WIP: F-14 B/D
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what are those metal bumps under the fuselage in the center?
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if I remember are the pylons for attaching AIM 54 phoenix;)
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what are those metal bumps under the fuselage in the center?
These are so called weapon rails or weapon pallets. Tomcats initially carried these to load 2 or 4 Phoenix missiles mounted on ‘LAU-93’ Phoenix launchers. Later on with the onset of the ‘Bombcat’ the rails were fitted with ‘BRU-32’ bomb racks with dual ejector pistons via ‘ADU-73’ adapters. Up until now I’ve only modeled the rails themselves, launchers will follow.
The rails are fitted over the ‘Sparrow Wells’ in front and on bottomside connectors in the rear. All ‘Sparrow Wells’ (2 side by side in front, 2 back to back in the rear) include ‘LAU-92’ launchers. The rails themselves are identical except for the aerodynamic fairing attached to the tip in front. There is a umbilical bridge yet to be modeled to connect front and rear pallets electrically or in the Phoenix use case provide cooling to the rear missiles.
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Here you can see the mounted AIM-154 and the mentioned bridges between the rails:
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And here with Sparrow configuration:
Nikos.
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That is a very, very good looking model!
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Here you can see the mounted AIM-154 and the mentioned bridges between the rails:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/AIM-54_Phoenix_full_load.jpg
That is a VERY useful reference shot, someone really knew how to set their lens:). Many thanks.
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The specific pylon can carry AIM-7, AIM-9 or AIM-54:
Nikos.
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Hello Stingray,
I was wondering, you mentionned you are projecting to make both B and D versions.
I suppose, the D would be the most relavant for BMS, maintly for avionics and payload.
Do you think, it is worth time to make both aircrafts and cockpit as well if you wish to make a cockpit?
Not requesting anything, just mentionning!
Regards,
Radium
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That is a VERY useful reference shot, someone really knew how to set their lens:). Many thanks.
If someone has to thank one, we are the ones, who have to thank you very very very much!!!
Your Model is absolutely amazings and looks damn good! Thank You!
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The specific pylon can carry AIM-7, AIM-9 or AIM-54:
Nikos.
And it can carry AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN which in this case it will :).
And what a beauty-queen pod it is…
LANTIRN, BABY.
Trivia: Tomcatters will recon the wheels which are specific to Delta Tomcats :D.
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Hello Stingray,
I was wondering, you mentionned you are projecting to make both B and D versions.
Yes meaning the external model including the cockpit as can be seen from the outside that is NOT a functional full scale 3D pit.
I suppose, the D would be the most relavant for BMS, maintly for avionics and payload.
Absolutely.
Do you think, it is worth time to make both aircrafts and cockpit as well if you wish to make a cockpit?
From my point of view (external model) the differences are so subtle (antennas, chinpod, etc. the rest is textures) that the impact on project time is negligible. In terms of cockpit the differences are earth shattering but I am NOT a cockpit builder and for now the most sensible option seems to be to drive development towards a finished D cat. I say this especially in light of the F-14D cockpit by MyKinge which he has submitted to BMS for futher development at a future point in time which seems to be the most advanced starting point. Of course both (model/pit) are quite far from entering a stage of testing.
To answer your question, I do not think it would be worth pursuing development of both versions at this point in time as a functioning cockpit would be required for a satisfactory experience and there is no F-14B WIP cockpit available.
Hope I could answer your question.
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hmm the wing ones ok but the fuselage pylons It’s the first time I notice them. Those where for the specific weapon and probably B model of the cat?
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Just to be the rivet counter captain obvious- the outside stations can carry AIm-9/AIM-7 and AIM-54 and LANTIIRN, but each had a different adapter to attach to the upper pylon. They all require a different adapter that makes up about half of the pylon with exception of the AIM-9 which only needs the rail adapter.
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fuselage pylons are the same across all tomcats as are the weapons fits- with the exception that the B and D could carry JDAM while the F-14A could not because it did not have the necessary databus. The AIM-54 fuselage pallets have a history like this. Initially they carried the coolant for the missiles until the AIM-54C EECM/Sealed camee about in the 90s. After that, they were modified for the “bombcat program” on all F-14s and BRU adapters were installed. I’ve seen drawings and mockups that wanted to modify each pallet to allow for tandem 500 guided weapons- so an F-14 could have carried 8 GBU-12/or GBU-38, but this was never funded or tested. The last update to the pallets was just prior to the final cruise when VF-31 and VF-213s F-14Ds(last Cats standing) were modified to carry GBU-38 and ROVER was installed on one of the forward pallets. This is pretty standard today but it was cutting edge in 2005. Anyone else with more info fill in the gaps.
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Thanks Turkeydriver! Those infos are exactly what I was hoping to bring out in this thread
Knew I could count on you counting each and every rivet, by the way extending on your last post wasn’t it only the AIM-54C+ which dispensed with liquid cooling. It was planned on the AIM-54B but that never got funded and the C did incorporate digital electronics and internal TDDs but retained liquid cooling. The Delta Tomcat could only use the C+ version. Correct?
Given the size of the pallets I have no doubt the tandem bomb setup would have worked but given the maximum takeoff and landing weights in RL it would have been a rarely used option.
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Thanks Turkeydriver! Those infos are exactly what I was hoping to bring out in this thread
Knew I could count on you counting each and every rivet, by the way extending on your last post wasn’t it only the AIM-54C+ which dispensed with liquid cooling. It was planned on the AIM-54B but that never got funded and the C did incorporate digital electronics and internal TDDs but retained liquid cooling. The Delta Tomcat could only use the C+ version. Correct?
Given the size of the pallets I have no doubt the tandem bomb setup would have worked but given the maximum takeoff and landing weights in RL it would have been a rarely used option.
Yes AFAIK the D could only use the sealed AIM-54C. I’m a bit confused on AIM-54C versions. There’s AIM-54C, AIM-54C ECCM/sealed, AIM-54C highpower(AMRAAM TWT), and AIM-54C+. Pretty sure the C+ is all the latest updates and last model used. Not sure if the highpower was a fleetwide integration or not.
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