Hay I just orded a F-14 tomcat Hasegawa model the black knights one i think I was just wondering what you guy’s think of the kit?
First off [#welcome]to the forum! Now if you’re talking about the 72 scale kit, I think it’s the best F-14 kit available. It best captures the look and feel of the Tomcat. There are a couple of areas where you need to look out for fit and that’s fitting the forward fuselage to the rear and fiitting the intake trunks. I believe most of what I said applies to the 48 scale kit as well but I haven’t built it.
Test fit, then test fit again. I get most parts to fit pretty well by just taking time and gluing larger pieces in stages. Best off with a welding cement rather than CA. My first Hase tomcat I used CA and regretted it. Others I did with Ambroid and they went together very well. This goes for both scales.I’m using the same process with a Fujimi 1/72 and it’s going together pretty well too.
I basically have all the 1/48 model kits of F-14A/D Tomcats (Hasegawa F-14D, Revell F-14A and F-14D, Academy F-14A, and Fujimi F-14A)… I would have to say that Hasegawa would be the best of all… highly detailed model kits… In fact, Im now working on the Fujimi (which is extremely poor in details), using extra parts from the Hasegawa F-14D (which comes with parts for F-14A if you want to convert it)… I cant do that with the Revell and Academy kit… I would go for AM decals… Nope Im not done with one of those kits, but starting out with the Fujimi kit and finishing with Hasegawa kit… 9 F-14s to build, all will have different squadron insignas (Pukin’ Dogs, Ghostriders, Jolly Rogers, Aadvarks, Checkmates, Black Aces, Black Lions, Tophatters, and Tomcatters. I plan on doing F-14s for VX-9 Vampires, Renegades, Wolfpack, and Diamondbacks. Last 4 would be by Hasegawa, no question about it! I plan on doing either Pukin Dogs or Vampire for 1/32 Tamiya I plan to get in the future… Regardless, just ENJOY putting your Hasegawa kit together and when its done, sit back and enjoy the beautiful sight of that model (however good or bad you complete it :-D)
PRegius999,
I’m curious. You said:
“Hasegawa would be the best of all…”
I can only assume that you mean of those kits. I LOVE Hasegawa, but I also understnad the the Tamiya kits give them a run for their money. Since I’m having a bit of a tiff with Hasegawa at the moment, I’m looking really hard at the Tamiya kits (there was a problem with a canopy in one of my Hasegawa kits because they packaged it with the rest of the parts and it got all scratched up, so I asked them to replace it (dragonmodels, the importer) and they told me it would cost me $4.50 to replace it (first, it was a $20.00 kit. Second, it was Hasegawas fault - not mine. Third, the retailer only has kits that were packaged similarly, so opening them would have gotten me nowhere either… So, here we are). I just thought that was poor service…
Anyway, I’m curious to know what the difference is, besides the ordinance, between the new “Black Knights” 60313 kit and the “1994” (??) 60303. Same kit, just added ordinance? Or has there been a retooling?
Also, while I’m at it, what’s the general concensus on the Trumpeter kits? Are they as high a quality kit as Tamiya or Hasegawa? Good fit? Detail? Value?
You also mentioned something about the Aardvarks - that was my squadron back in 81-84. I’m gonna do mine up like that, however our scheme was NOTHING like the decal sets - all we had was the orange stripe by the intakes and the ones on the tail fins - none on the underside (darn - forgot what those were called… I’m getting old!).
Thanks,
Bruce
Test fitting is the best way to kill problems before they arise.
I am currently building the 72nd concorde.
I assembled the wings/centre fuselage with no probs.
I then test fitted the other fuselage assemblied and ended up eliminating the
lip around the fuselage and sanding both sides flat.
5 minutes work ensures that with welding cement (dichloromethane) I will not have any filling to do and my remaining hair will stay on my head!
If you want an F-14 in 1/72 or 1/48, Tamiya isn’t an option as they don’t make one. In 1/72, Hasegawa’s new tool kit is the best, with Fujimi a close second. In 1/48, Hasegawa is superior to all others. Trumpeter kits are very good, maybe not quite up to Tamiya/Hasegawa, but close & getting better with each new release.
Regards, Rick
trumpeter includes things like full engines in their releases for the price of a kit without full engine. strangely, you have to open the panels yourself, but thats a different story.
Bruce, you assumed right… and my comments were based on the rating of details… I dont know of any current 1/48 Tamiya models of Tomcats… If theres one out there I would like to know about it… I’ve been eyeing the 1/32 Tamiya Tomcats but the price range is pretty too high for something full of plastic (IMHO)… it should be able to wheel around, fly, or at least shoot some missles (Seeing it bounce off the head of the salesperson or a JW would be funny)… Trumpeters makes 1/72, not 1/48, do they???
From what I can remember, in the 1990’s model companies would offer free replacements but I think its from too many people filing false complaints and getting free parts… that led the companies to start charging for replacement parts, seeing how most of them dont ask for parts back for vertification or whatsoever…
I wouldnt know how the “Black Knights” of Hasegawa’s has changed seeing how the F-14D Hasegawa is my first Hasegawa kit…
Well the Aardvarks decal came with the Fujimi kit… and seeing how Fujimi is regarded as the LOWEST pile of plastic possible nowdays, and from what I can see regarding the specific details of the kit, I wouldnt be surprised if the decal sheet contained decals thats totally WAY OFF from the real squadron’s insignias…
YOU actually got to fly a F-14??? If so, damn Im envious of you now… but its something I’ll have to live with myself… If I wasnt deaf and nearsighted, I would be in the Navy being a SEAL or a F-14 Pilot…
I have the Hasegawa D kit that I picked up for the Tomcat GB… and I sold it. I love the Hasegawa kits and they are almost as good as Tamiya but in some cases they are even more expensive! I love the Tamiya 1/32 and I am one of many cruising Ebay for one… no luck yet though. The primary reason I sold the Hasegawa is because I found an Academy kit and grabbed it and since I have never built an Academy Tomcat I figured this would be a great time. My pal that bought the Has kit was drooling over it for weeks and didn’t want to order it so I ‘socked’ it to him on price. I’ll definitley grab that one again very soon because they are a dream to assemble, minor fit issues aside, and are the most detailed on the market in 1/48 scale. Now that I am writing this I already miss the Has kit… hmmm- squadron.com here I come! I have actually never done a Fujimi but I hear thay are not so hot now. I have the black box cockpit that I ordered for the Has and I am now using it for the Academy. It will look great when it’s done!
M Rex and PRegius99 you guys should check out the Tomcat GB- it starts in Jan! I like Trumpeter but they goof on some important details every once in a while. The cockpits leave much to be desired and I have built the Academy ‘C Hornet and they are still a long ways off on detail and mold quality in comparison. I do hear that the Tr 1/32 Flanker is supposed to be very nice and I’d like to grab one when the price comes down. I think Tamiya should get on the ball with a 1/48 F-14D and I’d buy several to make different squadrons. Tamiya is at the head of the class with Hasegawa a second. Tamiya’s 1/48 Bubbletop P-47 was the best fitting and most accurate kit I have ever seen… I gotta quit talkin’- later fellas!