1:48 Grumman F-14B Last of the Tomcats (1)

Decals 1:48 Grumman F-14B Last of the Tomcats, part one (Two Bobs)

A decal sheet in 1:48 scale from the maker Two Bobs. You are buying the decals alone — you build the aircraft model from a kit that is sold separately. The numeral after the title designates the first sheet of the pair the maker issued on the subject.

The real subject

The F-14B is the version of the carrier fighter with a variable-geometry wing in which the original engines were replaced by engines of the F110 series. The change removed the older engines' trouble with sensitivity to throttle movements and markedly improved performance on takeoff from the deck. The crew consists of a pilot and a weapon systems operator in a tandem cockpit. Operation of Tomcats with the US Navy ended in 2006, and the name of the sheet refers precisely to the markings of machines from that final period, when units often added more prominent commemorative elements.

Application tips

Softening and fixing solutions are the key to a good result. Apply the fixer to the spot before the decal is laid down, and the softener only onto a motif that is in place and has settled — on the divided surfaces around the spine and the engine nacelles the decal will then draw into the engraved lines and no bubbles will be left under it. Do not touch a softened decal until it has dried, because at that moment it is very soft and tears easily. Pierce any bubble with the point of a scalpel and go over it with a drop of softener. On the large surfaces of the variable-geometry wing, check the position of a decal with the wing in both extreme settings.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of carrier fighters who want markings beyond the contents of the box
• modelers focused on the final stage of this type's operation
• collectors building a series of machines of one subject
• more experienced modelers working with decal softeners

This is a standalone decal sheet. The kit, paints, clear coats and decal softener are not included in the package.