I read that recent article about the F-14 in FSM, but I am still confused on the difference betweent the F-14 variants, especially the Bomcat. Is the Bomcat version an A or a B? What is the differecnce between the regular A or B verses the Bomcat? What is the difference between what their roles were? Could the Bomcat work like a regular version of the Tomcat?
The first F-14 released was the A model. The engines , TF-30-P414, were not the best and they had a lot of problems with them. The B model was an A , modified with GE F-101DFE engines. It had a few “Black Box” up grades as well.
The F-14D included the up grades of the B and new F-100GE-400 engines. The fire control system has been up graded as well a redesigned cockpit. You can spot a D by the double sensors under the nose. The D model was a production aircraft coming off the line as D’s. A few low time A’s were rebuilt as D’s
The Bombcat is a B and D that can carry bombs on a special modified AIM-54 carrier.
The D’s are being phased out of service due to lack of spare parts. The older A’s will be the last retired.
Their is another fine FSM article back about 4 or so years ago with a nice article on the Bombcat. try digging that one up if you can.
Their are additional minor humps and bumps on the A+, B, and D models. The above article addresses some of them. berny13 mentions a new cockpit, although their are some instrunmentation differences, I would say the main differences are in the ejection seats on the D.
The initial F-14 production variant was the F-14A, powered by the TF30’s like Berny said. These engines were always regarded as interim powerplants until the intended engine, the Pratt & Whitney F401 was ready. There was a test airframe with development F401’s, the seventh F-14 protptype, and this was the original F-14B. The tests were promising, but the engines needed work. There were little to no funds available, so the Navy had to make do with the TF30’s for a while.
What we now regularly refer to as F-14B’s are actually the F-14A+ aircraft. (The original designation for these aircraft was to have been F-14C, but this was dropped in favor of the more marketable “A+”) The A+ was a series of new and remanufactured airframes with new engines, GE F101s, and new avionics. The change in designation from “A+” to “B” was because of a computer software problem encountered within the Navy’s record keeping system somewhere, so the story goes. There was no allowance for the characters “A+” to be displayed where they needed to be displayed within the program. I dunno if that’s true or not, tho…
Anyhoo, the F-14A+ was another interim upgrade, the Navy now had the engines it wanted. But they still wanted better avionics and a more capable radar and that technology was either already available or just around the corner. The F-14A+/B served as the the bridge between the F-14A and the F-14D, which incorporates even more advanced and improved engines (F110’s), a more comprehensive replacement of the electronics and avionics package (including digital flight controls (DFCS), a new HUD and Link 16/JTIDS (Joint Tactical Information Distribution System) capability) , and the new radar (the AN/APG-71). Also, there were minor changes such as the new ejection seats and the deletion of the glove vanes. F-14D’s, like the F-14A+/B’s, are a mix of new and rebuilt airframes, but the rebuilt birds are designated F-14D(R). The F-14B has also been upgraded with the F110 engines and DFCS, but retains the original HUD and AWG-9 radar. The F-14A, I believe, has also recieved DFCS.
Now to the specific question of the “Bombcat”. ALL F-14’s, even the very early Toms, are capable of carrying and delivering iron gravity, or “dumb” bombs. There were proposed upgrades of the F-14 design past the F-14D; Tomcat 21 (an alternative to the coveted naval version of the ATF), Quickstrike (an attack platform meant to bridge the gap between the aging A-6 and the “AX”, the Navy’s proposed alternative to the cancelled A-12), as well as Super Tomcat 21, Attack Super Tomcat 21 and the Advanced Strike Fighter-14.
It wasn’t until the late 80’s & early 90’s, when it became apparent that they were not going to be able to afford all the birds they wanted, that the Navy addressed the issue of upgrading existing F-14’s for the deep strike role. There had always been the intention of incorporating a true strike capability into the F-14D. But with the cancellation of many of the aforementioned programs, these plans for upgrading the Tom were revised, intensified and accelerated.
In 1993 Martin Marietta proposed a relatively simple and inexpensive design to provide the F-14 with a precision-strike capability using Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or what we all know as LANTIRN.
The aircraft equipped with LANTIRN are what we all refer to as the “Bombcats”. But in reality, all F-14’s can now be loosely referred to as such.
The original design airframe life for the F-14 was 6,000 hours, but was later extended to 7,200 hours. The Navy intended to retire the F-14A force by 2003-4, F-14B by 2007, and the F-14D by 2008. Due to continually changing circumstances, these target dates have and will probably continue to change. The era of the Tomcat is fast approaching an end.
As this post was made hastily, I have had to leave out alot of info. Otherwise it would be WAY too long. (It already is! LOL) Anyhoo, for further info on the F-14, check out these websites:
http://www.topedge.com/alley/alley.htm
http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-history-f14d.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-14.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-14.htm
http://www.nawcad.navy.mil/strike/projects/fall2001/f14_fall2001.cfm
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Very enligtning Guys thank you these responses have awnsered a lot of questoins, I have just one more when did the F-14 production line shut down?
Thanks again. I am waiting for my first two Hasegawa Tomcats one of which will be coming this week. Cant wait to see it.
Production ended in March 1993 with an F-14D(R).
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I am sure you will like the Hasagawa F-14. I built one and still have one in the box. The detail is perfect and, as you will find out, lots of options. The hardest part is figuring out which one to build.
Curious on the Hasegawa F-14 in 1/48th scale, I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
If I may be so bold to ask, where are you ordering it from and how much are you finding it for? I’m tyring to find and build the F-14 A VF-84 Jolly Rogers.
I recently purchased a Revell 1/48 F-14D and was finding a lack of reviews/after market items for it. Any suggestions? I’m building it for my 6 year old with the VF-103 Christmas Skull and Crossbones. I’ve found info for the decals but only a cockpit for a Hasagawa kit. (Yeah, I know VF-103 doesn’t fly “D” models…I’m down grading it to an A/B.)
Iv got a question, what is the max service ceiling and how fast came the F14 Go before you run into problems.
The 1/48 Monogram has the correct seats for the F-14A/B. It’s a cheap kit and works great for spare parts for your (almost identical) Revel 1/48 D Tomcat. FSM had a great article in October of 98 on this.: http://www.finescale.com/fsm/html/issues/1998/1998_10_issue.asp
toadwbg, thanks for the info. I just purchased the kit and I am now starting to do research on the bird. The kit also has both under nose sensors, so it looks like I get a “D” sensor for the ol’ spares box.
Ok I finally got my F-14 from Hasegaw. Ok here it goes. I have photos of the plane that I took myself. I ordered from EBay the F-14 SuperTomcat from Hasegawa’s 1991 release. I have one photo from a web source that is listed above. There seams to be two differences between that photo and the model. First on the model there is an antenna. In the photo there isn’t. I think I found the nose tip. I think it is on parts tree “C” part number 50. Can anyone confirm?
Second the photo shows the Tomcat to have the Double “Chin Pod” under nose the kit does not come with one. I wonder if there is a parts tree letter “G” that is not included in this kit, and maybe its there? Can anyone confirm and tell me what kit I would need to get that pod.
I’m also looking for this Hasegawa kit. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you pay for it?
40+ with shipping and everything, I will have to pay taxes later.
Whoh! Steep! This is about as much as I’d expect to pay from a Hobby Shop or online retailer.
I was curious if you got a really good deal- I’m not saying you didn’t. You woudn’t have bought it if you didn’t think it was worth it.
Does the box top say F-14A? That what it sounds like. Only the F-14D had the “Double Barrel” chin. The A had several different types, but only had one installed at a time.
No it just says F-14 Super Tomcat
My Hasagawa F-14D, kit # SP44 says F-14D on the box. You may have the F-14A kit which gives you the parts for the “A” and “B” or “A+”. My kit includes the AB Turkey Feathers and the double barrel sensors. It is on tree “M” which also includes the new seats. It also has the correct vents for the gun.
For all you F-14 folks, this is Kelvin from Singapore. For 1/48 F-14 fans, visit the Blackbox web-site for F-14 Bombcat Update Sets! You may wish to visit the modelling madness web-site and click on the Kit Research link - it has a resource for 1/48 Hasegawa kits, including F-14s!