1:72 F-14A Tomcat `VF-2 Bounty Hunters 1976´

The real subject

The F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-based fighter with a variable-geometry wing. The crew consists of a pilot and a weapon systems operator seated one behind the other, and the power is provided by a pair of turbofan engines. The strong point of the machine was its radar, which could track several targets at once, and the long-range guided missiles that went with it; the Tomcat was thus to protect carrier task forces far ahead of their defensive perimeter. The F-14A version was the first production variant and from the middle of the 1970s it formed the backbone of the carrier fighter squadrons.

Markings and version

The model is finished in the markings of squadron VF-2 with the nickname Bounty Hunters, that is one of the first units to receive Tomcats. Carrier machines of that day carried prominent colored markings on the fin surfaces and on the fuselage, so the finished model is not just a gray aircraft but a striking piece for a display case.

Building and painting tips

First try the seating of the fuselage and the air intakes dry, because with an aircraft of such a broken-up shape every inaccuracy shows at the joints. Paint and fit the cockpit of both crew members before you close the fuselage up, because it can be seen into well through the large glazing. Mask the glazing with tape before spraying. If the model has a movable wing, check that both halves are set identically; an asymmetrical sweep is visible at once. Apply the markings onto a glossy surface and even the finished surface out with matte or semi-gloss varnish.

Who it is for

For builders of American carrier equipment and for collectors of jets in 1:72 scale. The paints, the glue and the tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.