Ok this will seem funny,
But I’ve got a decal sheet for VFA 84 Theodore Roosevelt, lost the kit believe it or not but have the decal sheet.
I think the kit was by Heller, but I need a copy of the decal placement and camo please; and despite what everyone thinks I like the Italeri kit it’s a challenge.
As for the Tomcat I think it would give a Hornet hard life, in my opinion of course and I like the Hornet but but for me the Tomcat is class with swing wings.
If the Squadron markings on your decal sheet say VFA 84, then those decals should be for a Hornet. All F-14 squadrons were VF, even if they did drop bombs from their Tomcats on occasion.
Correction VF 84, not sure about the camoflage though I think its dark gull grey on the top with white undersides.
not sure if there was white elevators same as the one in the Italeri boxing; or the time period it 80’s or 90’s nice decals though.
If the markings are hi-viz, full-color (ie, not all-gray), then by the time VF-84 reached the TR, their Tomcats were overall gloss gull gray (light, NOT dark!), FS16440. No white on the undersides or control surfaces–that was the '70s on the Nimitz (“The Final Countdown” time period).
Can’t help you with the instructions for that particular kit, but for reference photos, try here: http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/ (search for “VF-84”).
Hi Daniel,
These markings are for the Theodore Roosevelt flight, not sure of the year but the Italeri kit for the the time period 1976 they say dark gull gray with ingina white USS Nimitz.
However they could be wrong, which means did they check their references; I have none mostly WW2 stuff so I’m just as much in the dark on this issue as rookie kitbasher.
The letters A J are serperate the skull and cross bones have VF84 attached in yellow. so if Italeri have goofed just totally ignore the paint scheme for the VF 84 machine and VF 213 black lions.
as for the letters AJ will they go on the inboard of the rudders?.
silly moo loosing the kit, btw final countdown my favourite film, but the overall light gull gray sounds right, and I wouldn’t doubt anyone who as more knowledge than I.
Joanna.[:)]
Joanna,
The closest image I could find which resembles your description is the first colour profile on this page: http://www.topedge.com/alley/squadron/lant/vf84hist.htm
Scroll down this page for a range of colour scheme variations: http://www.almansur.com/jollyrogers/jollytomcats.htm I’m almost sure that one of these is the scheme you’re looking for.
Hope you can find something that fits. Good luck [:)]
Joanna.
The paint scheme indicated on instruction sheet is WRONG! Dont use dark gull gray! The actual color over all top was gloss gull gray and gloss (insignia) white bottom. Only the nacel boots were painted dark gull gray. The paint scheme on early Tomcat’s was carried over from the Phantom. This was later changed again to all over gull gray and then again over to TPS or Tactical Paint Scheme which was dark ghost gray, light ghost gray and medium gray.
Here are two links from MATS that should really help. MATS site on the F-14 is the best reference source on the Tomcat.
http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-colours.htm
http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-squadron-vf084.htm
Hope this helps you.
Joanna -
I think the last two posts answered your questions pretty well with regards to color. VF-84 began flying Tomcats after transitioning from Phantoms in 1976, and made their first Tomcat cruise aboard the Nimitz in 1977-78. At first, they were gloss (light) gull gray over white, with white on the upper control surfaces, as well, but by the very-early-'80s, had lost the white completely and were overall gull gray. This carried over onto their time on the Roosevelt (which began in 1988). So they had the white briefly on the Nimitz, and not at all on the Roosevelt. If your decals are from the Roosevelt, you’ll want to paint the airframe overall gloss gull gray, with black tails, ventral fins, and anti-glare panel around the cockpit.
Also, the glossy finish would begin to dull fairly quickly once the squadron was at sea, so once you’ve got all your decals on, you might want to finish it with an overall coat of clear satin.
You might also want to at least consider just replacing the kit decals with an aftermarket sheet–they’d be better quality, and you’d have the instructions from them to refer to.
Thanks a lot,
I was having doubts on the dark gull grey last night, now I feel better knowing and great links added them to my favourites.
The first on show for the decals is spot on, and the photos helped in the second thanks Daniel and never again will loose a kit but I keep[:)].