JSI F-14 S2 "Black Knights" on Merit's website

Jwcarpenter · Post by **Jwcarpenter** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:35 am

http://www.merit-intl.com/month/jsi-vf1 ... rototypes.

NSA · Post by **NSA** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:15 am

Working on a full writeup now.. it's going to be $299 and it's not a prototype.. SDCC "exclusive".

NSA · Post by **NSA** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:33 am

http://www.fighting118th.com/2010/07/16 ... k-knights/

Here's some preliminary pics, I'm working on the rest of them now.

The plane looks really really nice, like the first one should have looked!

The lights are a nice touch, as I had never seen the other lighted version.

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:04 am

after the first release, i'll believe it when i see it! but man it sure looks nice, now its up to jsi to actually produce whats in that picture, and not another spotcat! but hopefully, i love that flir, it looks great, can't wiat for the f-15.

NSA · Post by **NSA** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:06 am

thatf14guy wrote:after the first release, i'll believe it when i see it! but man it sure looks nice, now its up to jsi to actually produce whats in that picture, and not another spotcat! but hopefully, i love that flir, it looks great, can't wiat for the f-15.

I saw a stack of them yesterday

JSI's managed to make 30 right so far! No spots thankfully!!

popeye357 · Post by **popeye357** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 11:44 am

I guess the S1 was a pretty expensive lesson to learn. Great looking S2, wish I had dough to spend.

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:07 pm

Too bad they didn't manage to get it right the first time, because, quite frankly, this new scheme is not very appealing to me, least of all at $300: "$299 is the MSRP, same price for the Sdcc ones and the fall releases."

Ha!

NSA · Post by **NSA** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:14 pm

Here's a writeup with some more pictures on page 2

http://www.fighting118th.com/2010/07/17 ... k-knights/

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:14 pm

No spots and.....no pilots.

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:19 pm

And the same sturdy 'legs'!

All for eighty bucks more.

CENT-ONE · Post by **CENT-ONE** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:25 pm

I heard that if you touch the seam on the lower left corner the spots re-appear...

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:51 pm

when will they be released?

456THBG · Post by **456THBG** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 3:32 pm

Well I'm confused...JSI is going to re-release the F14 in a new paint scheme for $299.00? And it will be a lighted version?
Now, I bought a Special Edition lighted version last December, supposedly one of only 250 produced...Are these new lighted planes in addition to the original 250?
If so, I am definitely finished with JSI, Merit, and anyone else who endorses this lack of ethics! I supported JSI through all of their BS, and now this for my reward?
If I misunderstood, please let me know so I won't take my "rants" on the road.

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:15 pm

Well, it seems the lighted S-2 version is a SDCC 2010 exclusive. However, taking into account that this is an altogether different/new scheme, I fail to see how that undermines your investment or why Merit is supposed to never again release a lighted version of the F-14. You still have one (or several) of only 250 lighted Jolly Rogers F-14s ever produced in 1/18 scale.

PS: The new release looks good. But why make a Black Knights scheme when you could opt for a more obvious Sundowners/Black Aces/Tophatters version? I'm not forking $300 for any 1/18 scale aircraft unless it's something I really, really want. And as bad as I'd like to own a spot-free Tomcat in 1/18 scale, this one's not it. Not for $300 without pilots. Bye, bye, JSI!

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:03 pm

So is JSI planning a non-lighting version of the VF-154 F-14?

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:07 pm

hey if they f..k it up like the jr, i can always fix that!

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:28 pm

I hope merit will sell the LANTIRN Pod and other ordinance that they are releasing on the black knight on a separate ticked for those that want to upgrade their Custom f-14B's..

snake · Post by **snake** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:44 pm

I'll believe it when I see it in some customers hands.

No pre-order from me.

And I am not a fan of the scheme,

$300 price tag.

Doesn't look like I am getting a JSI F-14 anytime soon.

pcsguy88 · Post by **pcsguy88** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:19 pm

All VF-154 birds will be lighted and all will cost $299.

The bird in those pictures is in "customers hands" and atleast the 30 at SDCC are spot-free. Boxes were randomly opened to confirm this.

Landing gear are made of sturdier material with instructions included this time.

Cockpit stays open by itself.

No ordinance packages will be sold separately, but the SDCC buyers will receive 2 full sets of ordinance.

More surprises will be revealed next week.

There will be less than 500 of the VF-154's in the US unless people start importing them from Japan.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:35 pm

pcsguy88 wrote:
No ordinance packages will be sold separately, but the SDCC buyers will receive 2 full sets of ordinance.

Rant On.
I am sick of not having the option of buying extra ordinance.....

What are the OTHER surprises..please tell...I don't think waiting an extra few days will get people who got burned on the S-1 tomcat, to change their minds on buying a third one... I mean come on is Merit and JSI going with this type of marketing strategy..

Collect all 10 tomcats each one will be better then the last one..all for 300 bucks....

In this economy....

Make the ordinance package available to those that want it for a fair price!

Rant off.

I do like the fact that JSI did improve on a few things like the landing gear, and it would have been nice to se a VF-111 or a VF-41 scheme. but at least they have another repaint and its not all that bad.

I sure would not kick it out of my collection if I got one.

SierraMikeBravo · Post by **SierraMikeBravo** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:14 pm

Nice...they include sturdier landing gear and leave everyone else who bought into their first POS holding the bag! Hey JSI/Merit, or whoever the "F" else, why don't you make good on your first planes...you know...the people who didn't leave YOU holding the bag...with replacement landing gear instead of us having to drop $80 frakkin' dollars to replace the trash you provided! Until they make good for those who bought from them initially, to "H" with them and any other POS's they decide to come out with. End of rant.

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:28 am

well said but it will never happen

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:11 am

Hmmm...

All of this talk of a S2 may make me want to take mine out of the shipping box and finally look at mine.

Maybe not

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:48 am

Posted on 07-16-2010 at 09:44 AM by Shin Densetsu under Military Toy News.
Kawai Toys will be distributing the JSI 1/18 F-14A Tomcat Jolly Rogers Renewal Version in Japan, planned for release later this month. The long awaited 1/18 F-14A Tomcat was an ambitious endeavor plagued by questionable issues. This renewal version aims to fix that. To see what's been fixed, hit the title bar.
Kawai Toys will be distributing the JSI 1/18 F-14A Tomcat Jolly Rogers Renewal Version in Japan, planned for release later this month. The long awaited 1/18 F-14A Tomcat was an ambitious endeavor plagued by questionable issues. This renewal version aims to fix that.

According to Noda-ya, the following improvements have been made to the upcoming Renewal Version of JSI's 1/18 F-14A Tomcat VF-84 Jolly Rogers release:
Weathered paint apps have been made more realistic
Landing gear has been enhanced featuring strengthened suspension
Price of this item in Japan is higher than in the US. MSRP is 31,290 yen which is over $300 USD.

apparently jsi will be releasing a renewel jolly rogers tomcat, i found this post at toyark.com, but only in japan?? and it will cost as much as the se, what the heck jsi?

thatf14guy · Post by **thatf14guy** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:57 am

oh, i think i figured it out though, jsi decided to have a secret contest, kinda like willy wonka and the chocolate factory, except they used tomcats/spotcats, its whoever can find the one tomcat that has no spots wins a million dollars

, yeah right! i am looking forwad to the new scheme, just don't f. it up jsi, this ones got the potiential! i love the flir pod, makes me wonder what the f-15 will look like.