1:72 F-14D Tomcat antennas - Tamiya

Quickboost F-14D Tomcat – antennas (1:72, for Tamiya kits)

This item is a detail accessory (aftermarket set) from Quickboost, the accessory range of the Czech company Aires. It contains replacement antennas for the 1:72 kit of the F-14D Tomcat fighter from the manufacturer Tamiya. It is neither an aircraft model nor a kit – the kit has to be bought separately and is not included in the package.

Why replace the antennas from the box

The F-14D was the most advanced version of the Tomcat and carried a row of small antennas of communication and identification systems on the fuselage. In 1:72 scale these are miniature elements, however, and injection-molded plastic has its technological limits: the antennas tend to be thicker than they should be, they have rounded edges and the mold parting line is often visible on them. Yet these are exactly the small things that catch the eye at once on a finished model – they are sharp, thin silhouettes against the sky. The replacement parts in this set are finer and crisper, so the model looks more faithful without any rebuilding. It is a typical accessory of the small intervention, big effect kind.

Use and handling

• Remove the original antennas from the kit and level the surface by sanding.
• Separate the new parts carefully from the casting blocks – thin antennas break easily, so use a fine saw.
• Sand wet and with respiratory protection.
• Wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water before gluing and painting.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) and apply only a minimal amount – on tiny parts excess glue floods the detail.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the F-14D Tomcat in 1:72 scale and want to take the surface detail of the fuselage as far as it goes. Suitable for anyone who dares to do fine work; fitting requires no change to the structure of the model.

This is a detail set, not a model. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.