1/18 Tomcat

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:01 am

I'm going to stay optimistic on this one, I mean, what have I got to loose. At the very least I know I wont be wasting time and money running from one Walmart to another trying to find the darned thing. I think I will sit back, grab a bag of Doritos (Fiery Habanero of course), and see what materializes.

Meanwhile, I will be planning my display of the Tomcat, the new pinnacle of my collection.

-Rob

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:07 am

Could it be trumpeter, tamiya as a finished and unfinished kit?
Could it Dragon ,Witty wings, Hobby master, Fov, PTE?
Could it be the companies that makes Franklin mint aircraft?
I think all could be a contender for 1/18th A/c market

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:14 am

Jericoeagle1 wrote:I just got an Email from HW in Japan, it says basically to keep checking their website because they should have the item up and available for sale this month. I had asked if the item would be available again for purchase after my preorder was cancelled.

http://www.hwjapan.com/index.aspx

I sent a e-mail to HW yesterday to see what response I would get and I got the same type of response you did but worded a little diferently. The e-mail came from Mr. Aiko Oshi who John Lumley corresponded with.

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:30 am

http://www.tomcat-sunset.org/forums/ind ... pic=4778.0
this f-14 community seems to have no clue about this - they would have been buzzing.

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:38 am

this could also be a future PTE project?

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:39 am

STUKA wrote:this could also be a future PTE project?

Great another under scaled 1/18th bird from PTE

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:46 am

yeah but it would sell out due to all the Joe fans buying them up for customs

JohnLumley · Post by **JohnLumley** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:05 am

Photo pulled from this website. http://www.bigthunder.jp/product_shousa ... =d1028006s
tankduel found this earlier.

Black Lion VF-213 · Post by **Black Lion VF-213** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:35 am

From what I can see of these limited pictures, if it is 1/18, then that's only a fair attempt at 1/18 for a Tomcat. There's no moving rudders, the seam line around the beaver tail is way too prominent (quality not good?), the cockpit is lackluster detail, there's a haze all over the cockpit canopy glass, the turbine blades in the rear of the engine don't look deep enough as if there' only one stage of afterburning rather than five, and the color of the TF-30 engine tail cone feathers look painted gull grey. They should have almost a dark charcoal to metallic black paint job. And last but hard to tell if this error exists: The twin tails of the Tomcat cant outwards roughly 3-4 degrees. This model's tails look perfectly parallel with no cant like a F-15.

Some here think it may be 1/32 or 1/24. I doubt it's 1/32. I think it's 1/18 or 1/24 at the smallest. Look a little past the rear canopy hinge on the Tomcat's back. The real Tomcat doesn't have a gap that large; that's not a seam line. That's a seperation point for assembly of this model. There's another seperation point on the Tomcat's back just in front of the top air/speed brakes. There is a seam line in that point on the Tomcat but not that wide. A 1/32 Tomcat from BBI or anyone else wouldn't need to seperate the fuselage like that to accomodate the packaging. The F-4 is not that much shorter than a Tomcat. So this model to me looks like the fuselage is seperated into 3 sections.

If it's BBI then I'm actually disappointed in the overall makeup of this Cat. I've seen 21st with worse instances of seam line prominence whereas BBI has their's pretty tight and clean. I really think it's some upstart. They're trying to make a big splash. There first attempt is admirable since they chose my all-time favorite airplane. I hope this is just a pre-production first draft and that they will go back to the drawing board. Perhaps they're monitoring this forum for ideas?!?! hah!

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:39 am

by the dimensions given on the japanese site it's 1/18. i wouldn't study those pictures too hard....lord knows what they are pictures of. If/when this thing is really released they'll be plenty of pictures to study then. For now, we're all just scratching our heads here...

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:00 pm

Time will tell on this one guys, we can speculate all day long, but who knows?

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:44 pm

Even the Tamiya 1/32 tomcat has a separate forward fuselage part that is separate from the main rear fuselage.

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:52 pm

this could also be a future PTE project?

Doubtful, they have never made anything in this price range, and judging by their latest aircraft(SU-27), are making vehicles compatible with joe figures but very affordable.

The manufacturers are still keeping quiet, the etailers are the only ones being vocal. I still think this is either from Admiral or BBI. Maybe this was unveiled too early and was actually supposed to be saved for Toyfair in two months.

I really think it's some upstart. They're trying to make a big splash. There first attempt is admirable since they chose my all-time favorite airplane. I hope this is just a pre-production first draft and that they will go back to the drawing board. Perhaps they're monitoring this forum for ideas?!?! hah!

I would actually be surprised if it was an upstart, I mean who would be that daring to try to even attempt something this big? That is bravery right there, no matter if it is an upstart or one of the familiar companies, it bodes well for us. If it is BBI or Admiral that means they are pretty much still in the game. If it is an upstart, we have someone new to drive the competition and another company to get our fix from. Now if we could just figure out who this company is...

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:50 pm

Why would AT make a surprise move with this? They have very publicly said they will make a Dauntless and the Spad. The Dauntless looks ready for production and my guess is MTS ponied up some cash for the exclusive. Jason's reasons for making the Skyraider for his Dad seem ironclad to me. I just don't see them bypassing these two planes to focus on the Tomcat.

I've told myself that I won't support $500 aircraft but for modern jets I think I could reverse that position. If this thing is for real I will sell a liver if necessary to pick one up.

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:59 pm

So aferg, are you going to hold out for the mystery F-14, or are you going to spring for the X-flight foamy when it is released? I have been watching your updates on the X-flight Cat with great interest, but I know as soon as it comes out and I purchase one, the mystery F-14 will appear.

-Rob

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:40 pm

here is my email to BBI:

Hey,
Thanks for the update regarding the 1:18 scale f-14 tomcat! Can't wait to see more pictures. Could you give us a better hint on the unit and color scheme -
Thanks again.
Chris

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:03 pm

what? Has bbi claimed it's theirs or is that some kind of trick to get them to admit they're making one?

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:06 pm

as far as the r/c tomcat goes: if this plastic one proves to be real i will get it. That said, the r/c one does have one big advantage, namely weight. This one will probably weigh 10 pounds, whereas the r/c one will be quite light and easy to hang. No way i'll have room to display it on it's u/c so i'll have to hang it and weight is a concern.

The way i'm looking at it is either way i'm getting a 1/18 Tomcat next year, it's just a matter of which one.

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:10 pm

just trying anything here - how detailed is the RC one?

I still want an F-4

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:31 pm

I'm just glad that there's even a glint of light! I would love to have one, even though my gut says there is something fishy going on. I don't think it is one of the big guys, I don't think it is an upstart, in-fact, I think it's from MARS.

STUKA · Post by **STUKA** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:36 pm

Mars? I knew it DESTRO!!!!!

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:05 pm

STUKA wrote:here is my email to BBI:

Hey,
Thanks for the update regarding the 1:18 scale f-14 tomcat! Can't wait to see more pictures. Could you give us a better hint on the unit and color scheme -
Thanks again.
Chris

I sent them a similar email...nothing yet

immeww2 · Post by **immeww2** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:40 pm

This is one big mystery!

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:00 pm

It looks like HW from Japan pulled it from their website...I have the link in my Fav's there is a pictuer put it says. "Index HyperLinkHyperLinkHyperLink"

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:06 pm

my guess is that they started showing it before they were supposed to. I think it's a BBI but not scheduled to be released yet.