Their Tomcats were later Block As and had most of the changes introduced with the early Bs with Exception to the Engines and FCS Changes.ī. Theres no point withholding any A/B manuals, They have them already. Join me for parts 2 where I will get the airframe together, prep the weapons I am going to use and hopefully get some paint on the kit.A. I couldn’t find anything directly on this part but it looks like a reinforcement plate was added to this area.

Lastly, I added the 'panel sticker' which surrounds the aft step for getting into the rear of the cockpit. Also, make sure you open up the bottom fuselage holes for the armament.īack to the front fuselage, I added the new gun port and the cockpit frame. All of this was similar to the F-14A build. To the top fuselage, I added the intake ramps. I added the holders for the horizontal stabilizer. While this was going on, I completed steps 9 through 12 which included adding the swing wing mechanism to the upper fuselage, adding the main gear wheel wells to the lower fuselage and painting. I added the cockpit/wheel well assembly and closed the front fuselage and set aside to dry. Don’t forget to add the blank for the gun barrel. I prepped the inside of the fuselage by painting black and decided not to have an open refuel probe so I added the closed door which fit into place perfectly. I added the finished cockpit with side walls to the nose gear and was almost ready to button up the front of the fuselage. You can see the build in the pictures below and the cockpit looks really nice when built and painted.Īt the same time, I built the nose gear well which is similar to the F-14A build so there is not much to say except that things fit well and have great detail. The instructions are detailed and clear and I moved quickly through the build. The instrument [panels have options depending on before or after the planes were updated. Before you start, make a choice on which time frame you are going to make. I started with the cockpit which is nicely detailed. Two newly sculpted pilots in updated uniforms WITH helmet markings.New front and back instrument coaming for cockpit.New ejection seats including ones specific to pilot and RIO.New vertical stabilizers with reinforcement plates.New nose gear door to represent the D version.Complete new exhausts with decals to represent the carbon fiber areas for the F110-GE-400 engine nozzles.Masking stencils provided for interior masking of inlets.Cockpit panels and sticks updated to D configuration with two options for the RIO panel.I went through the instructions and compared them to the F-14A instructions and here’s a list of changes/upgrades: Some great markings and plenty of aftermarket decals options also. VF-11 'Red Rippers', CAG Plane, 1995, USS Carl Vinson.VF-213 'Black Lions', CAG plane, March 2006, USS Theodore Roosevelt.VF-02 'Bounty Hunters', CAG Plane, May 2003, USS Constellation.Most of the parts for the F-14A are still in the box and won’t be used. First, it’s gorgeous as far as plastic, general engraving, etc. When Tamiya released its 1/48 scale F-14A, it was made the new standard in F-14 kits and from the layout, it seemed like the F-14D would be coming and now, it has arrived.

F14d cockpit