This
is 1/72 scale kit by Fujimi depicting an F-14D Tomcat from VF-2 “Bounty
Hunters” on their last Tomcat cruise in 2003. The model did not have a
lot of things to create an accurate F-14D, so I had to use additional parts from
Hasegawa kits. The wing pylon for the Phoenix
missile was taken from a Hasegawa kit. The BOL chaff dispenser (sidewinder
rails), the LANTIRN pod and ordinance were taken from Hasegawa’s weapon
sets.
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images below to see larger images
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I
used modelmaster paints and coatings. Light weathering was applied using
thinned browns and blacks as well as pencil dust.
A carrier deck base was
provided by “Richard’s Models”, an Ebay store.
I
used the decals provided by the kit which depicted some interesting bomb count
from “OIF”. I took a lot of references from Tony Holmes’ book on F-14
Units in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Osprey). This
particular Tomcat (VF-2’s CAG bird) was used a lot as a Forward Air Controller
(Airborne) in the initial air strikes, that explains the high LGB and JDAM bomb
tally on the nose.
Jorge
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images below to see larger images
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