Tony 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Looking forward to your take on this. There is a build on YT already Regards Robert 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Cheers Robert. Want to do a GE engine version though. Just going through the decal stash now to see if I can cobble together a line tps TPS A plus/B with zero colour. Will need to modify the aim-54’s to C version and get new decals for them too. other option is a mid 80’s tps A then can use the oob loadout decals. Don’t see early tps jets with white missiles very often... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Anyone else hoping this kit is what will be in Airfix's upcoming Top Gun F-14 box? 🤞 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Looking forward to your assessment Tony ! Mmine should be here sometime this month, I'm currently going through my decal stash to search for inspiration for markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattheCat Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, k5054nz said: Anyone else hoping this kit is what will be in Airfix's upcoming Top Gun F-14 box? 🤞 Looking at the box art picture at Airfix, the glove vanes seem present. So I assume their Top Gun F-14 shall not be based on Academy's new tooling. Also the price seems too low. Should have been nice, though. Just my two cent, I'm certainly no specialist. Edited January 7, 2020 by PattheCat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantome Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 13 hours ago, Tony Oliver said: Initially quite pleased for £27 all in to my door from the other side of the world. one broken part from crush damage (internal canopy framing) A few unwanted ejection pin marks on some parts that other manufacturers have been able to avoid which detracts from the kit a bit. Some parts are simplified a bit more than other kits but then its better in some areas which is annoying. Also only one set of seat frames (gru-7) so can’t do an oob D if you wanted to even though the ‘cushions’ are there. Will get some pics up over the next few days to expand above points. Tony See? 2 weeks exactly since you posted that you bought it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 When it comes out VF-1 LGG scheme will be the first of many no doubt. Regards Robert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantome Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 17 hours ago, Robert said: When it comes out VF-1 LGG scheme will be the first of many no doubt. Regards Robert That will make 2 of us.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Some pics as promised - molded in gps dome. Gun vent panels are very nice and fit perfectly. alternate ends for drop tanks is a nice touch. Very basic lantirn pod though. The hasegawa one from the 90’s is better than this! The broken part in my kit. Then as noted before from other pics this area of mis matched rivets to the panel lines. (Both sides) Thankfully will be mostly covered by pylon and ordnance. Lastly some of the ejection pin marks that need filling. Some in very awkward places like the the naca ventral vent. The old italeri kit managed to avoid these?!? The three points in the first pic will require some delicate filling, especially in the sparrow tunnel. Also a load of raised ones on the back of some parts (not pictured) which need scraping or sanding off not to interfere with assembly... why on the 138 but not the 7 ?!? will be starting a build thread soon... 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Thank you Tony for the detailed pictures. How does the cockpit look like, does it need replacement seats ? Regards Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 2 hours ago, Robert said: Thank you Tony for the detailed pictures. How does the cockpit look like, does it need replacement seats ? Regards Robert Seats seem ok, just need belts adding as none provided either moulded on or as decals. Going to use some spare etch for mine. The cockpit is good with crisp panels and IP’s. The control columns are dire though. Basically like bits of stretched sprue. This kit is strange most parts are so well done/thought out then a few others like they were designed on a Friday afternoon 😂 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gota Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 (edited) I've just finished cutting all the plastic and assembling what I could before painting and I concur, a lot of the kit is very well done while some bits are just bewilderingly crude and pin marks are everywhere. Also, the riveting is poorly done in about 50% of the lines and the plastic is very pebbly in some areas. The kit quality is just not on par with their F-15e, which I personally find disappointing. The cockpit and seats are ok, although the cushions look a bit fat to me, the side consoles a bit soft and the IP coamings are very simplistic. The gun panel inserts are a great fit, much better than GWH. The intakes required just as much work as an Hasegawa kit would, with two parts conduit (while the exhaust are single parts despite requiring more complex painting). The drop tanks look like they are in the correct spot, but the pylon angle looks odd to me. The wings are a pleasure to assemble and just look good, although some scribing is needed on the leading edge. The beaver tail assembles quite well despite the lack of alignment tabs, and the really annoying fact that no early boat tail is present in the kit (the only missing thing really). The vertical tail fins are a bit meh, with inconsistent details quality and the starboard one having half of a position light that should not be there (probably some CAD mirroring gone bad). The ventral fins are terrible, they're also identical while they shouldn't be. The clear parts look great, and of course the front part is the best design around. The weapons and pylons look decent except for the LANTIRN, and I haven't gotten around to assembling the landing gear yet so I can't comment on that. Edited January 11, 2020 by gota 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caughtinthemiddle Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Inbox review: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-72-usn-f-14a-vf-143-pukin-dogs-academy/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 7 hours ago, caughtinthemiddle said: Inbox review: Built here (OOB less decals as an A plus though) https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235068550-new-tool-172-academy-f-14a-plus-tomcat-vf-143-pukin-dogs/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattheCat Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) After looking at your great build I decided that I'd pass my turn for a 1/48 AMK kit (65 € + 30 € for the weapons set, is also a reason) and that this 1/72 Cat from Academy should suffice for me. Got one under way (22 €!) and should have it within a day or two. Edited March 17, 2020 by PattheCat 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 I too have ordered one after reading through the epic build that Tony did. Had to order from S. Korea though and due to whats happening in the world have no idea when it may arrive. Have ordered one of the new MiG-19S kits from KPM as an interim.... 😀 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Been working on some parts for this kit I am going to sell on ebay initially if would anyone be interested? -nose gear bay detail set. (retraction strut and cylinder/junction box) mastered from various sources with some scratch work. - seamless intakes. (mastered from the kits own parts) what do you guys think? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattheCat Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 2 hours ago, Booty003 said: I too have ordered one after reading through the epic build that Tony did. Had to order from S. Korea though and due to whats happening in the world have no idea when it may arrive. Have ordered one of the new MiG-19S kits from KPM as an interim.... 😀 Same for me, Two kits due from Poland since the 10th of this month. No info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 3 hours ago, Tony Oliver said: Been working on some parts for this kit I am going to sell on ebay initially if would anyone be interested? -nose gear bay detail set. (retraction strut and cylinder/junction box) mastered from various sources with some scratch work. - seamless intakes. (mastered from the kits own parts) what do you guys think? I think that's a great idea Tony. Any chance you can fire up a few photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 6 hours ago, Col. said: I think that's a great idea Tony. Any chance you can fire up a few photos? Yeah will do. All that stuff is at work, currently north up home for the weekend mate. Monday 👌🏽 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 22 hours ago, Tony Oliver said: Been working on some parts for this kit I am going to sell on ebay initially if would anyone be interested? -nose gear bay detail set. (retraction strut and cylinder/junction box) mastered from various sources with some scratch work. - seamless intakes. (mastered from the kits own parts) what do you guys think? Hi Tony, without seeing the kit in the flesh - how about the early boat tail that was used on the initial aircraft. Would this be easy to do with whats already in the box or would a resin piece be a better option? Personally, I want to build a VF-1 and VF-2 from the Enterprise cruise. Cheers bud, Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fewr9fkr9595 Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 1 hour ago, Booty003 said: Hi Tony, without seeing the kit in the flesh - how about the early boat tail that was used on the initial aircraft. Would this be easy to do with whats already in the box or would a resin piece be a better option? Personally, I want to build a VF-1 and VF-2 from the Enterprise cruise. Cheers bud, Phil Hi Phil. There is no early boat tail in the box. To make one (as in a master to cast them from) would mean a heavy rework of the kit parts or the easier option of starting with an early beaver off of another kit and modding it to fit the acad kit. Just so happens I have a spare early tail from a GWH kit. Watch this space... Tony PS and before anyone gets on their high horse and starts lecturing, how do you think the ‘cottage industry’ of resin updates and conversions existed in the 80’s & 90’s and even 2000’s? Thats right, scratch work and/or modifying existing parts to work with their origin kits or even other kits. Eg when it comes to conversion kits - parts from Manufacturer A to allow same version to be made from manufacturer B. Or even parts from manufacturer A kit version 1 now out of production to work with current manufacturer A kit version 2. Before the days of cnc and 3d printed masters thats how things were done. Ever looked at an old aires or true details cockpit set? - assembled and recast kit parts detailed with wire & plastic strip. Rant over. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Tony Oliver said: Just so happens I have a spare early tail from a GWH kit. Watch this space.. I might be interested in one if you get it done Tony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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