1:48 F-14A Tomcat SPACE

Decal set 1:48 F-14A Tomcat SPACE

An accessory decal set from the Czech maker Eduard's SPACE range for a model of the Grumman F-14A Tomcat carrier fighter in 1:48 scale. At Eduard the SPACE range is aimed at detailing the cockpit and the instrument surfaces, where a decal supplies artwork that hand painting on small consoles would manage only with difficulty. On the two-seat Tomcat this tells twice over, because the model has two separate cockpits with different equipment. The set is not a model or a kit; it is used while finishing the interior before the fuselage is closed.

The real subject

The Grumman F-14A Tomcat was a two-seat carrier fighter of the US Navy with a variable-geometry wing, brought into service in the mid-1970s. It was created as a carrier for a long-range radar and long-range guided missiles, and its task was to defend a carrier task force far beyond its edge. The A version used engines that gave the machine trouble mainly in extreme regimes and was therefore later replaced by more powerful powerplants. All the same it was the F-14A that made up the main part of the type's service and became its most widespread variant.

Application tips

• Coat the interior with a gloss varnish before applying them.
• Trim the elements close to the artwork, or the carrier film will show.
• Do not use a decal softener or setting solution, as the chemicals attack the printed element.
• Finally unify the cockpit with a matte varnish.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are building a Tomcat in 1:48 scale and want readable instrument panels in both cockpits without laborious hand painting.