VF-154's Last Combat Cruise (Hasegawa's 1/72nd F-14A Tomcat)

[Tyas]

In 2003 VF-154 along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing 5 was deployed to the Gulf of Persia for Close Air Support and Forward Air Controlling mission to support land-based aircrafts and Special Forces mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom. During that time, Black Knights scored the most numbers of explosive ordnance dropped of all squadrons in CVW-5, totaling 358 LGBs by the end of the 27-day mission.

 

Yes, it's another F-14 from me, but since I really like F-14s, I can't see why wouldn't I make another one. This time, I decided to make VF-154's CO jet during OIF, which dropped about 45 bombs in total. Now, I don't really have the most information about what the particular aircraft was carrying back then, but sources said that back then the F-14s from VF-154 were armed with 1 2000-pounder LGBs on station 3 and/or station 5 with 1000-pounder mixed in during the early phase of the operation. Later operations saw them carrying 4 500-pounders. I decided to give this particular one a GBU-10 on station 3 (which is in front) and a GBU-16 1000-pounder at the back in staggered position (station 5), assuming that if they were put side-by-side, neither of them would be able to clear each other when dropped. As for the rest of the kit, it's a surprise that this time round, Hasegawa's kit didn't put up too much fight. Or so I thought, because it turned out the decals were a bit on the thick side, causing problems during clear coat. Oh well, learn something new everyday, I guess...

 

Also something new, Hasegawa made a fatal flaw in their painting instruction. Instead of showing the proper 3-tone gray like all TPS F-14s, this one got only 2-tone gray. A little search confirmed my suspicion, so 3-tone it is, plus VF-154's characteristic FS36081 gray for the skunk stripes and vertical tails (not engine gray like what Hase wanted you to believe). The FS36081 itself is actually a home-brew, made by mixing flat black with several drops of FS35237.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided not to glue the wings and the inflatable wing seals so that I can change the wing position anytime I want. As always, critics and suggestions are more than welcomed here

[phildagreek]

Nice!

[F-32]

Love it!

 

You can never have too many Tomcats!

[Tyas]

On 12/5/2018 at 10:43 PM, F-32 said:

You can never have too many Tomcats!

My little brother might beg to differ because he always threaten to launch my Tomcats if I bought another Tomcat 🤣