F-14B Tomcat/Bombcat
Airframe Conversion

Teknics

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

The F-14 Tomcat has been treated kindly by the major kit manufacturers since the aircraft first flew in December 1970 (yes, that long ago!). F-14 As, A+s, Bs and Ds abound in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale. Whilst the smaller scale fans have been well catered for the 1/32 scale devotees have only had –A kits to work with.

Teknics, a subsidiary of Meteor Productions have now plugged that gap with the production of this conversion set. In general terms, the –B is an upgrade of the –A airframe with the main identifying feature being the significant re-shaping of the rear fuselage area to accommodate the larger nozzles of the General Electric F110 engine.

The conversion parts supply new left and right rear fuselages (split vertically) and new nozzles to take care of the main differences been the –A and the –B as well as two new nozzles. Also included in the set is a replacement right-hand side nose wheel door that incorporates a bulge over an un-named sensor/antenna. Two small identical sprues contain the VHF antenna, Small GPS golf ball antenna, and the wing glove "RHAW" antenna. You will only use one VHF, and 1 GPS antenna. However the wing glove RHAW antenna mounts on both sides of the leading edge of the wing glove (thanks to Scotty Battistoni at Meteor and to Raka for the clarification).

All parts are crisply cast in the familiar mid-grey resin used by other the Meteor Productions subsidiary, Cutting Edge. This resin is user friendly and easy to use, as it will bend rather than snap if you are a little too rough with it.

Teknics also supply a rudimentary but adequate instruction sheet (click thumbnail to left) that explains the optimal method for tackling this conversion.

The whole thing comes packed in a stout cardboard box that is stuffed full of foam peanuts to stop the parts from rubbing against each during transit. This last point is important, as the nozzles themselves need to be finished in a metalizer paint that will show up any imperfection.

With a rash of new post-Afghanistan –B and -D markings due to hit the shelves shortly I’m sure that this set will be welcomed by fans of the larger scale.

This is a well produced conversion that, rightly or wrongly from a cost point of view, Teknics have designed for the magnificent Tamiya kit. Personally, I would have preferred to see it engineered for the Revell kit so as to keep the costs down.

Recommended!

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the review sample

Cutting Edge Modelworks products are available from Meteor Productions Website

Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 07 February, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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