224 Peter Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Grumman/BAC Tomcat FGR 1 The hypothesis behind the model was that the Tornado had proved to be a financial disaster and so had followed the TSR2 into the scrap heap because the German Government withdrew support. The UK Government, in something of a state of panic took up the Grumman F14D Super Tomcat 21 project and evolved it into the Grumman/BAC Tomcat FGR 1 which first flew in early 1980. Here we have, ready for inspection, my Grumman Tomcat FGR 1 resplendent in Desert Pink, Serial ZD 790 serving with 15 Squadron, RAF and based at Muharreq Airfield, Bahrain during the first Gulf War. She was delivered to the RAF in late 1983 and scrapped in 2003. The model shows a weapons kit that may be improbable, with 2 Paveway laser guided bombs, a TIALD laser marking pod, 2 AGM 65D Mavericks and 2 ALARM missiles, but who knows? This model is dedicated to the late Mike McEvoy’s and his love of “what if” models! From Behind.... The sharp end... With Wings forward... And from the underneath.... I was given the kit in the 1980s as a present, in those days children and career took most of my life: model making retreated. The kit sat, started, until 2018 when I started a pathway into retirement. This is the build story.... 23 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedingBlue Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Very nice what-if. That scheme looks good on the Tomcat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilspen Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 It is a bit of an optical illusion, one wants to think Tornado, but the shape is wrong. It makes a nice change to see a different finish. Good job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 A very nice "what if" and the scheme does look good on the Tomcat. I like the associated story too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat101 Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 I am a big fan of what-if models and a huge fan of the F-14. Nice job, it looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Not the first what-if RAF Tomcat I've seen but definitely the best. It just looks so right in desert sand, and the weathering on the exhausts is superb. 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix44 Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Very nice! Looks great in that scheme. But surely we would have (perhaps should have) bought the F-15? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig88 Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Great idea and well executed!! Miguel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 I absolutely love it, bravo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 Very fine Cat in unusual suit !! Well done Sir ! Sincerely. CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 Nicely done model Peter. A great what if and a nice tribute to Mike McEvoy. His irreverent and quirky Tailpieces were often the highlight of SAM, I often turned to them before the main articles. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
224 Peter Posted February 27, 2022 Author Share Posted February 27, 2022 Thanks, everyone, for the positive comments... they are really appreciated! I built the kit because I was gifted it, and not wanting to finish it in USN or Iranian markings I came up with a vaguely plausible story to explain the presence of RAF Tomcats during Operation Granby! Onwards and upwards... The next "Mike McEvoy project is the RAFwaffe: I have a project ready to start, the first aircraft will be the 1/28th scale Revell Fokker D7, as captured in 1918 and flown by the then very young RAF!! The rest are WW2. Watch this space.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 On 26/02/2022 at 11:39, Phoenix44 said: Very nice! Looks great in that scheme. But surely we would have (perhaps should have) bought the F-15? But the F-15 couldn't have flown from the RN's two supercarriers (cough). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 That's such a great what if. Almost looks highly appropriate. Imagine seeing that on a low-level bombing run across the desert alongside a Buccaneer or two. Mike would love that I'm sure! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted March 10, 2022 Share Posted March 10, 2022 Nice one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy400 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Read the title and thought, I didn't realise the RAF had bought an F14.... then saw the What if.... Cool model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertone139 Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 Brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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