POST ALL JSE F-14 QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION HERE

[NWarty]

I hope this is some sort of German inspired miss-guided stab at humor. Hans we are laughing, LOL, LOL. We shall see.

Mike

Reminds me of the failed attempts of the Germans in Monty Python's "The Joke that Killed" where they keep shooting the joke-deliverer because it's not funny enough.

[ostketten]

After completely FUBAR'ing one of the ole girl's prettiest schemes, they would want to do THIS scheme without trying to complete a DECENT US Navy paint app. first?

Did JSI drink the bong water too???

For the sake of the 1/18 I hope this isn't the case. Just my opinion.

I agree. Seeing as how in all likelihood there aren't more than a handful of aircraft still in flyable condition in Iran's ageing (35+ year old) F-14 fleet, the choice of scheme seems utterly stupid. Perhaps the scheme is somehow attractive/desirable to the German/European market, but I can't imagine it would be greeted with much enthusiasm from the majority of North American collectors.

[thatf14guy]

they are from china, what you expect, i just hope they don't find some way to screw it up. perhaps square camo weathering this time?

[Shin Densetsu]

After completely FUBAR'ing one of the ole girl's prettiest schemes, they would want to do THIS scheme without trying to complete a DECENT US Navy paint app. first?

Did JSI drink the bong water too???

For the sake of the 1/18 I hope this isn't the case. Just my opinion.

I agree. Seeing as how in all likelihood there aren't more than a handful of aircraft still in flyable condition in Iran's ageing (35+ year old) F-14 fleet, the choice of scheme seems utterly stupid. Perhaps the scheme is somehow attractive/desirable to the German/European market, but I can't imagine it would be greeted with much enthusiasm from the majority of North American collectors.

The main reason I can think of is it's high kill record(which is impressive, the stories about the dogfights are impressive too, though some borderline stretch the imagination) against Iraqi Air Force aircraft. Other than that and looking cool it's hard to find another reason why they would pick it as the S2.

[tmanthegreat]

This is totally hillarious! While I agree completely agree with the comments above about the need for a decent US Navy scheme, I do find the Iranian scheme an interesting choice. Iran is the only country other than the US to have ever operated the F-14. Iranian F-14 pilots probably have the greater number of air-to-air kills in the F-14 as well due to that aircraft's use during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

[NWarty]

This is totally hillarious! While I agree completely agree with the comments above about the need for a decent US Navy scheme, I do find the Iranian scheme an interesting choice. Iran is the only country other than the US to have ever operated the F-14. Iranian F-14 pilots probably have the greater number of air-to-air kills in the F-14 as well due to that aircraft's use during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

Tman, don't get me started on the condition of Iraqi Air Force equipment, tactics, training, or facilities after having seen it first hand, talked to the pilots, air traffic controllers, ground crew, at the time (1980's).

JSI is on the fast track to being defunct with this scheme.

Me at Qayarrah, Iraq (Q-West) November 2008. Northern Iraq, Mig-21 fighter base.

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings:

I think the whole Iranian F-14 deal and the relationship with the United States which eventually went the other way to the point that the U.S. refused to help them has always given the Iranian F-14's and the story behind them a bit of mystery and interest. I like the choice. There are customizers doing other U.S. schemes and it is something entirely different if this news is indeed true. I get so tired of the classic U.S. schemes on everything, representing some other air forces and markings would be quite refreshing.

Good to see someone thinking outside the box in terms of markings and have it not be a customizer.

Corey

[gburch]

Not sure how far its true, but according to this long standing seller in Germany - the next paint scheme for the F-14 looks like an Iranian cat.
http://www.warbirdmodelle.de/ Look at coming soon 'Preview' or under 'Vorschau'.

Just took delivery of my F-14 thanks to MTS. I think I'm one of the first in the UK to get one...maybe..

If this is true, it indicates that the decision-makers at JSI really are Chinese. China's relationship with Iran is considered to be very important by many people in and out of government there, and there are lots of Chinese government and business people who regularly travel to Iran. They probably figure that they'll sell a few hundred to Iranian military and political folks as desk toys, and a few dozen more to PLAAF officers.

[ostketten]

If this is true, it indicates that the decision-makers at JSI really are Chinese. China's relationship with Iran is considered to be very important by many people in and out of government there, and there are lots of Chinese government and business people who regularly travel to Iran. They probably figure that they'll sell a few hundred to Iranian military and political folks as desk toys, and a few dozen more to PLAAF officers.

You might be on to something there, and I certainly wouldn't dismiss the the possibility. With regard to comments about the "impressive" number of kills by Iranian F-14's I think people need to take a hard look at the quality of the opponent those kills were tallied against before anyone starts getting all warm and fuzzy about the those "achievements"... Even after the fall of the Shah and the general purge of the Iranian military by the clerics, the Iranian Air Force was still considered one of the best in the Middle East, second only to Israel perhaps, and FAR superior to the Iraqi Air Force, so it's hardly surprising the Iranians achieved the sort of successes they did, given the overall lower quality of the opponent.

[jedimech]

Hi guys, anyone can provide some photos of the color guide that came with their F-14?

[thatf14guy]

i wonder if jsi is going to skip the f-15 and su-27 this year then. i think they are just trying to piss us off honestly. a iranina f-14, what tha heck are they thinking, specially with the political tension between us and iran /iraq, let alone the whole middle east.

anyone actually going to buy one if they do it?

[Stug45]

I might get one if it does not have spots.

[thatf14guy]

eeh, i might myself, but honestly there are so many other schemes they could do. plus has anyone noticed at their website that the tomcat in their pic has no spots, isn't that false advertising?

[Stug45]

eeh, i might myself, but honestly there are so many other schemes they could do. plus has anyone noticed at their website that the tomcat in their pic has no spots, isn't that false advertising?

Sure is

[thatf14guy]

i think they owe it to future customers to show what they are really getting, let alone actual american dealers. but all in all i give the tomcat a 8.5 outta ten, i mean it overall is a nice plane, to spite that some of the functional parts don't work or are broken, plus the spots. so maybe they are trying to redeem themselves with the next scheme coming out so soon. who knows, maybe they think they are funny.

[Baker707]

Tired of US schemes too

[mountian-man]

The Iranian F-14 re-paint is for dogfights with your Israeli defense force F-15!

This is just to hold you over until you get your PLAAF J-11 twin seater!

(Hope most of you guys are good with an airbrush)

[Shin Densetsu]

If this is true, it indicates that the decision-makers at JSI really are Chinese. China's relationship with Iran is considered to be very important by many people in and out of government there, and there are lots of Chinese government and business people who regularly travel to Iran. They probably figure that they'll sell a few hundred to Iranian military and political folks as desk toys, and a few dozen more to PLAAF officers.

You might be on to something there, and I certainly wouldn't dismiss the the possibility. With regard to comments about the "impressive" number of kills by Iranian F-14's I think people need to take a hard look at the quality of the opponent those kills were tallied against before anyone starts getting all warm and fuzzy about the those "achievements"... Even after the fall of the Shah and the general purge of the Iranian military by the clerics, the Iranian Air Force was still considered one of the best in the Middle East, second only to Israel perhaps, and FAR superior to the Iraqi Air Force, so it's hardly surprising the Iranians achieved the sort of successes they did, given the overall lower quality of the opponent.

If we are looking at it that way, that's similar to saying that the F-15 Eagles' nearly flawless(depending on who you talk to) kill ratio isn't very significant because the dogfights between the IAF and the Syrian Air Force in the Bekaa Valley were more akin to a Turkey Shoot compared to the dogfights of the Iran/Iraq war.

In any case, the kill ratio of the Tomcat in Iranian hands is the only explanation I can think of for JSI to make one.

Meanwhile, I still hope they make a USN repaint that is ACCURATE for the mold. Bombcat in final cruise Black Aces and Black Knights preferably.

[ostketten]

If we are looking at it that way, that's similar to saying that the F-15 Eagles' nearly flawless(depending on who you talk to) kill ratio isn't very significant because the dogfights between the IAF and the Syrian Air Force in the Bekaa Valley

And you'd probably be right... Anyhow, it sure takes some of the luster off the Iranian's "impressive" kill ratio. I'm done here, you win OK..

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings:

The F-14 is a fine piece when all the parts are there and put together right. I've had mine up on its gear for three weeks with no problems, I even leaned on it during touchup of the little tail parts on the rear of the plane and the gear stayed put. The gear isn't a bad design but it isn't the best either. It defintely should be thicker and the aircraft not be so unsteady on them. But if all the parts are there, the gear does hold the aircraft's weight.

Spots aside, all 1/18 pieces had their share of QC problems. 21st had some pieces that were horrendous and troublesome as well. I'll always remember the 21st pieces I saw at TRU or Walmart with busted props, broken other parts and the famous overspray or touchup that wasn't even the right color. I remember so many times having to hunt for a good one of certain planes. And if I look through my collection, every plane has it's little issue, there is not one that is 100 percent perfect. That's mass production for you.

As far as the Iranian thing goes with a new Tomcat, maybe they just wanted to do something different. And Iran was the only other operator of the F-14 besides the U.S. I'm glad to see a different scheme for once. I'll defintely get one of them if they make it.

[mountian-man]

I've had mine up on its gear for three weeks with no problems, I even leaned on it during touchup of the little tail parts on the rear of the plane and the gear stayed put.

Corey, don't you have Jack's F-14 from Skyworks with the modified landing gear?

[Coreyeagle48]

Mountain Man:

It is a Skyworks repaint but the gear is the gear from the factory. I elected not to get the gear fix as it was extra and I was short on cash at the time.

Corey

[tmanthegreat]

The stock landing gear on my F-14 are still holding up just fine. No sign of stressing or cracking. Except for the 4-5 times I've folded the gear, my F-14 has been sitting on them without incident since it was purchased on December 17

[Shin Densetsu]

I've had mine up on its gear for three weeks with no problems, I even leaned on it during touchup of the little tail parts on the rear of the plane and the gear stayed put.

Corey, don't you have Jack's F-14 from Skyworks with the modified landing gear?

Speaking of which, does anyone here have the modded gears?

[NWarty]

Glad to see JSI wants to announce an S2 scheme instead of showing us the pilots that were shown in addition to the ground crew

At this point, my faith in JSI as a company that gives a rat's ass about the customer is completely gone.