Small Scale Military Headquarters

for $200 the u/c better not sag.

I certainly hope they don't use unreinforced clear plastic landing gear. clear plastic should never be used on anything load-bearing, especially a 200$ 1:18 jet.

I really begin to wonder if the schock absorber are working ?

This is one of my biggest problem with the P51 (extended) or the F 18 (compressed)

This could explain the bent wheel on the picture ... but maybe this is pending troubles because of the expected weight

hope they will sort it out.

I will be their fisrt customer !!!!!!!

Philippe

I you look carefully, you will see some pieces "inside" the clear part ... it's strange and i hope it's some shock abosrbers ...

Acrylic?

Excellent pics, can't wait! Notice the Boyington Corsair in the background, I hope that's how the prod version looks, even though this scheme was for promo touring in the states I like the faded and weathered look of it.

VMF214:

I have a question about Boyington's "Lulubelle"---I've read it was a Corsair that was painted up for a PR photo session, but my impression was that "Lulubelle" was one of the Blacksheep Squadron's Corsairs painted up to look like Boyington's personal Corsair (Black sheep pilots didn't have assigned Corsairs--they flew whatever was available). In other words, "Lulubelle" was a Blacksheep Corsair that saw combat, but it wasn't Boyington's personal Corsair. Can you confirm that "Lulubelle" actually saw combat?---or was it strictly a non-combat Corsair used for PR in the USA?

dragon53 my understanding is that Boyington flew many differant corsairs and that Lulubelle was just one of the f4u's the black sheep had in their inventory. You are correct in that no plane was assigned to any one pilot. I've even read that Boyington may have never flown that particular plane. There is also some debate as to the actual name of that plane some say it's Lucybelle, and some say Lulubelle.

It was a PR shot so your guess would be as good as anyone elses as to the authenticity of the info that was originally provided with the photo.

KILLERF6:

Thanks for the info. I was more concerned if "Lulubelle" was actually part of Blacksheep Squadron (I think it was) as opposed to a Corsair that never left the US and was used for PR. My impression was the PR photo was taken on Guadalcanal (as opposed to the US) so there's a chance Boyington may have flown it on combat missions a few times along with the other Corsairs in the squadron.

JSI F-14--$250?

Badcat's blog predicts the JSI F-14 will sell for $250 or more:

"JSI, once the contracted manufacturing muscle of 21st Century Toys, has plans to produce and F-14 in whopping 1:18 scale. Last Saturday at the Weekend of Heroes Trade Show, JSI and their USA distributor, Merit International, had a test shot ready for all to see. The 1:18 F-14 was a little banged-up in transit as evidenced by the collapsing mains but was impressive just the same. It will definitely be the largest 1:18 model ever produced and plans are for a late 2009 release date.

We expect to receive more pictures soon and hopefully we'll get to know this Tomcat a little better. The leading candidate for paint schemes is the Jolly Roger although nothing has been 100% decided at this point. Price has not yet been announced but I'd anticipate nothing less than $250 bucks or so for an aircraft this large and expensive to produce."

I think he means that BadCat anticipates that THEY won't sell it for less than $250.00.


Yeah, I know. I'm a bad, bad man...



Jeffrey
(bad)

GRILLEDCHEESE:

I sure hope you're right....it's taken me a long time just to get used to the sticker shock of $200.

More close up pictuers of the U/C



http://www.merit-intl.com/month/jsi-f14.htm

Thanks for the pictures, she looks great! What pilot figure is that in front of the F-14 model?

I bet its a bbi F-18 pilot

Looks like the nose gear may steer, that is cool.

dragon53 wrote:VMF214:

I have a question about Boyington's "Lulubelle"---I've read it was a Corsair that was painted up for a PR photo session, but my impression was that "Lulubelle" was one of the Blacksheep Squadron's Corsairs painted up to look like Boyington's personal Corsair (Black sheep pilots didn't have assigned Corsairs--they flew whatever was available). In other words, "Lulubelle" was a Blacksheep Corsair that saw combat, but it wasn't Boyington's personal Corsair. Can you confirm that "Lulubelle" actually saw combat?---or was it strictly a non-combat Corsair used for PR in the USA?

dragon, below is the best place to sum up what would otherwise be found in several diff books:

http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_boyington3.html

Boyington was quoted as calling the plane both names, LUCYbelle and LULUbelle so in all actuality thanks to a technicality from the man himself, both are correct. This site has an excellent closeup of the name, however, the groundcrewman's arm is smack dab in the middle of Lu**belle... The original 86 was a front line bird, it was the 86 bird that Kawato claimed to have shot down with pappy at the stick, a claim that he based his book on , a claim that survived for decades till his own govt proved he was a fraud.

I would just like a dirty 86 as we already have a clean one.

Back to the Tomcat, the additional pics look sweet, great info.

[quote="Grilledcheese"]I think he means that BadCat anticipates that THEY won't sell it for less than $250.00.


Yeah, I know. I'm a bad, bad man...



Jeffrey
(bad)[/quote


so if we ad shipping and handling it will be 300... i hope not....sticker shock at 300...

if the su were 250.. i still go for her she will be worth every penny...she will be the largest plane made to date and i just collect for the sake that no one will ever make it again..

300 total on her will be the top for the su 27 that i can justify paying for on my budget..

From these newest pics of the F-14 it appears that inside the landing gear struts are metal inserts. That may explain why the front wheel appears to steer. I think it was intentional to use clear plastic to emphasize and prove metal is inside the struts.

If this is true, this will be fantastic!

VMF214:

Thanks for the info---I'm thinking of buying the JSI Corsair--but not if it was a PR Corsair--which appears to be the case. I already have the BBI Borsair. Maybe I'll save my money for the F-14.

Regarding the JSI F-14 and pilot, maybe it's significant that the pilot is showbn outside the F-14 to show how big the model is---and maybe to imply the pilots are optional and not included with the F-14. If it's true the F-14 price s $250---the pilots should be included and not as options. But, as usual, there will be someone who says he will gladly pay $300 for an F-14 and another $30 for optional pilots---so a $250 F-14 with optional pilots is a bargain to him.

duplicate post

I don't care about the pilots, just bring on that big Tomcat!

Militarytoyshop has updated the JSI F-14 price to an estimated $200--$230 plus shipping.

They need to come with pilots, they have the ways and means to produce pilots, this will be the most expensive out of the gate 1/18 plane to date, it needs pilots! Just my 2 cents.