Super Tomcat Resurrection - The Way it Was Meant to Be

Spino · May 28, 2025, 07:32:25 PM

This particular model has actually already been built, for over a decade in fact. However it was originally built when I was a young whippersnapper (to most of you folks I'm sure I still am one

) who didn't have much patience or skill. As such, its canopy was destroyed with paint and much of the rest of it was rather unsatisfactory too. My attempts to improve it usually just made things worse, but that was then and this is now. I've thrown away models before that just didn't turn out well, but this one is special enough that I can't bear to do that. Not only is it a model of my all-time favorite airplane (the F-14 Tomcat), it's also the first model airplane I ever had. Fortunately in spite of all the mistakes I made with it in the past, I think it's more than salvageable so I'm in the process of giving it a facelift. My original intention was to restore it to a presentable condition while remaining an OOB build, using spare parts from the F-14D kit that is my Super Tomcat 21 build, in which case it wouldn't really have been a what-if and I wouldn't have posted about it here. However, that's where thing started to go a little bit haywire...

The kit is a Revell F-14D Super Tomcat (1:48 scale as is nearly everything that I do), and as you might expect it had some parts fitment issues right out of the box. But my limited skill when I originally built it meant that I had no idea how to correct those issues and I compounded the problem by ruining the engine nozzle assembly (couldn't seem to get the petals all symmetric, yes it was that bad

). It was originally built with basically no paint except on the engine nozzles and a couple of other areas, but now that has all been covered over with a good coat of grey. Unfortunately those nozzles were beyond salvaging, so I removed them outright. Somewhere along the way both of the vertical tails were broken off and I still can't find one of them, so I'm probably going to have to 3D-print a replacement.

Since I don't have any more F110 nozzles and I'm not interested in buying any, I decided to give this plane the engines that the Tomcat should have had all along - a pair of F401s. To this end I borrowed the nozzle from the 3D model I have of the Convair 201 and 3D-printed a few of them (two for the Tomcat and a couple extra for other projects). So this will be a "what if the Navy got F-14s with the engines they really needed all along" build. I'm planning to completely redo the weapons load (long ago it was the OOB kit, 2x Sidewinder, 2x Sparrow and 4x AIM-54). Now it'll have a LANTIRN pod, two Sidewinders, and two AMRAAMs in addition to some hefty air-to-ground stores. Also I have a new canopy for it, something this poor thing badly needed. Anyway, here's the photos of where I'm at with it currently:

Here you can see the new F401 nozzles dry-fitted (yes they are in the fully closed position).

You cannot view this attachment.

The left wing pylon never sat quite in the right position so I re-mounted it several times over the years, to the point that now it needs contour putty! And you can also clearly see the damage to the Phoenix pallets - got a little clumsy with a Dremel at some point

. That's also the reason for the putty on the intake.

You cannot view this attachment.

Here's the weapons kit I plan on using. LANTIRN and two AIM-9Ms, in addition to a pair of AIM-120A/B AMRAAMs on a twin rail launcher (that was actually tested on the Tomcat by the way). The AGM-84Es may or may not stay, depending on how much of the front left Phoenix pallet is beyond repair (the SLAM fins cover the damage up quite nicely

)

You cannot view this attachment.

Last photo compares it to my Super Tomcat 21, which is still awaiting some new 3D-printed wing glove extensions.

You cannot view this attachment.

Spino · May 30, 2025, 03:42:02 PM

Well this one's going to take a bit more work than I thought, I discovered a spot on the nose that had a rather large paint run that needed to be sanded out, and I also am having to fill in the spots where the landing gear doors should have been (they were never fitted and I have no clue where they are now). Slowly coming along though.

Captain Canada · May 30, 2025, 04:46:52 PM

Tomcats are the best. Looking forward to seeing more of this one.

Spino · May 31, 2025, 07:47:45 PM

Quote from: Captain Canada on May 30, 2025, 04:46:52 PMTomcats are the best.

Of course they are

Spino · June 29, 2025, 03:27:37 PM

Trying to 3D-print a new vertical tail for this thing has been challenging to say the least. I keep getting it a bit too small and out of position, but I'm afraid to scale it up too much or else it might be too big!

Rick Lowe · June 29, 2025, 10:47:46 PM

Make it oversize and cut it down? Might be easier that way.
Or start with a plastic kit fin and do the same?

Spino · June 30, 2025, 06:13:29 AM

That may be what I have to do. I'm starting to reconsider the load out. AIM-54s are back on the table. The AGM-84s are needed elsewhere, and bombs may not cover up the damage to the Phoenix pallets!

Rick Lowe · July 01, 2025, 01:54:18 AM

If the Tomcat is back, the Phoenix should be, too - one was designed around the other, wasn't it?

Spino · July 01, 2025, 04:14:08 AM

Quote from: Rick Lowe on July 01, 2025, 01:54:18 AMIf the Tomcat is back, the Phoenix should be, too - one was designed around the other, wasn't it?

Indeed. Fortunately I think I can scrape together about five of them, maybe even six. 'round here we call that "loaded for Bear"

Rick Lowe · July 02, 2025, 01:39:42 AM

Quote from: Spino on July 01, 2025, 04:14:08 AM'round here we call that "loaded for Bear"

Works for me!

Spino · July 07, 2025, 06:17:40 AM

Just as an experiment, I attempted to fit my 3D-printed AIM-174s in the tunnel of this Tomcat.

You cannot view this attachment.

They don't fit right off the bat, but if you remove the coolant fairings for the AIM-54s and fold the fins on those missiles, it could actually be done. Not that I'm likely to do all that. This F-14D is going to be from around 2005, probably depicting the expending of AIM-54s as that missile was being withdrawn from service.

Maybe someday I'll build another Super Tomcat 21 with six of these equipped...

Rick Lowe · July 07, 2025, 10:48:07 PM

Quote from: Spino on July 07, 2025, 06:17:40 AMMaybe someday I'll build another Super Tomcat 21 with six of these equipped...

It's always good to have a Backup Plan - or indeed another Project, for a favourite aircraft...

Spino · July 08, 2025, 03:45:34 AM

Quote from: Rick Lowe on July 07, 2025, 10:48:07 PMIt's always good to have a Backup Plan - or indeed another Project, for a favourite aircraft...

Agreed.

This Tomcat now has its new tail, finally. I had to sand it down because the printer didn't do a great job with it, but it's okay now.

You cannot view this attachment.

I also now have six AIM-54s ready to go for it.

Spino · July 08, 2025, 09:02:56 AM

I ended up swapping out the AIM-9Ms for AIM-9Xs, primarily because I had to make room for a pair of AMRAAM rails on the ST21, but also because I want to do this plane in VF-124 markings and I already have the F-8S in VF-124 markings.

Spino · July 14, 2025, 04:18:16 AM

Well the plan is changing again somewhat. The VF-124 decals will be saved for another F-14 kit that I picked up at a good discount. That frees this F-14D up to wear either the VF-31 markings that it came with or some others from the aftermarket sets I have on hand.

The load out will probably revert to AIM-9Ms instead of the 9Xs, that way I can depict it in the same timeframe as the F-8S I built recently. The AIM-54s will make more sense that way too.