Yes, I know.  There’s no such thing as a VF-103 F-14D.   Since this is my second effort at plastic modeling, and I’ll likely only make one F-14, I wanted in a single Tomcat model that represented:

• A “D” model of the latest and greatest F-14.
• The last F-14 BuNo. ever built.
• A weathered battle-ready bird, vs. a clean museum piece.
• A high-vis paint scheme.
• A fighter jet with some history and, of course
• The skull and cross bones of the VF-103 squadron.

After doing a lot of research and viewing hundreds of photographs of the F-14, I found out that this project isn’t so inaccurate after all.  The paint scheme and decals may be for F-14B- BuNo. 163217, but the last Tomcat ever built, F-14D- BuNo. 164604, is now painted in almost the identical paint scheme as it guards the gates at NAS Oceana.  If you do enough research, you’ll find that both of these aircraft have had a multitude of different paint jobs and labeling combinations, so nothing is really “correct” anyway.  The print behind my model is from Deployment Productions in A2 size, which I used extensively for painting and decaling details.

In order to convert the Tamiya “A” kit into a “D”, I used the Black Box (VMD Studios) F-14D (Late) conversion set, which has the upgraded cockpit, seats, chin pod and burner nozzles for the F110-GE-400 engines.  Sadly there is no airframe conversion surrounding the engines in this set like the one from Teknics, so I used a little putty to get it close.

Like most who tackle the big Tamiya kit, I relied heavily on the build instructions of Masa Narita, which has to be the benchmark for the 1/32 Tamiya F-14A kit.  As per Masa’s instructions, I filled in panels that were too deep, sanded off panels that shouldn’t be there, re-scribed every panel line (what a PITA!!), added new panel lines that should be there and filled in a few that shouldn’t.  I also did the following:

• Glove Vane was eliminated (D’s don’t have them)
• Mounting ring from nozzle to engine was scratch built (one should be there and often isn’t)
• Antenna at front of wing glove was made from putty (Tamiya kit part is too large)
• Scratch built a HUD display (Tamiya and Black Box kit doesn’t supply one).
• “Flattened” the tires a few p.s.i. to show strain of weapon and fuel tank weight.
• Roughed up the surface of the bombs (fire retardant) and walkway.

 

All painting was done with Model Master enamel paints for the exterior and Tamiya acrylics for most of the cockpit interior.  The anti-skid walkway was painted as were all the rings on each weapon and I used Eduard’s photo-etched formation lights (8 in all).

As you can see, this bird is a combination of dull weathered navy fighter and air show peacock.  The general application sequence was:  Primer, Color (FS 35237, 36320, 36375 Gray and Gloss Black), Future, Decals, Future, Oil Wash, Hand Painting of some panel lines, Salt Weathering, Future and finally an application of acrylic dull coat.  Although most of the black is supposed to be glossy, I knocked it down a bit with dull coat to give it the proper shine of a slightly weathered paint job.  Conversely, I had to tone down the salt weathering a bit with another application of Future, but it’s nice to know that you can if you get a little carried away.

Although most use a dark oil wash exclusively for panel lines, I found that most navy jets have a lot of light colored paint along panel lines to fight corrosion, so “dark” isn’t always correct.  I also found that the targeting pod was painted in a multitude of Light ghost Gray and Gunship Cray schemes, so I just picked one I liked more than the others.

Although most use a dark oil wash exclusively for panel lines, I found that most navy jets have a lot of light colored paint along panel lines to fight corrosion, so “dark” isn’t always correct.  I also found that the targeting pod was painted in a multitude of Light ghost Gray and Gunship Cray schemes, so I just picked one I liked more than the others.

The decals, of course, are the high quality ones from Zotz.  They are easily applied and they responded well to Microsol and Microset without any silvering.  The instructions are a little confusing, however, because at least 3 different jets that can be created have instructions for each that are all mixed up with other applications.  I also found that the walkway decal is too long for those who may want to use it.  I included the “Mutha” award decal at the top of the vertical stabilizers as it was found on BuNo.163217, in photos taken over Iraq in 2004.  The F-14D decal for BuNo. 164604, was created on my ink jet printer using the correct size and type of font for this more modern aircraft.

I learned a ton of modeling techniques on this F-14D, like how to salt weather an aircraft.  I also learned that no matter how many coats of Future you may put on a decal, NEVER use masking tape on one afterwards.  Don’t ask me how I know!

My next project is the Academy F/A-18C, also in 1/32 scale, converted to the Canadian CF-18A Demonstration jet for 2007.