Early F-14's, circa 1982

What color was the tarps pod during this era? I know that it is gray now, but was it white or something back then. The color of my tomcat is going to be overall lt. gull gray.

I think it would have been painted the same colour as the aircraft’s underside at the time

How glossy were the gloss lt. gull gray aircraft? Was it more of a semi-gloss?

Operational TARPS pods are, indeed, usually painted the same color as the undersides of the aircraft. The only exceptions I’ve seen have been pods carried by VF-124, which was responsible for TARPS training during the period in question.

As to the sheen of FS16440, when first applied it was very glossy. But it did lose its sheen over time and became more of a semi gloss.

Fade to Black…