Tamiya Announces 1/48 F-14B Tomcat with Shipboard Towing Tractor (#61129) & Border Model’s Surprise 1/35 Leopard 2A8 (#BN-006)

Hot on the heels of our coverage from the All Japan Model & Hobby Show 2026, two blockbuster announcements have just shaken up the quarter-scale aviation and 1/35 modern armor communities. Leading the charge is Tamiya’s 1/48 U.S. Navy F-14B Tomcat with Shipboard Towing Tractor (#61129)—giving builders the long-awaited General Electric F110-powered “Bombcat” paired with a carrier flight deck tractor and five deck crew figures in a single box. Simultaneously, Border Model has thrown down the gauntlet in the modern NATO armor arena by unveiling a brand-new 100% new-tool 1/35 German Leopard 2A8 Main Battle Tank (#BN-006) alongside an upgraded 1/35 M1A2 SEP v2/v3 Abrams TUSK II (#BN-005).

For modelers who just read our technical deep-dive on the Leopard 2A8 vs Leopard 2A7V Trophy APS Guide or compared GE F110 engine nozzles in our F-16V Block 70 vs Block 52+ Scale Model Guide, here is everything you need to know about what is inside these newly announced boxes, how they compare to existing kits, and how to prep your workbench.

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Late October / Q4 2026 Breaking Kit Announcements Matrix

Inside Tamiya #61129: Why the 1/48 F-14B Tomcat & Deck Tractor Is a Game-Changer

For years, quarter-scale Tomcat fans building Tamiya’s benchmark 1/48 F-14A (#61114) and F-14D (#61118) had to buy aftermarket resin conversion sets from Reskit or Phase Hangar if they wanted to build an F-14B (originally designated F-14A+). The F-14B was the workhorse of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, and Operation Enduring Freedom—combining the brute thrust of the General Electric F110-GE-400 turbofans ( eliminating the compressor stall issues of the F-14A’s TF30 engines) with the GRU-7A ejection seats, squared carbon-composite engine shrouds, and the single AN/AXX-1 Television Camera Set (TCS) chin pod.

With Kit #61129, Tamiya doesn’t just give us the F-14B airframe upgrades—they turn the box into an instant U.S. Navy aircraft carrier diorama by including:

1. GE F110-GE-400 Engine Fairings & Nozzles: Slide-molded open and closed exhaust petals paired with the distinctive squared-off aft engine nacelle shrouds and ECM blisters on the boat-tail and intake lips.

2. Precision Strike “Bombcat” Loadout: Includes the AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN targeting pod on the right shoulder pylon, BOL chaff/flare dispenser rails, and laser-guided GBU-12 / GBU-16 Paveway II and GBU-31 JDAM ordnance.

3. 1/48 Shipboard Towing Tractor & 5 Flight Deck Crew: Features a sharp injection-molded carrier deck mule, nose-gear tow bar, wheel chocks, and five multi-pose deck handlers (” Blue Shirts”, “Yellow Shirts”, and plane captain in the cockpit) ready for zenithal and acrylic figure painting.

Border Model #BN-006: A New Rival in the 1/35 Leopard 2A8 Arena

Just days after armor builders began comparing Amusing Hobby’s 1/35 Leopard 2A8 DEU (#35A080) against Tamiya’s 2A7V, Border Model officially announced its own 100% new-tool 1/35 German Leopard 2A8 (#BN-006). Known for packing heavy multi-media extras into its boxes (as seen in their BT-040 Leopard 2A7V), Border’s entry into the EuroTrophy APS race means modelers now have two top-tier 1/35 options for NATO’s newest main battle tank.

Alongside the Leopard 2A8, Border also unveiled the 1/35 M1A2 SEP Abrams TUSK II (#BN-005), featuring the distinctive curved “roof-tile” M32 Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks over the side skirts and turret cheeks, armored loader’s gun shields, and rear slat armor.

Top 5 Featured Kits & Direct Rivals Breakdown (Pros & Cons)

1. Tamiya 1/48 US F-14B Tomcat & Shipboard Towing Tractor (#61129) — Ultimate Carrier Deck Package

Capturing the exact moment a returning strike Tomcat is hooked up to a flight deck mule and guided into its parking spot along the carrier foul line, Tamiya’s 1/48 F-14B Tomcat (#61129) delivers the most requested Tomcat variant in Tamiya’s lineup. It accurately pairs the F-14B’s upgraded cockpit HUD/PTID screen for the RIO with the older GRU-7A ejection seats and single TCS chin pod—saving builders $50+ in resin conversion parts and separate deck vehicle kits.

✅ Pros for Scale Modelers:

• True F-14B specification (GE F110 nozzles + GRU-7A seats + PTID RIO display + single TCS chin pod)
• Includes complete 1/48 Shipboard Towing Tractor, tow bar, and 5 dynamic flight deck crew figures
• Iconic Atlantic Fleet high-visibility and low-viz Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) squadron markings

❌ Cons to Consider:

• Engineered around the parked/overswept wing configuration rather than dropped slats/flaps
• Five deck crew figures and tractor require dedicated figure painting time alongside the jet

Check Pre-Order & Price on Amazon →

2. Border Model 1/35 German Leopard 2A8 (#BN-006) — The New Multi-Media Challenger

Entering direct competition with Amusing Hobby, Border Model’s 1/35 Leopard 2A8 (#BN-006) leverages Border’s expertise from their acclaimed Leopard 2A7V (#BT-040) to deliver crisp anti-slip armor textures, photo-etched engine deck screens, and multi-media barrel/basket enhancements around the four Elta WindGuard AESA radar panels and rotating Trophy countermeasure launchers.

✅ Pros for Scale Modelers:

• Crisp molding of the reinforced top-attack turret roof, SEOSS-2 optics, and EuroTrophy pods
• Expected to include Border’s signature turned metal 120mm L/55A1 barrel and photo-etch frets
• Workable Diehl 570P0 tracks and articulated torsion bar suspension

❌ Cons to Consider:

• High part count on the Trophy APS brackets and workable tracks requires careful dry-fitting
• Builders who want to start a 2A8 today will find Amusing Hobby (#35A080) already in stock

Check Availability on Amazon →

3. Border Model 1/35 M1A2 SEP Abrams TUSK II (#BN-005) — Heavy Urban Armor Showstopper

Revealed in the same October wave as the Leopard 2A8, Border Model’s 1/35 M1A2 SEP Abrams TUSK II (#BN-005) captures the ultimate Tank Urban Survival Kit configuration. With dozens of curved M32 reactive armor tiles stacked along the hull skirts and turret sides, transparent armored ballistic glass shields for the commander and loader, and a barrel-mounted coaxial .50 cal M2HB, it is a weathering paradise for desert or NATO Woodland builders.

✅ Pros for Scale Modelers:

• Layered TUSK I + curved TUSK II reactive armor tiles create incredible shadow depth for washes
• Includes clear ballistic shields, rear turbine slat armor, and infantry telephone box details
• Pairs perfectly on a display shelf next to a modern 1/35 Leopard 2A8 or M2A4 Bradley IFV

❌ Cons to Consider:

• Wait to glue the outer curved TUSK II tiles until after painting the underlying TUSK I blocks!
• Clear ballistic glass windows must be masked on both sides before airbrushing

Check Availability on Amazon →

4. Tamiya 1/48 Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat (#61118) — Best Available Variable-Sweep Tomcat

If you want to build a GE F110-powered Tomcat right now with functional variable-sweep wings and interchangeable wing-glove sealing bags, Tamiya’s 1/48 F-14D Super Tomcat (#61118) is readily available today. Representing the final evolution of the Tomcat (featuring the dual-lens AN/AAS-42 IRST + TCS chin pod and NACES Martin-Baker SJU-17 ejection seats), it remains one of the highest-rated 1/48 jet kits ever engineered.

✅ Pros for Scale Modelers:

• Synchronized metal-screw main wing spar lets you sweep the wings from 20° to 68° oversweep
• Includes fourVF-2 “Bounty Hunters”, VF-213, VF-11, and VF-31 “Tomcatters” decal schemes
• Can be paired with our featured Double Excellent Models VF-31 “Tomcatters” Decal Set

❌ Cons to Consider:

• Does not include the Shipboard Towing Tractor (available separately or inside the new #61129)
• Wings do not feature dropped slats/flaps (for catapult stance, check Tamiya #61122 Late F-14A)

Check Latest Price on Amazon →

5. Amusing Hobby 1/35 Leopard 2A8 DEU (#35A080) — Available Today on the Workbench

How will Border Model’s upcoming #BN-006 stack up against the reigning champion? As we analyzed in our Amusing Hobby 1/35 Leopard 2A8 DEU (#35A080) Preview, Amusing Hobby beat everyone to the punch with workable torsion bars, crisp EuroTrophy radar housings, and production Bundeswehr hull details that you can put on your bench tonight.

✅ Pros for Scale Modelers:

• In stock right now with full Bundeswehr production specification sprues
• Clean styrene assembly around the 4x Elta radar faces and upper turret blast shields
• Articulated suspension makes it ideal for rough training-ground dioramas

❌ Cons to Consider:

• Includes a styrene barrel (whereas Border #BN-006 is expected to bundle a turned metal barrel)
• Workable track pins must be protected from raw enamel thinner during weathering

Check Latest Price on Amazon →

Workbench Prep: Painting U.S. Navy “TPS” Salt Weathering & Flight Deck Crew

Building Tamiya’s new 1/48 F-14B Tomcat & Towing Tractor (#61129) gives you the rare opportunity to combine three advanced modeling disciplines in a single vignette:

1. Thinning U.S. Navy TPS Greys for Mottled Salt Weathering: Sea-going F-14Bs coated in FS 35237 Dark Ghost Grey, FS 36320 Compass Ghost Grey, and FS 36375 Light Ghost Grey get hammered by corrosive salt spray and hydraulic fluid leaks, creating a patchwork of dark touch-up spots. Thin your Tamiya XF or Vallejo Model Air greys using the exact 1:1.5 mottling ratios and 12–15 PSI settings in our How to Thin Vallejo, Citadel & Tamiya Paints for Airbrush (2026 Chart) to spray tight, random marbling patterns without spatter.

2. Speed-Painting the 5 Flight Deck Crew Figures: Carrier deck handlers wear brightly color-coded jerseys (Yellow for aircraft directors, Blue for tractor drivers and chock/chain handlers, Green for catapult/maintenance, and White for safety/final checkers). Since yellow and white acrylics have notoriously poor coverage over black primer, use the Liquitex Titanium White Ink Zenithal / Hybrid technique from our Slapchop vs Zenithal Highlighting Guide before glazing with yellow and blue Speedpaints!

3. Safe Panel Lining on Swing-Wing Mechanisms & Tractor Parts: Both the Tomcat’s wing-sweep gear and the small towing tractor tie-rods have tight mechanical tolerances. Always apply enamel washes over a cured gloss barrier following our How to Panel Line Without Cracking Plastic Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the visual difference between an F-14A, F-14B, and F-14D Tomcat in 1/48 scale?

The F-14A uses Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines with short, convergent-divergent metallic exhaust feathers, GRU-7A ejection seats, and small cockpit CRT displays. The F-14B (Tamiya #61129) upgrades to General Electric F110-GE-400 engines (long, interlocking carbon-weave petals and squared aft nacelle fairings) and a large RIO PTID screen while retaining the older GRU-7A seats and single TCS chin pod. The F-14D (#61118) shares the GE F110 engines with the B, but upgrades to NACES SJU-17 ejection seats and a twin-lens (IRST + TCS) chin pod.

Does Tamiya’s 1/48 F-14B Tomcat (#61129) have movable swing wings or fixed wings?

Because Tamiya #61129 is designed around a parked / towing flight-deck diorama with the Shipboard Towing Tractor and 5 crew figures, it provides the overswept / variable-sweep wing configuration (similar to #61114 and #61118) rather than the fixed 20-degree dropped-flap catapult stance of the Late F-14A (#61122).

Should I buy the Amusing Hobby (#35A080) or Border Model (#BN-006) 1/35 Leopard 2A8?

If you want to start building a 1/35 Leopard 2A8 immediately with workable torsion-bar suspension, Amusing Hobby (#35A080) is in stock right now and builds cleanly out of the box. If you prefer a multi-media package that traditionally bundles a turned metal 120mm L/55A1 barrel and 3D-printed detail parts in the box, Border Model (#BN-006) is well worth pre-ordering for your stash.