1/48 F-14B, BuNo 161433, VF-11 'Red Rippers', Op Enduring Freedom, 2002. Update 06/11.

[DaveJL]

Hello all,

 

Here is my entry for this GB - The wonderful 1/48 F-14D, converted to a B of VF-11 'Red Rippers' during Operation Enduring Freedom in early 2002. BuNo 161433 was delivered to VF-142 in 1982 and went on to become the 7th F-14A to be converted to an A+ (later redesigned F-14B) in the late 1980s. The jet remained with VF-142 until the squadron was disbanded in 1995 and was then transferred to VF-103 before joining VF-11 in 1998. After VF-11's OEF cruise, 161433 was transferred to VF-101 and was scrapped in 2005.

 

Kit:

 

 

The parts for the B model are courtesy of a spare sprue from the late A boxing - TCS and ECM bumps for the wing glove areas.

 

 

Extras:

 

 

I'll be using MCC ejection seats, New Ware masks, Quinta cockpit set and Two Bobs decals.

 

References:

 

 

A few things to note on this one. VF-11 was the first squadron to drop a GBU-31 JDAM in anger from an F-14 on the 11th March 2002. The jets sortied with a single GBU-31 as they were deemed too scarce to fly with two in the event that one needed to be jettisoned before landing if no targets were found. Later in the cruise, VF-11 and VF-143 were cleared to pair the GBU-31 with the GBU-12 on sorties.

 

This time period was also prior to the F-14B receiving the Sparrowhawk HUD which came online in early 2003, so this jet was still equipped with the F-14A vintage information projector as opposed to a traditional HUD plate.

 

A video from that cruise:

 

 

The jet itself:

 

 

I'll be loading it with 1x GBU-31, 2x AIM-9, 2x fuel tanks and the Lantirn pod.

 

This is lurking in the corner though

 

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[Col.]

Well Dave, if anyone knows how to build a Tamiya Tomcat it has to be you, this will be a treat to watch

[arfa1983]

Looking forward to this. It’s gonna be great to see the F-14 next to the  F-35 !

[DaveJL]

Thanks chaps, another 'one that I've wanted to do for a while' .

[Karearea]

Excited to watch this build- I particularly like the aircraft you’ve chosen.

 

Tamiya’s early F-14A has pride of place in The Stash but I’m waiting until I feel I can do it justice. Thinking mid ‘80s VF-21 with the black nose that leads into the canopy frame when the time comes.

 

 

[coneheadff]

Another great project to follow and learn 👍

[DaveJL]

Thanks chaps. I’ve the A-10 and a Hurricane to clear from the bench first but the extra month for this GB helps a great deal

[wimbledon99]

I've bought and sold this kit twice in the past as it was quite intimidating at the time. Fast forward a few years and I'm now watching this one and hoping for the inspiration to give it a go some time

[DaveJL]

13 hours ago, wimbledon99 said:

I've bought and sold this kit twice in the past as it was quite intimidating at the time. Fast forward a few years and I'm now watching this one and hoping for the inspiration to give it a go some time

Bought and sold? Good grief, the horror!

 

It’s honestly a modellers dream. The fit is exceptional and won’t leave you wanting to tear your hair out! The same is to be said about their F-4B too

[wimbledon99]

54 minutes ago, DaveJL said:

Bought and sold? Good grief, the horror!

 

 

 

[jean]

What a brilliant build! I want to build another Tomcat before I die, but a 1/72 bird. And it will be a Puckin' Dogs' F-14A.

Who ever said I do not know what I want.

 

Enjoy your big Cat.

JR.

[dnl42]

Excellent choice! 

 

On 8/16/2025 at 5:17 AM, DaveJL said:

The jet itself:

 

Ooh, that is an excellent photo! 

[DaveJL]

15 hours ago, dnl42 said:

Excellent choice! 

 

Ooh, that is an excellent photo! 

It is indeed, on both counts .

 

I managed to get a good few of the sub assemblies built over the last day and a half. Cockpit is ready to be prepped for the Quinta set:

 

 

A point to note here - if using the D boxing for a pre-2003 B model, you'll need a few parts of sprue K, which isn't included in the D boxing - K12 (top panel of front IP) and K6 (front IP coaming). Luckily I had these in the spares box. Just something to think about. If using a conversion set for the B models from 2003, you won't need them as the Sparrowhawk HUD will be fitted here.

 

Ordnance. Not much here! I haven't assembled the fuel tanks yet as I'm planning on ordering up some 3D printed tanks from Modelon details once they're back in stock.

 

 

Wings, stabilisers, pylons and fuselage bits:

 

 

Note the vinyl reinforcement plate on the RIO's boarding step. At 3:29 in the video I linked in the first post, you can see that 161433 had the reinforcement plate. Check your references as there was no hard and fast rule for which jets had these fitted!

 

From 10:31 in the below video, you can see 161433 fitted with a GBU-31 and GBU-12, which would suggest a sortie later in the cruise. Also of note is that it os configured as a 'dual bomber' i.e fitted with the forward two pallets as opposed to the 'quad bomber' which would have had all 4 pallets fitted on the fuselage.

 

 

Hopefully the next update will involve the completed cockpit .

 

More soon

 

Dave

 

[modelling minion]

I see this is going to be another tour de force Dave, great choice of markings too.

[Col.]

Good to see you getting a solid start on this one Dave

[DaveJL]

58 minutes ago, modelling minion said:

I see this is going to be another tour de force Dave, great choice of markings too.

 

25 minutes ago, Col. said:

Good to see you getting a solid start on this one Dave

Thanks chaps! I'll need to get a move on if I've any intention of getting the F-35 done too 🤐. I also almost forgot I'm off to Bordeaux for a few days next month then New York for a week in December. Maybe a chance to do some modelling on the flight to and fro

[Col.]

1 hour ago, DaveJL said:

I also almost forgot I'm off to Bordeaux for a few days next month then New York for a week in December. Maybe a chance to do some modelling on the flight to and fro

It's easy to understand why such trivial matters would slip your mind

[DaveJL]

23 hours ago, Col. said:

It's easy to understand why such trivial matters would slip your mind

The wife to be wasn’t too convinced

[Col.]

9 hours ago, DaveJL said:

The wife to be wasn’t too convinced

I take it you've checked for model shops in these areas?

[DaveJL]

14 hours ago, Col. said:

I take it you've checked for model shops in these areas?

With New York prices I’d probably be saving money if I bought an actual plane  

 

Haven’t come across many in Bordeaux. I’ll save her the endless joys of plastic model shops for our honeymoon in Japan in early 2027 🫣

[DaveJL]

As promised, cockpit has been completed today. I know I sound like a broken record, but these Quinta decals are just superb. They just bring the cockpit to life, despite the grey being a little off . A touch of weathering to finish.

 

 

If you plan to build a B and want a Quinta set to use, the set for the late A is the one to get, following the call outs for Option C.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

[wimbledon99]

+1 for the Quinta decals. I’ve used them a couple of times now and believe they are the best out there!

 

Lovely job you’ve done with them here 

[modelling minion]

That cockpit looks superb Dave.

[Wings unlevel]

Looking the business Dave. This is getting me excited for the potential F-14 STGB next year! 🤞

[DaveJL]

On 28/09/2025 at 19:41, wimbledon99 said:

+1 for the Quinta decals. I’ve used them a couple of times now and believe they are the best out there!

 

Lovely job you’ve done with them here 

 

On 30/09/2025 at 12:02, Wings unlevel said:

Looking the business Dave. This is getting me excited for the potential F-14 STGB next year! 🤞

 

On 30/09/2025 at 12:02, Wings unlevel said:

Looking the business Dave. This is getting me excited for the potential F-14 STGB next year! 🤞

Thanks all! Always nice to be building a Tamiya 'cat!