WIP: F-14 B/D
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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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Just though to post these…
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The first and the third shot are incredibly nice!
Thanks for sharing them, Raptor.
With best regards,
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Un Update, por favor?
El bumpo. -