I am currently building Tamiya’s 14A Tomcat. I have a set of decals from Eduard.
The specific aircraft that I’m trying to build is VF – 111 sundowners USS Carl Vinson, Miss Molly.
My first question is underneath the nose and what is it and is there an aftermarket for this kit?
The second question is under the fuselage with the tiger shark keys and is there an aftermarket part for the kit?
Under nose is telephoto camera pod (AN / AXX-1 TCS)
Sharkmouth item is a fuel tank. If you google these you might find 3d resin etc.
Thank you keavdog!!!
I haven’t seen the Edward decals for this aircraft, but hopefully they included the nose art for both sides. Most decals for this plane initially only included the nose art for the left side, but it was painted on both.
I’ve got a 1/72 Hasegawa version in the stash that only has it on the left. I’ll probably still build it as Molly, no one else who will see it will know. 
It’s funny, I have the Tamiya A and never did an in depth look.
You’d think such fuel tanks would be provided as their F-16 line comes with fuel tanks.
I also have a couple of Hasegawa’s F-14As and I’m wondering how far off of a fit they are so they could be used on the Tamiya kit?
I am sure some tweaking of sorts will need to be done.
Happy Modeling,
Mike
Hey Marc,
Ok, so I pulled my Tamiya A from the shelf and it in deed come with the drop tanks that are in question.
Parts E15/E16(tanks) and D19/20(pylons). My kit is No. Item 61114
I’m going to take a shot in the dark that your kit did not have the said drop tanks?
Happy Modeling,
Mike
Hi Mike,
Yes, after walking away from it, and then looking again along with the other reply that I got from Kevdog there are drop tanks.
The telephoto camera pod mentioned was what made me realize that the Tamiya Kit 61114 cannot be used for these decals.
I had to order the 61122 so I can do the sundowner decals.
I also ordered a set of decals for the Tamiya kit 61114
OK. I’m back again with another question.
I received my F-14 a decals.
Aircraft that I want to depict is the checkmates USS constellation seen in this photo.
The question I have is the color around the canopy. It looks blue. Is this correct and does anybody know what FS color that would be?
Again, many thanks for those of you that have replied and pointed to me in the right direction on my other questions.
Looks black with a red pinstripe
Hey Marc
After digging around a bit, the anti glare panel color and the canopy frame looks to be black outlined with red pinstriping.
I’m surprised that the decal instructions don’t give a color callout as this is an important part of the aircrafts paint scheme?
Here’s another angle and this too appears to be black.
I know later on(1996-98), VF-211s CAG bird had a blueish hue to the anti glare panel/canopy frame..
Hope that this helps!
Happy Modeling,
Mike
VF-211 transitioned to the F-14A in 1975. The squadron used a partial black hood around the front windscreen (anti glare panel). So basically from the front edge of the canopy rails all the way to the back is Insignia Blue FS 35044. From the back edge of the front windscreen to the panel line of the radome, it’s flat black. Then from the radome forward to the tip is Insignia Blue.
The pic below is my friend’s build for reference, hope this helps.
Steve
“TOMCATS FOREVER, BABY…!”
According to the Monogram guide, the standard at least through '93 was that all airframe surfaces that could produce glare (or induce strain from brightness) in the pilot’s or copilot’s eyes were to be painted in nonspecular black, unless the aircraft was painted in a tactical paint scheme, in which case they were to use NS Gray (36320) or Blue (35237), both of which look very grey to me! I would assume that anything that looked dark bluish was likely due to UV / color aging, as I doubt they would have used a dark blue where NS black was specified.
Edit: Any anti-glare that looked dark bluish. Not trying to say that other blue paint was NS black!
Those two are a couple years apart and the paint schems are different, one has the optical system, the other does not.
The first pic IMO is a flight sim screen grab, it’s also depicting a B model. The second pic is from the 1978 time frame because the last two digits of the modex are moved from the fin caps to the inside of the tails and they are larger.
Steve
U.S.A.F. had TISEO on the lefy wing on some “E” and “F” model F-4’s I had seen it on the German owned “F’s” used for traing german pilots at Luke A.F.B. in 1979-1980.
The second photo is the plane he’s depicting minus the carriers name as this was prior to rotation.
The first link is in reference to line drawings and even though the first aircraft has a different plabe number, still the same scheme from 75.
Happy Modeling,
Mike
