From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Dean Cameron Reynolds" References: Subject: Re: F14D Review Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2010 13:51:14 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00D5_01CB7382.8A5685E0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01CB7382.8A5685E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks = again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dean Cameron Reynolds=20 To: submissions@arcair.com=20 Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 9:06 PM Subject: F14D Review Hasegawa=20 1/72 F-14D Tomcat =20 "Black Tomcat"=20 product # 01908 3,600 Yen (US$43.26) Hobbylink Japan Product Article by Dean Reynolds Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg = here =20 The F-14D Super Tomcat was the final variant of the F-14 program, = although it was intended to be succeeded by the F-14C program which = never materialised. The F-14D was first delivered to units in 1991, and = featured GE F110-400 engines making it similar to the F-14B. It also = included newer digital avionics systems such as the newer AN/APG-71 = radar, 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). Due to cost concerns Congress was unable to allow the all of the Fleet = units to receive the F-14D, instead a compromise was agreed on which saw = limited new numbers being built and saw some existing F-14A aircraft = being modernised up to F-14D standards, becoming F-14D(R).=20 On 8 February 2006 the last American F-14 combat mission was = completed, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard the USS Theodore = Roosevelt after a bombing mission over Iraq. That aircraft was assigned = to VF-31 and the aircrew credited with the last bomb dropped in combat = by a Navy Tomcat was pilot Lt. Justin Halligan and RIO Lt. Bill Frank. = At this stage the F-14 has been completely retired from US Naval = service, and all retired airframes were shredded to ensure that no parts = could find its way to the worlds only military operator of the F-14: the = Imperial Iranian Air Force, who currently have about 20 airworthy = F-14A=92s in service. Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 03.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of photo 04.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the = full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here. Clicking on that photo = will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will = insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here. Clicking on = that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg=20 This kit is a limited release re-issue of the earlier 1/72 F-14D = Hasegawa kit, which in turn shares all the sprues from the earlier F-14B = kit except for one small sprue which contains the differences between = the F-14B and F-14D: the NACES ejection seats, control panels and the = chinpod. This also means that this kit while intended to be built as a = F-14D can also be built as a F-14B model.=20 The kit comes on 11 black plastic sprues, 2 clear sprues and one = photo-etch sprue. Instructions are typical Hasegawa instructions, clear = and in both English and Japanese. The construction of the aircraft is = completed in 23 steps, and the part count is 176 pieces! Well this kit really is designed for Tomcat fans and the attention to = detail is really impressive. It is by far the most accurate 1/72nd scale = f-14 I have ever laid eyes on and really trashes the competition in this = scale, to be brutally honest I have seen a lot of 1/48 scale Tomcats = that would pale in comparison. Obviously Hasegawa realised that this = aircraft has a big fan base, and that any compromises would get them = unnecessary flack and as a result they have really put their time in and = delivered an excellent kit of a sorely missed combat aircraft. As = mentioned earlier this kit is the same set of sprues for the previous = F-14D boxing, and with only 1 small sprue separating it from your = standard F-14B aircraft which have the same GE F110-400 engines.=20 =20 Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg = here =20 The sprues are mostly free from flash, in fact there was only one area = which made me raise my eyebrows and that was one of the intakes which = had some serious flash all over the show while its corresponding mate = was totally clear of the same issues! There was no swirl and overall = very little (if any) cleanup required to get you to the building and = painting stage. Detail is REALLY excellent, and I know I am repeating = myself here but it blows away all the competition even in larger 48th = scales, the panel lines are recessed and are some of the finest lines = and rivets I have seen on an aircraft. It=92s a good thing that this = version comes in gloss black, otherwise it would be really impossible to = see all the great detail with a dark wash which really wouldn=92t do = very much! The wings are built as either swept forward or back, but you = are unable to swing them once construction is complete. Some of the = construction is a little complex, but the reasoning is obviously to try = and get more detail into areas or more realism so it would not be a = problem for a modeller with some experience under his belt. Cockpit has = detail in the form of some very detailed photo-etch, which is not that = common with Hasegawa in 1/72nd scale but it really sets the plane apart = from other 1/72 attempts by other companies and this kit could = definitely win big at IPMS competitions built straight out of the box. = The photo etch also has some great interior and engine detail, although = to be honest since the detail on the plastic is so good it is just extra = icing on the cake! There is a down side, this kit while having the TARPS pod and = auxiliary fuel tanks does not come with armament! So beware! The = instructions come with a diagram showing a large array of weapons and a = diagram showing loading configurations for the AIM-9G/H/L/M Sidewinder, = AIM-7E/F Sparrow and AIM-54 Phoenix but they are absent, and there is a = note in the instructions telling the consumer that armament is optional = and can be purchased in a Weapon Set III package which is separately = sold.=20 The decals are well printed although I felt they were a little on the = thick side, and I would hesitate to guess how much fine detail would = survive with one of these decals over panel lines and rivets. The kit = comes with options for 1 aircraft which is as follows: US Navy, VX-9 (XF-1) =93Vandy One=94 which was seen in an all black = scheme in 1994, NOT 1944 as the instructions state! (Although I=92m sure = the Allies would have loved some F-14=92s during the advance on Berlin!) This kit is definitely a must have for Tomcat fans (which let=92s be = honest, is a lot of us!) Special thanks to Hobbylink Japan for supplying this review sample. "Dean Reynolds" Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 07.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of photo 08.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the = full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here. Clicking on that photo = will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will = insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here. Clicking on = that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg=20 Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not = important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the = finished article. It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 = or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open. Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 11.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 11.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of photo 12.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the = full sized version of photo 12.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able smaller version of photo 13.jpg here. Clicking on that photo = will bring up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg Steve Bamford will = insert a click-able smaller version of photo 14.jpg here. Clicking on = that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg=20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 15.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 15.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of photo 16.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the = full sized version of photo 16.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able smaller version of photo 17.jpg here. Clicking on that photo = will bring up the full sized version of photo 17.jpg Steve Bamford will = insert a click-able smaller version of photo 18.jpg here. Clicking on = that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 18.jpg=20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 19.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 19.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of photo 20.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the = full sized version of photo 20.jpg=20 ------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01CB7382.8A5685E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC = today. =20 Thanks again for sending it in.
 
Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourc= ecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been=20 hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's=20 watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on=20 Earth.
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Dean Cameron Reynolds =
Sent: Saturday, October 02, = 2010 9:06=20 PM
Subject: F14D Review

Hasegawa=20

1/72 F-14D=20 Tomcat  =

"Black=20 Tomcat"

product #=20 01908

3,600 Yen=20 (US$43.26)   = Hobbylink = Japan

Product Article=20 by Dean=20 Reynolds

Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo = 01.jpg here =

The F-14D Super = Tomcat=20 was the final variant of the F-14 program, although it was intended to = be=20 succeeded by the F-14C program which never materialised. The F-14D was = first=20 delivered to units in 1991, and featured GE F110-400 engines making it = similar=20 to the F-14B. It also included newer digital avionics systems such as = the=20 newer AN/APG-71 radar, the Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), = Joint=20 Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), SJU-17(V) Naval = Aircrew=20 Common Ejection Seats (NACES) and Infra-red search and track=20 (IRST).

Due to cost = concerns=20 Congress was unable to allow the all of the Fleet units to receive the = F-14D,=20 instead a compromise was agreed on which saw limited new numbers being = built=20 and saw some existing F-14A aircraft being modernised up to F-14D = standards,=20 becoming F-14D(R).

On 8 February 2006 the last American F-14 = combat=20 mission was completed, when a pair of Tomcats landed aboard the=20 USS Theodore Roosevelt after a bombing mission over Iraq. = That=20 aircraft was assigned to VF-31 and the aircrew credited with the last = bomb=20 dropped in combat by a Navy Tomcat was pilot Lt. Justin Halligan and = RIO Lt.=20 Bill Frank. At this stage the F-14 has been completely retired from US = Naval=20 service, and all retired airframes were shredded to ensure that no = parts could=20 find its way to the worlds only military operator of the F-14: the = Imperial=20 Iranian Air Force, who currently have about 20 airworthy F-14A=92s in=20 service.

Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg

This kit is a limited release re-issue of = the earlier=20 1/72 F-14D Hasegawa kit, which in turn shares all the sprues from the = earlier=20 F-14B kit except for one small sprue which contains the differences = between=20 the F-14B and F-14D: the NACES ejection seats, control panels and the = chinpod.=20 This also means that this kit while intended to be built as a F-14D = can also=20 be built as a F-14B model.

The kit comes on 11 black plastic sprues, 2 = clear=20 sprues and one photo-etch sprue. Instructions are typical Hasegawa=20 instructions, clear and in both English and Japanese. The construction = of the=20 aircraft is completed in 23 steps, and the part count is 176=20 pieces!

Well this kit really is designed for Tomcat = fans and=20 the attention to detail is really impressive. It is by far the most = accurate=20 1/72nd scale f-14 I have ever laid eyes on and really = trashes the=20 competition in this scale, to be brutally honest I have seen a lot of = 1/48=20 scale Tomcats that would pale in comparison. Obviously Hasegawa = realised that=20 this aircraft has a big fan base, and that any compromises would get = them=20 unnecessary flack and as a result they have really put their time in = and=20 delivered an excellent kit of a sorely missed combat aircraft. As = mentioned=20 earlier this kit is the same set of sprues for the previous F-14D = boxing, and=20 with only 1 small sprue separating it from your standard F-14B = aircraft which=20 have the same GE F110-400=20 engines.

 =20
Steve Bamford = will insert=20 full sized version of photo 02.jpg here=20

The sprues are mostly free from flash, in = fact there=20 was only one area which made me raise my eyebrows and that was one of = the=20 intakes which had some serious flash all over the show while its = corresponding=20 mate was totally clear of the same issues! There was no swirl and = overall very=20 little (if any) cleanup required to get you to the building and = painting=20 stage. Detail is REALLY excellent, and I know I am repeating myself = here but=20 it blows away all the competition even in larger 48th = scales, the=20 panel lines are recessed and are some of the finest lines and rivets I = have=20 seen on an aircraft. It=92s a good thing that this version comes in = gloss black,=20 otherwise it would be really impossible to see all the great detail = with a=20 dark wash which really wouldn=92t do very much! The wings are built as = either=20 swept forward or back, but you are unable to swing them once = construction is=20 complete. Some of the construction is a little complex, but the = reasoning is=20 obviously to try and get more detail into areas or more realism so it = would=20 not be a problem for a modeller with some experience under his belt. = Cockpit=20 has detail in the form of some very detailed photo-etch, which is not = that=20 common with Hasegawa in 1/72nd scale but it really sets the = plane=20 apart from other 1/72 attempts by other companies and this kit could=20 definitely win big at IPMS competitions built straight out of the box. = The=20 photo etch also has some great interior and engine detail, although to = be=20 honest since the detail on the plastic is so good it is just extra = icing on=20 the cake!

There is a down side, this kit while having = the TARPS=20 pod and auxiliary fuel tanks does not come with armament! So beware! = The=20 instructions come with a diagram showing a large array of weapons and = a=20 diagram showing loading configurations for the AIM-9G/H/L/M = Sidewinder,=20 AIM-7E/F Sparrow and AIM-54 Phoenix but they are absent, and there is = a note=20 in the instructions telling the consumer that armament is optional and = can be=20 purchased in a Weapon Set III package which is separately sold. =

 The decals are well printed although I felt = they were=20 a little on the thick side, and I would hesitate to guess how much = fine detail=20 would survive with one of these decals over panel lines and rivets. = The kit=20 comes with options for 1 aircraft which is as follows:

US Navy, VX-9 (XF-1) =93Vandy One=94 which = was seen in an=20 all black scheme in 1994, NOT 1944 as the instructions state! = (Although I=92m=20 sure the Allies would have loved some F-14=92s during the advance on=20 Berlin!)

This kit is definitely a must have for = Tomcat fans=20 (which let=92s be honest, is a lot of us!)

Special thanks to Hobbylink Japan for = supplying this=20 review sample.

 

"Dean=20 Reynolds"

Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  = Clicking on=20 that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg

Just = delete any of the=20 boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include = them.....they are=20 there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to = limit=20 your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage = won't=20 take too long to open.

Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 13.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 14.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg

 

Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 15.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 15.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 16.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 16.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 17.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 17.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 18.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 18.jpg

 
Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 19.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 19.jpg Steve=20 Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 20.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 20.jpg
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