1/72 Italeri F-14A Bomb Cat

by Steven 'Buster' Keeton

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I call this diorama "Jurassic Top Gun". This is the 1/72 F-14A BombCat by Italeri, Kit # 1202, I bought for $5.00 at a swap meet. This kit went together very well with little putty used at all. It was airbrushed with Testors Model Master Light Ghost Gray.  Most of the decal markings were supplied by the kit decals.  The tail code and name under the cockpit came from Walthers Railroad dry transfers.

The cockpit was modified by removing the second console and side consoles and replacing them with scratch built side consoles. Only one ejection seat was used.  The pilot was modified extensively by removing 75% of the body to fit into the cockpit.  I found the pilot at a yard sale for 25 cents. 

The base was a small Plexiglas photo holder with a clear Plexiglas 1/4 inch rod mounted on it.  There is a corresponding 9/16 inch aluminum tube mounted in the body of the F-14.

The loadout of bombs and missiles was determined by my thoughts of "if this is hypothetical" then if it came in the kit, it goes on the aircraft. 

The final paint coat applied was Testors Dullcoat.

Click on images below to see larger images

The idea for this model diorama was inspired by the Calvin and Hobbs cartoon from many years ago.  Calvin liked the T-Rex and the cartoon shows the T-Rex flying in F-14's just like in "TOP GUN".  I printed off the cartoon and added the caption for the display.
Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Keeton