1:32 F-14A Tomcat

F-14A Tomcat, 1:32 scale, Trumpeter

An injection-molded plastic kit of the F-14A Tomcat carrier fighter in 1:32 scale from Trumpeter. The kit has over 450 parts on roughly 28 sprues (the fuselage is packed separately), a photo-etched fret, metal reinforcements to insert into the landing gear legs, a necessity on a model this size because plastic gear would not carry the weight, and rubber tires. The powerplant deserves particular attention: the box holds two complete Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines and open as well as closed nozzles to go with them. The cockpit, the wheel bays and the control surfaces are separate and finely engraved. The variable-geometry wing can be built either spread or swept; the matching rubber wing glove seals are supplied for both positions. You therefore choose the position during the build.

The real subject

The F-14 Tomcat was a carrier fighter of the US Navy, two-seat and twin-engine, crewed by a pilot and a radar intercept officer. Its hallmark was the variable-geometry wing: an automatic system spread it in flight for slow flight and for landing on a deck and swept it for supersonic speed. The A version is the original variant and was powered by the TF30 engines, which had a reputation for being weak and sensitive; at high angles of attack they were prone to compressor stalls and in that respect they never fully suited the aircraft. Do not confuse it with the later F-14D: that one was given more powerful engines and updated avionics and is a different kit. Anyone who wants the classic Tomcat of the 1970s and 1980s wants the A version.

Building and painting tips

First decide what position the wing will be in; the choice of the glove seals and the final silhouette of the model both depend on it. Finish the cockpit, the bays and the engines, and only then close the fuselage; degrease the metal gear reinforcements, bond them with super glue and let them cure thoroughly, as the model is heavy. Fill and sand the long seams along the fuselage and the nacelles carefully; in 1:32 scale every surface flaw shows at once, so it pays to spray a primer and check the surface under a strong light. Apply the gray naval schemes with an airbrush, seat the decals on a gloss coat and add a fine panel wash. A deck and salt air take their toll, and the Tomcat is a rewarding subject for discreet weathering.

Who the model is for

• Experienced modelers; the large areas reveal every mistake in filling and sanding.
• Fans of carrier aviation and of aircraft with variable-geometry wings.
• Those who want to show the engineering under the skin; the two complete TF30 engines can be displayed uncovered.
• Owners of a large display case: the finished model is about 60 cm long and, with the wing spread, about 61 cm across.
• Anyone interested in the original A version; the updated F-14D is a separate kit.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.