Profile image

Tig's Grumman F-14A Tomcat V4.0

2,267 CallsignTig  1.1 years ago
Auto Credit Based on CallsignTig's Tig's Grumman F-14A Tomcat


A Tomcat of VF-31 "Simplers" lines up an approach on USS Beast in the early morning

"ANYTIME, BABY!" -F-14 Tomcat crew slogan

I know y'all are probably tired of me posting so many Tomcat iterations, but I just keep finding things to improve and rework! However, I will now shift to a numerical version system to clarify things a little bit.

You guessed it, this is yet another iteration of my Tomcat design!

This is my masterpiece, a real product of love. I love the F-14 to death and wanted to bring it to SimplePlanes, because I have problems running DCS but still wanted to live out my dreams of flying Tomcats.
I built this for myself, but as I saw it coming together, I knew I had to share this with the community, because it's just too good. I made this with a pure focus on realism and accuracy, while doing my best to minimize the parts count and performance cost. You will not find a Tomcat this complete and accurate for this kind of relatively low parts count, I can practically guarantee it.
I hope you enjoy it, fly high into the Danger Zone!


MAJOR UPDATES!


Tig spools up the afterburners to Zone V for the cat launch

-CUSTOM AFTERBURNERS! I lifted the afterburner assembly from plane634’s “F-16C Block 52” and modified it until it looked right in the Tomcat. Somewhere in translation it lost the beautiful shock diamonds, so I might look into reworking that at a future date. Definitely looks wayyy better than SimplePlanes’ stock afterburners!

-IT'S SYMMETRICAL NOW!! I don't know how many people noticed, but the original tail section was not even symmetrical! It also bent upward slightly, and generally looked terrible. I fixed all of that, so now it's a truly symmetrical bird, and I got rid of the upwards bend and smoothed out all the components to make a much better looking tail section. Makes it much easier to make modifications in the tail area and also slightly improves flight performance and predictability.


Tomcat assigned to USS Beast's Air Wing stands on alert 5

-COMPLETE FLIGHT CONTROL REWORK! The original control system I had used airbrakes on the wings as spoilers and simple funky commands for the rear surfaces. This posed a few problems, notably- the spoilers didn't actually help roll, they only killed speed and made a little bit of yaw, and if you moved the controls a certain way, the rear control surfaces would snap off entirely due to conflicting connections. Additionally, there were bad dead zones in high pitch up and high roll control positions (bottom left and right stick). Plus it just couldn't MOVE like a Tomcat, it was always too fast and could never get the tight, energy bleeding turns the Tomcat was so good at.

Flight Control Fixes: I made custom spoilers using just small structural wings hinged by rotators, activation group is still 4. They actually cause roll now! (Plus a little bit of yaw for realism, after I reviewed the Tomcat's NATOPS.
For the rear controls, I removed the daisy chained rotators and went to one per surface, with a funky input expression modified from the Wasp's excellent flight control system. You now get much better pitch and roll control at all speeds, which means you can make really nice tight turns at low speeds, but also not have a twitchy rocket at supersonic speeds! It should be a good match for what I call the "hyper-realism" planes some have made for SimplePlanes.


Going into the Merge with a TOPGUN A-4E Mongoose over Wright Isles


CHANGELOG (Last updated 5 November 2023):

-Added custom afterburners
-Adjusted wing hardpoints to reflect proper dimensions
-Repositioned external drop tanks
-Moved chaff/flare dispensers to actual location
-Fixed uneven wheel positioning on landing gear
-Adjusted AIM-7M Sparrow positioning, now is attached to pylon correctly oriented
-Tweaked speedbrake, now has proper 120 degree angle, as in real Tomcats
-Repainted/streamlined AIM-54 Phoenix pylons
-Added realistic weight to the rear control surfaces
-Disabled all missile impact cams
-Fixed symmetry
-Completely reworked flight controls
-Rescaled Phoenix missile componentry, creating a much more realistic smoke trail that's more visible
-Removed errant paint on AIM-7M Sparrows that had emission
-Reworked nose camera assembly from dual pod to single pod, reflecting the F-14A variant properly now, instead of the F-14D's double pod.
-Reworked Vulcan 20mm gun tracer color and housing
-Added proper afterburner delay
-Moved catapult link location to better reflect real Tomcat (still missing an actuated link, but works more realistically now)
-Refueling probe added (Activation Group 7)
-Adjusted fuel load to accurately reflect distribution and capacity of real F-14A
-After looking at a Tomcat in person, I scaled up the tailhook, so now it's to scale, as the original version was much thinner than reality
-Removed the useless spinning instruments on the pilot's upper console and replaced them with actual gauges in case you don't want the HUD instruments
-Smoothed and shined nose camera lens and Sidewinder seeker heads to the maximum


Into the Merge. Great balls of fire!


OVERVIEW:
This is my rendition of the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, and it is in my humble opinion, the best version on SimplePlanes!
I have frequently been frustrated in my search to find a well-built, realistic, and well-performing Tomcat in SimplePlanes, so I went ahead and built one the way I wanted! It has pretty realistic maneuverability and speed, but it can also stand toe to toe with a lot of the relatively "overpowered" SimplePlanes designs.
(AnIndonesianGuy, if you ever see this, your Tomcat was a fantastic starting point! I hope you like what I've done with it!)

Modifications done by me are extensive, to summarize:
-Added roll spoilers
-XML modded the engines, changing from AG4-controlled afterburner to a purely throttle based afterburner
-Speaking of afterburner, modified the color and shape to be more realistic
-Fully furnished the cockpit, including G-force camera, HUD readout, and a furnished RIO cockpit with a radar scope
-Added replica missiles/gun (which all work REALLY well by the way!)
-Added countermeasures
-Added trim inputs
-Reworked the flight model via Overload to make it much more realistic


Tig launches an AIM-54 Phoenix during a live-fire test at Wright Isles


Splash!

Mukola's AIM-54 Phoenixes fire true to life! I have yet to see one miss. This 'Cat's BVR capabilities are insane, and start praying if you merge with it! Cockpit is fully furnished as accurately as I could figure out how.



Another day in the office...

Craft Instructions are complete and included.
I intentionally left it largely undecorated as far as markings/paintjob goes, that way YOU can decorate it in the livery YOU want.

DISCLAIMER: The main airframe design credit goes to AnIndonesianGuy's "Grumman F-14 Tomcat", and I pulled in a lot of other parts and designs:
-M61 Vulcan 20mm: “[F-22] Raptor” by The CommentaryGuy
-Front Cockpit & G-Camera: “Grumman F-14 Tomcat” by Deeznutz1234
-AIM-9M Sidewinder: “AIM-9 Sidewinder Evolution” by Cutters127
-AIM-54 Phoenix: “AIM-54 Phoenix" by Mukola
-AIM-7M Sparrow: “AIM-7 Sparrow Air-To-Air missile” by JohnLewis
-Afterburner Assembly: “F-16C Block 52” by plane634
-Decals and radar scope: "Grumman F-14A Tomcat" by Robomo119E

Below is a copy of the Craft Instructions.


GRUMMAN F-14A "TOMCAT" NATOPS
Published 4 Nov 2023
THIS EDITION SUPERSEDES PREVIOUS EDITIONS

AG1: Tailhook
AG2: Glove Vanes
AG3: Speedbrake
AG4: Activate Roll Spoilers (Off by default)
AG5: Drop Tanks
AG6: Jettison ALL missiles
AG7: Fuel Probe
AG8:

VTOL > 1: Wing Sweep
VTOL < 1: Flaps/Leading Edge Slats
Trim: Trim

Throttle:
0-95% Dry Thrust
95-100% Afterburner

Specifications

Armament: 1xM61 Vulcan 20mm, 2xAIM-9M Sidewinder, 2xAIM-7M Sparrow,             
4xAIM-54 Phoenix
AIM-9M Max Range: 3 miles
AIM-7M Min Range: 0.6 miles
AIM-54 Min Range: 2.2 miles

Countermeasures: 2x100 Chaff, 2x100 Flares
Misc Features: G-force camera, Lead-Computing Gunsight, Nose-Mounted
Television Camera

Maximum speed at sea level ~820 MPH IAS

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Predecessor Tig's Grumman F-14A Tomcat
  • Successors 1 airplane(s) +14 bonus
  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 63.5ft (19.3m)
  • Length 62.9ft (19.2m)
  • Height 17.2ft (5.2m)
  • Empty Weight 22,487lbs (10,200kg)
  • Loaded Weight 42,351lbs (19,210kg)

Performance

  • Power/Weight Ratio 3.186
  • Wing Loading 55.6lbs/ft2 (271.7kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 761.2ft2 (70.7m2)
  • Drag Points 13114

Parts

  • Number of Parts 711
  • Control Surfaces 2
  • Performance Cost 3,014
  • Log in to leave a comment
  • Profile image
    46.0k ShinyGemsBro

    HIIIIIIIIIGHWAAAY TOOOOOOOO THEEEEE DANGER ZONE.

    GONNA TAKE IT RIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT IIIIIIIIIINTOOOOOOOO THEEEEEE DANGER ZONE.

    Pinned 11 months ago
  • Profile image
    240k MAPA

    Top Gun Moment

    Pinned 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image

    Very nice as always

    4 months ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @IQinventory Stay tuned then! a highly upgraded version is due for release in the next couple weeks!

    +1 8 months ago
  • Profile image
    37.2k IQinventory

    goos god. this is awsome

    +1 8 months ago
  • Profile image

    Nice build, thank you :)

    11 months ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @32 Thanks for the recommendation!

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    30.0k 32

    If you want a game where you can fly F-14s, I recommend Ace Combat 7 with the Top Gun Maverick DLC. It is quite expensive to get it (it's like $70) but it does go on sale on Steam pretty often for about $10-20 USD. The aircraft performance is very unrealistic, but in a fun, arcadey way, not in a janky way.

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @Robomo119E
    https://i.ibb.co/4ZRBWZJ/F-14-Tomcat-USSHM-starboard-side-1-2652618052.jpg
    Found a great close up of the mounting system!

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @Robomo119E I had them set up like that before, but upon reviewing Tomcat photos, there's a slot for the missile fins to stay inside the pylon, so they're oriented in a plus sign style, as opposed to an X style.
    Definitely shoot me any questions or ideas, I'd love to help out on your build! Also check my posts, I made a forum post specifically for Tomcat information and ideas! 👍

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image

    Also quick side note the Aim-7s are slanted so that way they aren't going into the pylon

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image

    @CallsignTig well its nice to find the F-14A i made actually did something. Also your welcome to use anything from my F-14D and I might need your help with my F-14A Remastered

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @Robomo119E Thanks!!! You know your F-14A Tomcat was one of the first planes I downloaded for SP. The decals on this bird are off of yours, and for awhile I used your roll spoilers! I tried to find your Tomcat to give credit in my bird's descriptions, but couldn't. I'll add credits to you for the decals :)

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image

    Bros only bronze and did better then me BRUH 💀💀💀 But seriously good work

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @ToeTips will do!

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @Carsonkiddy2 Really glad to hear it!!!

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image

    Even better then the last one, it handles well, and I was able to beat Commentary Guy's F-22

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @L1nus Well sorry you don't like it, but from the research I've done and flying the Tomcat in other sims, as well as reviewing live and simulated Tomcat footage, the maneuverability is pretty well analogous to the real Cat, it wasn't exactly an F-16 at low speeds. Plus SP's lack of stall mechanics complicate it.
    Regarding the rear engine trunks, I am aware, it's one of the things that would take a lot of parts and add a lot of complexity to remedy, which would then put it out of reach of many SP users.

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    114k L1nus

    @CallsignTig yours obviously

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @L1nus Your build or mine?

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    114k L1nus

    @CallsignTig it handles really bad, can't get any angle of attack at lower speeds. also the rear of the tomcat is not completely flat btw

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @L1nus My goodness that is a really nice looking Cat! I would like to clarify that I don't claim this to be the most realistic or best LOOKING, I just think that it's the best representation in SimplePlanes, balancing pretty decent accuracy, ease of flying, and good capabilities in the SimplePlanes physics engine

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    2,267 CallsignTig

    @L1nus Depends how you define it, but in the common sense, no this isn't mine.
    it's a heavily modified and upgraded variant of AnIndonesianGuy's Tomcat. The original build gave the auto credit to him, but for some reason it now credits it to me and my previous iterations, possibly because it now has over twice the part count of his plane and is so much more developed.
    I'm not shy to admit it though, I made sure to include credits for all the parts I used from other people in all my iterations!

    1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    114k L1nus

    "This is my rendition of the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, and it is in my humble opinion, the best version on SimplePlanes!" i hate to burst your bubble but check my most recent forum Post

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    114k L1nus

    @CallsignTig so this isn't even yours?

    +1 1.1 years ago
  • Log in to see more comments