WIP: F-14 B/D
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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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UAE reminds me on the “This is why I´m hot” song, covered by two Refuelingsquadron-Pilots on YouTube
Hope you enjoyed your trip!
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your comment in turn reminds me of the Boom Operator…Booooom…Operator
VF-31 2006 last Tomcat aerial refueling.
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your comment in turn reminds me of the Boom Operator…Booooom…Operator
VF-31 2006 last Tomcat aerial refueling.
Sad Moment in the Tomcats life
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Sad Moment in the Tomcats life
No worries, it will live on forever.
Cheer up and start at 11:47 (you’ll even find the scene I got my avatar from, been using it for 9 years by now - time flies…)
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Fixing the sparrow recess shape, it helps in fixing the general outline of the bottom section as it is pretty straight and not curved as you would think.
Tails almost finished, pos light on left tail tip is pretty tricky in shape but now fully modeled and ‘implanted’.
Front profile in different base configurations:
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Great work!!!
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Yeeees!!! Dat mean front-end that made me fall in love in the first place. Simply stunning work
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About that mean front-end…now with air intake inside:
Why now? Well in order to finish the top of the glovebox along the front fuselage I need the intake ramps. For intake ramps I need the intake shape to the compressor. To finalize the shape of the inflatable glove bags where the wings (especially the flaps) go when fully swept I need the top and outside of the intake. Also for drop tank attachments the bottom side of the intake is necessary. I slowly understand the incredible packaging these designers face when ‘putting together’ super sonic fighter/interceptors. Simply wow!
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Your attention to detail is incredible!
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it looks so……real[emoji144]8)
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