For my third post on
ARC I choose to show you one of my Tomcats. I'm a great fan of this plane
(now retired) and I know I'm not alone in this case. This plane is a
Hasegawa 1/72
F14D Tomcat from the box and I added decals FTD72003 from Fightertown to
represent the last Tomcat BuNo 163904 from NAS Oceana VF-31 TOMCATTERS. This
plane was one of two Tomcats that had been chosen to make the ceremonial last flight
for the US Navy, it was in low visibility camouflage, the other was in full color
markings. I represented the plane shortly after Sunset ceremonies September 29
2006 when it landed for the last time at NAS North Island. Just after it was
transported to its final home in the Hawaiian Air Museum (It would be an
interesting
trip wouldn't it?)
Click on
images below to see larger images
The Hasegawa kit is
complete, all the F-14 D model details are represented (double chin
pod under the nose, General Electric F110 engines, NACA inlets near the
gun, ejection seats Martin Baker SJU-17 NACES). I choose to show the plane
with no external tanks and missiles/bombs as it was at the end of its
career. The camouflage is the standard low visibilty 3 colors Upper side Grey
Blue FS35237 Gunze H337, noise and vertical stabilators Grey FS36320 Gunze
H307, Lower side Grey FS36375 Mr Color H308. I did a little weathering to the
panel lines and structure lines. Decals from Fightertown are
nice, I like a lot the Tomcat badge US NAVY'S LAST FIGHTER in two parts to
avoid mis-printing.
I hope you like my
model, for me I never forgot this plane it has a specific place in my mind.
Perhaps because it was the star of a famous movie, but also one the best
interceptor ever built with the couple of its radar/phoenix missiles able to
track a lot of adversaries at the same time and at a maximum range. My only
regret is not to have the opportunity to see a real one in the sky (I have perhaps
one chance in Iran, some apparently continue to fly, not easy but it is a
dream).
ANYTIME BABY.
Jean-Charles
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