For Comparison Purposes- Fujimi 1/72nd F-14A Tomcat

[David H]

Hi Everyone,

i've submitted a few shots here and there before, but i recently re-photographed my Fujimi F-14A. i know a lot of people prefer the Hasegawa kit in 72nd scale, but i found this kit to be not too bad overall. Its slightly over engineered like the Hasegawa kit, but in different ways. Fujimi also gives you some added freebies in their kits, but their usefulness is a bit questionable because Fujimi has this knack for putting ejector pin marks in very undesirable places.

i wanted to build a clean static display aircraft, hence no weaponry. i added a piece of stainless hypo needle tubing to replace the kit fuel dump, and i did the old clear sprue for the wingtip light trick. i used some telescoping hypo needle tubing for the nose pitot probe as well. i took the cowards way out and fabricated FOD covers for the standby pitot, SAS, and OAT sensors since cleaning up those teeny weeny parts is such a pain. Intake plugs as well to avoid some tricky seam filling and masking in the intakes.

Finally, the attachment points for the Fujimi undercarriage are very weak. i used bits of brass wire and plastic rod in ket locations to make proper strong attachment points.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration and comment. Thanks for Shopping!

All the best,

david

[turnerdad]

That's nice too, like those markings.

[alex]

got the same Tomcat in 1:48. But yours looks better. Well done!! The Hasegawa kit may be better, but at a price. And that without weapons.

Alex

[CPNGROATS]

David: real nice TOMCAT..!! What a great looking a/c..!

Cheers,

ggc

[daz greenwood]

Why is everyone tempting me with these lovely 'Cats are trying to tell me to get mine built?

[Eric B.]

Hi David,

Your Tomcat model is very beautiful indeed. It is an early Tomcat and this version is in the region where I find the Fujimi model works very well.

I have built two Fujimi Tomcats in the past. Both were F-14As : one was built as a VF-14 Tophatter, the other as a VF-31 Tomcatter a/c both in t in low Viz markings and with aftermarket decals.

By the way I have built that ver exact livery – hi viz VF-31 - but it was a Hasegawa model. What decals did you use? Aren't they the Hasegawa decals? or Carpena decals?

To put things clearly I believe both are good models although I share your point of view, both are a bit over engineered. The Fujimi kit might be a bit less tricky to build. There is that famous front/aft fuselage joint problem with the Hasegawa model but with care this can be overcome.

As your post title includes the words "for comparision purpose" allow me to add a few words :

- If you like "added external freebies" like engine models, pilots, weapons and you want to build an early A you can go for the Fujimi model

- if you like "added subversion freebies" and are more into the airframe and sub version accuracy (different wheel hubs, cockpit details, tails, exhausts, seats, ECM suites and fairings) Hasegawa is the best choice once you've chosen the right boxing. (just my point of view.).

I like your Tomcat very much. Congratulations. The aircraft is gone now but I still love to see beautiful models.

Cheers

Eric B.

[Old VG 33]

Hi

Very nice kit.

I have three to make as they actually were cheaper than Hasegawa.

Patrick

[David H]

Hi David,

Your Tomcat model is very beautiful indeed. It is an early Tomcat and this version is in the region where I find the Fujimi model works very well.

I have built two Fujimi Tomcats in the past. Both were F-14As : one was built as a VF-14 Tophatter, the other as a VF-31 Tomcatter a/c both in t in low Viz markings and with aftermarket decals.

By the way I have built that ver exact livery – hi viz VF-31 - but it was a Hasegawa model. What decals did you use? Aren't they the Hasegawa decals? or Carpena decals?

To put things clearly I believe both are good models although I share your point of view, both are a bit over engineered. The Fujimi kit might be a bit less tricky to build. There is that famous front/aft fuselage joint problem with the Hasegawa model but with care this can be overcome.

As your post title includes the words "for comparision purpose" allow me to add a few words :

- If you like "added external freebies" like engine models, pilots, weapons and you want to build an early A you can go for the Fujimi model

- if you like "added subversion freebies" and are more into the airframe and sub version accuracy (different wheel hubs, cockpit details, tails, exhausts, seats, ECM suites and fairings) Hasegawa is the best choice once you've chosen the right boxing. (just my point of view.).

I like your Tomcat very much. Congratulations. The aircraft is gone now but I still love to see beautiful models.

Cheers

Eric B.

D'OH!

Hello Eric,

i see you have found me out. The decals are in fact robbed from the Hasegawa kit. i did overpaint the white stars and red bars since they suffered from the characteristic Hasegawa "Not White Enough" syndrome.

The dead giveaway is the thick carrer film, visible in the port rear quarter shot.

Agree with your assessment 100% by the way.

All the best. Need to get back on the stick with my F-4B and my F-8 but for now the Hellcat takes priority.

Cheers,

david

[F-32]

That's a mighty fine looking cat!

[Tizzy]

Very nice.I've got 1 of their F14Ds in the stash.Hope mine turns out as well as yours.

[Deon]

Lovely stuff, I have the Iranian version and a blackbunny waiting, and wait they'll have to!

[David H]

Thanks for all the kind words, everybody.

Just thought people might appreciate seeing some pics of the Fujimi 72nd scale F-14 assembled for real. It's a pretty good kit, but i think that for every 10 pics i see of a completed Hasegawa Tomcat, i see maybe one or two of a completed Fujimi kit.

If anybody is planning on building one in the near future, please gimme a shout. i'm only too happy to help.

All the best,

david

[Calum]

Thats a nice Cat. Well done

[AnonymousDFB1]

Very nice