Thursday, May 18

Preview: Contents of GWH's 48th scale Grumman F-14B Tomcat kit

Great Wall Hobby add to their excellent range of 48th scale fast jets with this, the F-14B Tomcat - US Navy Version. We look at colour schemes, sprue layout, photo-etch & decals in our preview...


Preview: Contents of GWH's 48th scale Grumman F-14B Tomcat

US Navy F-14B Tomcat
From Great Wall Hobby
Kit No #L4828 
1/48th scale
5 marking choices included
Kit is made from plastic & photo-etch
We first heard of this kit around this same time last year at the Shizuoka Hobby show. Now we have the release almost upon us, with a large feature set and some good decal to be seen in the sprues and markings provided.
The feature set of this kit includes:
- Detailed cockpit with a wide array of instruments and controls
- Optional open radome with AN/AWG-9 long-range radar
- Forward landing gear system offers options for parking or catapulting position
- Choice to open or close flaps and air brake
- Wings can be swept forward or backward
- Option to open or close the engine nozzle
- Structure designed for easy cutting and installation of detailed parts
 Photo etch parts (one fret coloured) are included in this release.
The makings for five late incarnations of the Tomcat are included on the first decal sheet.
The non slip areas, data stencils, instrument panel decals, low-viz lighting, flares (empty and full), weapon markings and many other details are included on the second sheet.
F-14B No 163222 from VF-101 ""Grim Reapers"". NAS Oceana, in 2004.
F-14B No 163225 from VF-102 "Diamondbacks". NAS Oceana, in March, 2004 "Final Cruise"
F-14B No 162916 from VF-32 "Swordsmen". NAS Oceana, in April, 2005 "Final Cruise"
F-14B No 161435 from VF-103 "Jolly Rogers". NAS Oceana, in May 2002
The many (many) sprues of the kit as taken by the people at Great Wall Hobby - there are so many here we will skip the play by play (they aren't as detailed as we like so it's hard to comment anyway)...
More on this kit from Great Wall Hobby on its release