POST ALL JSE F-14 QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION HERE

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:39 am

no comment

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:50 am

Apart from the potential scare of seeing the spots on the F-14, I actually think posting the photos was a neat idea. For most of us, this is the first time we've seen our 1:18 models in the production process. For whatever reason, the production strikes me as being more personal and crude than I would have thought. It is much more like a modeling shop than the large Chinese factory assembly line I envisioned. Neat.

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:52 am

how do you post pics?

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:04 pm

aferguson wrote: They've added the markings but i guess the weathering would be applied over top of them too.

This statement holds the key. My guess and from my experience building models is that this is just a phase of the weathering process. It would make since that the markings be applied before the last weathering phases are applied. If you didn't, it would look like the markings were added to it after the subject had been in service for a while. The markings should show wear and weathering just like the rest of the plane.

I have serious doubts that JSI would overlook something this obvious.

NWarty · Post by **NWarty** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:07 pm

The Bottom Line:

Why hasn't Merit posted a photo of the COMPLETED production model and packaging as the containers are already en route?

What gives?

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:10 pm

no comment

NWarty · Post by **NWarty** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:28 pm

The only thing I'm seeing right now is one vendor trying to calm the masses and BCA may be indeed correct in their assumptions. Telling us to keep the faith given JSI past track record.

I see Merit yanking down photos and playing no damage control or settling down any type of concerns.

And nothing from JSI.

This darned model cost me a heap-a-dough. I don't think our concerns should be ignored.

I hope the silence doesn't continue.

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:39 pm

no comment

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:44 pm

thatf14guy wrote:yeah, i used to get atleast 3 emails a week from jsi and now i ain't heard sh.t from them in weeks, why?? you would think if you have a guy who is willing to pay 1600 bucks for a custom plane you wouldn't stop talking to them all of a sudden, but put them on your best buddy list.??

Maybe the guy you have a contact with at JSI has multiple jobs within JSI besides responding to e-mails. With company structure, the head maybe small, but the body maybe big if you know what I mean. Many businesses that can, operate like this. Reduces overhead. If this is the case, with the wrapping up of production and the starting of a new project, he's probably busy...

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:49 pm

no comment

wolfman1973 · Post by **wolfman1973** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:09 pm

I agree also with what all you have said. Im a dealer and have ordered alot of these planes. I will be contacting my sales rep from merit tomorrow and see what is said. On more info about the special edition F-14's They will only be available to dealers only. Lets keep our fingers crossed

Black_Dragon_One · Post by **Black_Dragon_One** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:45 am

wolfman1973 wrote:I agree also with what all you have said. Im a dealer and have ordered alot of these planes. I will be contacting my sales rep from merit tomorrow and see what is said. On more info about the special edition F-14's They will only be available to dealers only. Lets keep our fingers crossed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hle0OEG8 ... PL&index=3

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:31 am

no comment

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:02 am

no comment

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:40 am

thatf14guy wrote:bad cat just removed my post in their comments, i quess they didn't like what i had to say.

You're headed for "The List"

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:24 am

no comment

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:26 am

no comment

DropTank · Post by **DropTank** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:42 am

thatf14guy wrote: from bad cat
remember that it is just a toy airplane

Bad Cat does not apply the same principles when it lists an item in it's Private Reserve. I pay absolutely no attention to that bunch.
The Tomcat will arrive and I bet JSI does a great job on it. Lets just give it some time and see when they arrive.

Pa Deuce · Post by **Pa Deuce** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:03 pm

I'm taking Bad Cat's latest opinion with a large grain of salt...

Let me just say, if you were Merit, wouldn't you be up somebody's ass at JSI every day until they gave you a legit product photo?

NWarty · Post by **NWarty** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:17 pm

Pa Deuce wrote:I'm taking Bad Cat's latest opinion with a large grain of salt...

Let me just say, if you were Merit, wouldn't you be up somebody's ass at JSI every day until they gave you a legit product photo?

Well, BCA has gotten very little of my $ over the last several years and won't in the future because of Rob's comments here and at their blog. I'd call it a "toy" airplane if I paid less than $20 for it. No need to elaborate on this.

That's what I can't understand about Merit and JSI right now. They have many customers concerned about a product after they showed some WIP photos and no completed product.

- I've seen the picture with what looks like pilot heads with yellow helmets and no information. I hope to hell if this is the case, they are included with the base model and not just the special edition.
- No completed packaging photos, only a cardboard and foam mockup
- No complete PRODUCTION Tomcat photo from the JSI factory
- No response from Merit to my email
- And to top it all off, these photos come out right after the ship has left the Chinese Port.

This isn't some rinky-dink $8 action figure. It's a $250 collectable model. People have the friggin' right to be concerned, especially in this day and age of a shaky economy. They want a quality product for their hard-earned income. If the Tomcat shows up at my front door looking like a "SpotCat", it would likely crush JSI, and ultimately crush Vendors due to returns. That why I'm concerned, neither JSI nor Merit have done nothing to calm the masses.

Why the secrecy and silence? So everybody in the militaria collecting world knows the F-14 is en route, that JSI is making a special edition of 250, that there will be ground crews and pilots. What's to hold back at this point?

Is it so difficult for Merit or JSI to post a Completed Tomcat Photo?

Pa Deuce · Post by **Pa Deuce** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:34 pm

Take a close look at this now though: I'm wondering if this nacelle that is being stamped is in actuality finished, and the other nacelles next to it are pre-shaded... I mean that really looks like the detail on the paint master

NWarty · Post by **NWarty** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:36 pm

Rats, my military network blocks image hosting sites

Switching to cell phone...

Okay,
Even though the picture on my cell phone is small, I get what you are saying. Who really knows at the point given that other components, such as the belly and upper wing area were being stamped too and looked completely different from what this nacelle looks like. Even the photo of "painted units waiting for assembly line" photos shows many of the Tomcat bellies with big ole spots on them.

I'm just thinking it's a little weird to show WIP (work in progress) shots AFTER the product has left port, WITHOUT showing a completed product.

Pa Deuce · Post by **Pa Deuce** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:56 pm

Totally agree

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:03 pm

Well, BCA has gotten very little of my $ over the last several years and won't in the future because of Rob's comments here and at their blog. I'd call it a "toy" airplane if I paid less than $20 for it. No need to elaborate on this.

That's what I can't understand about Merit and JSI right now. They have many customers concerned about a product after they showed some WIP photos and no completed product.

- I've seen the picture with what looks like pilot heads with yellow helmets and no information. I hope to hell if this is the case, they are included with the base model and not just the special edition.
- No completed packaging photos, only a cardboard and foam mockup
- No complete PRODUCTION Tomcat photo from the JSI factory
- No response from Merit to my email
- And to top it all off, these photos come out right after the ship has left the Chinese Port.

This isn't some rinky-dink $8 action figure. It's a $250 collectable model. People have the friggin' right to be concerned, especially in this day and age of a shaky economy. They want a quality product for their hard-earned income. If the Tomcat shows up at my front door looking like a "SpotCat", it would likely crush JSI, and ultimately crush Vendors due to returns. That why I'm concerned, neither JSI nor Merit have done nothing to calm the masses.

Why the secrecy and silence? So everybody in the militaria collecting world knows the F-14 is en route, that JSI is making a special edition of 250, that there will be ground crews and pilots. What's to hold back at this point?

Is it so difficult for Merit or JSI to post a Completed Tomcat Photo?

Definitely valid concerns considering that the Cats are said to be inbound. I don't think anyone would mind the Merit in-progress images so long as the finished product was shown before hand, considering the price I can see why many of us are worried.

I'm hoping that those spots we saw in the photos were later spread out to seep into the panel lines and look more weathered as opposed to spotty.

If anything I hope the Tomcat paint apps shown at the iHobby EXPO are indicative of the final product.

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:36 pm

no comment