First flight..and my first Tomcat build

I was too young to remember the first flight of the F-14.

It was late December 1970 and I had just turned about 2. 

Grumman didn't hang around when awarded the contract for the F-14 and went from contract to first flight in only 22 months. Just like the plane itself, impressive stuff. Part of that was also to avoid any potential political hassle from politicians. Funny how things don't change.

F-14 prototype in flight

I don't remember when I bought my first Tomcat....but it was probably the mid or late 80s and was this gem from Hasegawa. I seem to remember buying it a toy or hobby show in Dublin. And having been use to relatively cheap kits by Airfix or Matchbox, I was shocked at having to pay a fair bit more than that for it!

Of course Airfix had an F-14 kit out since the early 1970's but finding and buying a Japanese kit was a real thrill in those days. Opening it, I was both excited and a little bit daunted - the number of parts and decals was incredible. Worth every penny. Like the real thing I suppose.

I really hadn't a clue about modelling back then and when I finally got around to building it (probably after seeing Top Gun), I thought cutting the wings to drop the flaps and slats would be a great idea. Looked like sh*t close up though. And decals over flat enamel paint.....check out that silvering! I never got around to finishing the kit and this is how it looks today, more than 20 years after I first started it. It's one of those builds that's from a special time in your life and no matter how bad it looks, it's one that I just can't bring myself to throw out. It's survived numerous house (and country) moves and soldiers on to this day. 

And despite its age as a kit and being overshadowed by much more modern kits from Hasegawa, Fujimi and Hobby Boss, it's one that I'm going to revisit as my first build on this journey, starting in January next year. 

A 1978 Hasegawa first edition of the F-14A, in the high-visibilty markings of VF-1 Wolfpack as shown here in profile by a true genius of F-14 builds, Mr. Andy Mullen. I bought the kit from a fellow IPMS Dublin branch member, Murfv (thanks Vincent) and I can't wait to get started.

Hopefully, I've learned a few things about modelling since my first build.

Dermot

From TFX to Design 303 - from kitten to 'Cat

So how did the Tomcat come to be?

I suppose it's fair to say that it grew out of conflicting demands by competing services, namely the US Air Force and US Navy.

In the late 1950's, the Air Force wanted a fast, low-level, two-man strike bomber, while the Navy wanted a fleet defense fighter, able to engage Soviet Bombers at long-range with a powerful radar and missile combination.

A two man, twin-engine and swing-wing concept seemed to be the way forward. The Air Force got what would come to be known as the F-111A while the Navy got the -B model (pictured here).

But the Navy wasn't happy with the B version, and that the design (better for low level strike) wasn't up to the task as an interceptor.

 

Grumman took up the challenge for the Navy and with a heritage in powerful, naval fleet defense fighters seemed like the right choice. The two-man, twin-engine, swing wing combination stayed, as did the long-range radar and missiles (which would become the Phoenix) and engines.

 

But the design was markedly different from the F-111B and Design 303 would become Grumman's blueprint for what would eventually be the F-14 Tomcat.

You can read much more about the history and development behind the F-14 by visiting this page on Wikipedia and the excellent M.A.T.S website hosted by all-round F-14 expert Torsten Anft.

Modelling-wise, there is an ancient Revell Monogram kit of the TFX F-111B and while it needs a fair bit of work, it can make a fairly decent kit of the unsuccessful test version.

As for the F-14 prototype, again this needs a bit of converting of an early F-14 kit to account for earlier differences but is probably resonably doable.

Would make for an interesting side by side build of these two prototype fighters. But maybe for another time and build!

 

Thanks for looking and enjoy your modelling!

 

Dermot

 

 

Up, up and away...

Tomcatters (VF-31) F-14 up and away from USS Theodore Roosevelt

Getting my feet wet with a scale modelling blog...

The title says it all.

I decided it was time to try blogging about my hobby and like my hobby, I hope it gets better over time.

When not working or being a Dad, I'm an aviation enthusiast and keen scale modeller. I think I've liked things with wings (and rotors) since my father first brought me to the airport.

Growing up in the '70s and watching old war movies with Dad (he liked history), I was drawn to the stories behind the great air battles that filled our screen on a Sunday afternoon - the Battle of Britain; the Dambusters; Tora Tora Tora; the Battle of Midway; Sink the Bismarck; the Bridges at Toko Ri......you get the picture. And when Airfix and Matchbox models entered my world in 1974, I could relive those battles and see up close the planes that filled my screen. Like many, the Spitfire and 109 were my first model kit choices but I was intrigued by carrier aviation - flying aircraft off (and landing on) a carrier was something cool when you're 7.

Soon, Wildcats and Hellcats, Zeros and Vals, Fireflys, Corsairs and Avengers were also on my hobby bench, flying around the garden, buzzing the family pet, getting holes poked in them with needles for battle damage (the planes, not our pet). I even think the Zero might have ended up getting some smoke damage from a candle!

From the above list, three names stand out as being iconic carrier aircraft from Grumman. And that brings me to the reason for this blog and how it links with my hobby.
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the last of Grumman's great line of carrier 'Cats' - the F-14 Tomcat.

And I'm going to spend most of next year building as many as I can in model form, in 1/72 scale.

I'll try to log all my builds here, along with some photos. And also maybe find some F-14 stories along the way to make it a bit more interesting.

Thanks for visiting.

Dermot