POST ALL JSE F-14 QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION HERE

diegomenendez · Post by **diegomenendez** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:50 pm

Those are production photos from MERIT, not BadCar

At this point, I, and many, don't trust anything from Merit

pcoughran · Post by **pcoughran** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:20 pm

I got my production regular from my local hobby shop today ( they just came in and I was the first to pick up). I made them open it for me. All of thought the spots looked bad. Were they lighter than spec. ed - don't know as I didn't have one there to compare. Didn't look like it was oversprayed as the intakes red markings looked fresh or maybe they were done a second time as one looked "messed up" a little see pics later. I'm uploading pics as we speak will post next. I didn't put it together as it is a Christmas present so still in box but pics say it all - don't need to see the whole plane to see all the spots. I'm either fixing myself or sending to Zach for a fix.
pics to follow

pcoughran · Post by **pcoughran** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:30 pm

A couple notes: I took pics with flash and without in natural light so if they look different that is why. I didn't "autocorrect" anything. These pics are pretty much what it looks like. If you think it looks good then so be it - I think it looks awful.
The NAVY is on both sides so different than Zach's spec. ed which was missing one. One of the red intakes looks messed up. Also around the canopy the black on one side is not sharp like the other. There were a couple areas on the plane that had a smudge or run in the paint but not too bad - I didn't get a pic but can if anyone wants to see it/them. As I'm getting it fixed regardless I didn't look for too many flaws other than what others have noted. The gear doors are somewhat flimsy and don't seem to want to stay all the way shut, but I haven't played with it much or even pullled all the gear out. They close better than the pic below just didn't have them all the way closed.

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:34 pm

i think if etailers are going to have a no return policy then they better post an accurate photo of the F-14. To show the beautiful prototype and then send the spotted terror, is very misleading. To then refuse refunds could land them in hot water as lots of people contact their credit card companies to issue them with a refund, which they may be able to get if the buyer can prove they've returned the item anyway. Regardless if credit card companies get a lot of complaints about a single retailer, they'll take firm action. This is where JSI should be stepping in, offering to buy back any unwanted merchandise, paying reshelving costs etc.

Many are saying the spots look bad. Those that aren't were prepared for them. Most of the people buying these will have no notiion of the spots. Could be interesting.

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:35 pm

thanks for the pics. Spots are still very prominent. Looks like a He-219.

Is it my imagination or are the spots actually 2 colours in one? Looks like they painted a big blue grey dot and then a little darker grey dot in the middle of it.

pcoughran · Post by **pcoughran** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:40 pm

aferguson wrote:thanks for the pics. Spots are still very prominent. Looks like a He-219.

Is it my imagination or are the spots actually 2 colours in one? Looks like they painted a big blue grey dot and then a little darker grey dot in the middle of it.

The spots do seem to have two colors to them.
Aferg, I was the first at my local hobby shop to get it. They just came off the truck and were in the back storage area. None of the hobbyshop guys had seen it at all or knew about the controversy. After I made them open it up they all agreed it looked bad. I told them to make sure people who come in to get one saw one opened (they don't usually disply the 1/18 stuff as it is too big). Hopefully, they'll follow my suggestion. The owner wasn't in today I was going to see if he knew of this controversy at all.

mountian-man · Post by **mountian-man** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:52 pm

"NAVY" is on both sides!

STARMAN 352 · Post by **STARMAN 352** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:54 pm

I got my lighted version today and the spots are not as heavy but still there and the Navy is on both sides.
JP

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:55 pm

after a quick count and multiplication i estimate there are around 500 spots on each Tomcat. That's a lot of work removing one at a time.

Otherwise the model is gorgeous. What a crying shame this is.

stv9000 · Post by **stv9000** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:57 pm

The easy liftoff will remove the paint a layer at a time. It works so slow it may become frustrating. It also removes decales so be carefull. I would keep it away from any decaled area because the paint (spot) is under it.
If anyone does 1:18 decals, now the time for some f14 markings. I don't
have one so correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like it's molded in the base color (light goast grey).

diegomenendez · Post by **diegomenendez** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:25 pm

Thanks for posting the photos of the Standard Version

I'll be happy with that, glad they aren't as dark as the special edition ones, I can live with the Standard Edition

thetatau87 · Post by **thetatau87** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:30 pm

I was holding out to see pictures of the actual production version of the non-special edition, but now that I've seen them I'm canceling my pre-order. No way am I paying $210 for paint that bad. Paying an additional $100 to "fix" it is crazy to me. The fixed version doesn't even look that good. TKO did the best he could, but there is no good way to fix such a messed up paing job with out it looking touched up.

I'm going to roll the dice and wait for the next run from JSI. My bet is that they have too much invested in the development and molds for this aircraft to stop at one paint scheme. S1 of this plane will forever be remembered, and not in a good way. I'll wait for S2

I'm sure with all the complaints JSI will not let a 2nd version of the spotcat get out the door and their future releases will have much improved or no weathering at all.

*** If anyone wants to buy my pre-order from Aikens Airplanes and get the free shipping. I will sell it to you and have it shipped directly to you from Aikens for what they charge me. I have not canceled it yet.

SierraMikeBravo · Post by **SierraMikeBravo** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:57 pm

Hi all! I got my SE version of the tomcat today. I have to say, the model "looks" very nice regarding sight lines...but that is where it ends. This bird is one of the most fragile things I have ever laid my hands on. First off, my lights didn't work, and I found that the battery compartment had two loose wires, so I had to spend 2 hours fixing that, one side winder doesn't stay on very well, the landing gear is incredibly fragile, and it just feels like if you handle it at all, something is gonna break. Definitely not even remotely as durable as the F18 or F16 from BBI. I am so scared that something is gonna break, not sure if I want to send it off to be repainted. There was also a broken piece in there that I never did find out what it went to. Some parts don't seem like they were seated properly either...and make sure you keep any fingers away from the jet intakes...they'll cave on you if you put any weight whatsoever on them. Bottom line, the sight lines look great, but for an overall grade, I will have to be harsh and give it a C- (D for build quality and B for appearance...would have gotten an A for appearance except for the crummy paint job). If you are a die hard Tomcat fan like me, grab it...if not, sit this one out. Just my thoughts and observations.

Stug45 · Post by **Stug45** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:27 pm

SierraMikeBravo wrote:Hi all! I got my SE version of the tomcat today. I have to say, the model "looks" very nice regarding sight lines...but that is where it ends. This bird is one of the most fragile things I have ever laid my hands on. First off, my lights didn't work, and I found that the battery compartment had two loose wires, so I had to spend 2 hours fixing that, one side winder doesn't stay on very well, the landing gear is incredibly fragile, and it just feels like if you handle it at all, something is gonna break. Definitely not even remotely as durable as the F18 or F16 from BBI. I am so scared that something is gonna break, not sure if I want to send it off to be repainted. There was also a broken piece in there that I never did find out what it went to. Some parts don't seem like they were seated properly either...and make sure you keep any fingers away from the jet intakes...they'll cave on you if you put any weight whatsoever on them. Bottom line, the sight lines look great, but for an overall grade, I will have to be harsh and give it a C- (D for build quality and B for appearance...would have gotten an A for appearance except for the crummy paint job). If you are a die hard Tomcat fan like me, grab it...if not, sit this one out. Just my thoughts and observations.

The funny thing is i keep hearing ppl say its just a TOY, i want to some kid play with it

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:38 pm

i think the light ghost grey is paint, no molded plastic. Acetone was used as a spot remover and some of the light grey was disolving too. It would be great if the base colour was molded plastic; would make spot removal much easier.

Post by **p51** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:40 pm

Please see the PRO and CON threads for the Tomcat Discussion.

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:53 pm

i've unlocked and re-stickyed this thread because there really needs to be a thread for general discussion, questions etc, otherwise they'll be new threads popping up all over the place with people asking how to work the u/c, where batteries go etc.

But keep this one for general questions and finds, discussion etc. from now on. Pros/cons go in the appropriate other stickys.

Coreyeagle48 · Post by **Coreyeagle48** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:34 pm

Greetings

Good to see that the Navy marking was corrected. Paint finish isn't the best but it isn't a total deal breaker either. I will keep mine coming for now and probably get it.

Thanks to PCoughran for actually posting the first authentic photos of this. The standard version is surely better than the lighted versions I've seen. Just wonder if the really spotty ones were turned into the special edition ones?

Just a thought!

snake · Post by **snake** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:22 pm

Well after much thought,and some emails between a couple of retailers,and TKO,I have decided to cancel my pre order of this F-14.

Zach has done a wonderful job,and a great service,but even his excellent repaint still has a couple of small issues that he can do nothing about.
Some small dark patches under the decals.

For $230,plus at LEAST another $100+ to fix,I am not satisfied with the plane.

JSI has really dropped th ball on this "BIG TIME"
If they do another run of the F-14,I would be interested,
But I will never pre order from JSI again.

And that goes for the much wanted F-15,and Su27.

diegomenendez · Post by **diegomenendez** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:17 pm

I went ahead and auto corrected pcoughran's photos, and it looks a little better. As long as mine isn't as dark as Lighted Version, I'll be happy.

As for it being flimsy, well that's a bummer, but in all honesty, it will be stationary, so I'm not too worried about that.

What I am worried about is getting the canopy to stay open, and the launch bar in the up position.

If anyone can attest to these issues, please let me know, there is just no way the canopy doesn't stay open, there has got to be a detent or something.

Regards, Diego

Jwcarpenter · Post by **Jwcarpenter** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:27 pm

There is a small white bar that holds the canopy up. If you gently hold up the canopy and push the white bar toward the bottom of it and toward the back of the plane you will feel it rest on a ledge and the canopy will stay open. gently push the bar forward at the bottom and the canopy will close.

diegomenendez · Post by **diegomenendez** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:32 pm

Good to hear! Thank you so much!

NWarty · Post by **NWarty** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:31 am

Just got my UPS shipping notice from MTS. Spotcat is due on the doorstep on the 18th here.

gouchy · Post by **gouchy** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:06 am

I would like to know from you guys who have the cat in hand,

Can the cat be disassembled easily and re-packed in the excellent packaging box?

diegomenendez · Post by **diegomenendez** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:46 am

I'd like to know as well, as I'm at home right now, but will be going to home home after the holidays

Small Scale Military Headquarters

POST ALL JSE F-14 QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION HERE

The Canopy does stay open