Picked this one up for $15 on the 'bay in 2006, when it was going for $40 in the shops. And I
think I got a good deal, but I would have been really irked if I paid full price. I'm not as into
jets as I am into props, so I'm not as well-versed when it comes to talking accuracy of the
various versions. So I'll leave that up to the rivet counters on this one. I just wanted a nice
representation of one of the coolest warplanes to ever fly, and the Dragon suffices. That
said, it's one of the most "fiddly" Dragon's ever, and that's really saying something. There
are loads of small parts to mess with, if you want to display it "parked" particularly. The
model is very heavy due to high metal content, which is great -- but the flimsy plastic gear
bends precariously under the weight! There's no pitot in the nose, as there should be, and
the sweeping wings feel really, really flimsy, as in don't play with them much!
I didn't bust out the canned air before this shoot as I want to show you just how quickly a
black finished model picks up dust -- this one was only on display a couple of days in my
office and look at it! (You were warned, these liveries are best kept under glass....). For the
price I like this one, and it's being heavily discounted now pretty often and is worth a look.
F-14 purists may want to consider Witty and FOV's versions of the Tomcat, and Century
Wings has a new Tomcat coming out in early 2007 that is getting lots of buzz, too (though it
will run $60). Mildly recommended.
think I got a good deal, but I would have been really irked if I paid full price. I'm not as into
jets as I am into props, so I'm not as well-versed when it comes to talking accuracy of the
various versions. So I'll leave that up to the rivet counters on this one. I just wanted a nice
representation of one of the coolest warplanes to ever fly, and the Dragon suffices. That
said, it's one of the most "fiddly" Dragon's ever, and that's really saying something. There
are loads of small parts to mess with, if you want to display it "parked" particularly. The
model is very heavy due to high metal content, which is great -- but the flimsy plastic gear
bends precariously under the weight! There's no pitot in the nose, as there should be, and
the sweeping wings feel really, really flimsy, as in don't play with them much!
I didn't bust out the canned air before this shoot as I want to show you just how quickly a
black finished model picks up dust -- this one was only on display a couple of days in my
office and look at it! (You were warned, these liveries are best kept under glass....). For the
price I like this one, and it's being heavily discounted now pretty often and is worth a look.
F-14 purists may want to consider Witty and FOV's versions of the Tomcat, and Century
Wings has a new Tomcat coming out in early 2007 that is getting lots of buzz, too (though it
will run $60). Mildly recommended.
| Score: 2.75 (out of 5) Collectibility: Low Price (MSRP): $40 Production Run: Unlimited Catalog Number: 50185 Released: 2006 |
Dragon Models 1:72
#50185 F-14D Tomcat, USN VX-9 Vampires, NAS Point Mugu, CA
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