Which block of A?

[BlackLion213]

I'm just hopeful that the final version will be representative of the mid-80s Tomcat. It's the Tomcat that I remember from growing up and I love those low-viz schemes. Hopefully it will match those classic photos. Here is one taken by "Bio" Baranek.

 

 

Given that Cobra read Top Gun days, perhaps there will be a couple Bio Baranek schemes. He took A LOT of great pictures from the era.

 

-Nick

[madcat911]

If you really want to get the markings and paint schemes right, you'll want to look up the guys who do decals for model aircraft such as Fightertown Decals.

[BlackLion213]

These markings were never published in a decal sheet and the 1980s were not terribly well served by FTD - though their coverage of late 90s and 2000s is outstanding.

 

I'm sure LNS will carefully research their schemes, they seem to carefully research everything!

 

With only a handful of exceptions, all grey Tomcats from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s were painted in the standard 3-tone TPS scheme (VF-32 seems to be an exception with a similar 2-tone scheme that looks much like the 3-tone, early VF-84 also had a unique scheme). This does not include the gloss gull grey birds (CAG/CO birds and very early 80s/late 70s Tomcats), but I don't think anyone confuses these schemes. Tomcat schemes are tough because the corrosion control/repaint process tends to make the scheme hard to interpret. The classic error is thinking that the airplane is all one color or thinking that it had a unique camo pattern when it is just touch-ups on the usual 3-tone TPS introduced in the early 80s. It's also really hard to see the difference in paint colors in earlier photos, just a technical limitation (?) of film from the era.

 

I'm just looking forward to what they do. Hopefully, we'll get a few nicely done 1980s TPS schemes.

 

-Nick

Edited March 12, 2015 by BlackLion213

[madcat911]

These markings were never published in a decal sheet and the 1980s were not terribly well served by FTD - though their coverage of late 90s and 2000s is outstanding.

 

-Nick

 

Well, I was't exactly saying that FTD is the only source for good markings out there. Just that aftermarket decal companies in general tended to put a lot of effort into research and that they would likely be the best source for getting detailed information on the various schemes.

 

It'd be nice to see some of the more exotic paint jobs done such as those in the NSAWC Adversary and prototype schemes.

Edited March 13, 2015 by madcat911

[BlackLion213]

Later block. E.g. disabled canards (probably), revised gunports, etc.

 

This sounds great! Are we luck enough to get TCS (television camera system) and TF30-P-414As (vs 412 or 414s). Need all the advantages we can get with the F-14A :thumbup:.

 

BTW, your 3D models look remarkable. Thank you for taking on this huge project!

 

-Nick

[captain_dalan]

This sounds great! Are we luck enough to get TCS (television camera system) and TF30-P-414As (vs 412 or 414s). Need all the advantages we can get with the F-14A :thumbup:.

 

BTW, your 3D models look remarkable. Thank you for taking on this huge project!

 

-Nick

It would be unfortunate if our compressor blades decided to disintegrate spontaneously on us :megalol:

[BlackLion213]

It would be unfortunate if our compressor blades decided to disintegrate spontaneously on us :megalol:

 

And no shroud to protect my other precious engine!

 

By the mid-80s the F-14A was pretty well sorted and accidents were down a lot. Thats the one I'd like to fly if possible. It will still be plenty hard!

 

-Nick

[captain_dalan]

Will the A model include the RWR display upgrade in the front seat?

[turkeydriver]

I'm thinking the final version of the A that fought in Desert Storm, right along side the first F-14A+.

[BlackLion213]

I'm thinking the final version of the A that fought in Desert Storm, right along side the first F-14A+.

 

I agree, that would be a great choice (ideal in my mind). The F-14As in desert storm still had the 80s style gunvent, but that version of the F-14A was well-sorted and could cover a wide time-frame (1984-1992). After 1992, they had updated gun-vents (like the A+ - NACA vents) and more ECM bumps.

 

The small changes to the gunvent would also add some visual differentiation from the F-14A+/B and is another plus.

 

We'll see what they decide!

 

-Nick

[Home Fries]

I agree, that would be a great choice (ideal in my mind). The F-14As in desert storm still had the 80s style gunvent, but that version of the F-14A was well-sorted and could cover a wide time-frame (1984-1992).

I concur. This time-frame gives the greatest amount of relevancy for the F-14A. However, I would really love to see an early block tomcat from the mid 70s as well (if for no other reason than you could create hypothetical scenarios with Iran), glove vanes and all. I would gladly pay a premium fee for that add-on.

[SilentGun]

Now that I'm thinking about it what block B are we going to get?

[BlackLion213]

Now that I'm thinking about it what block B are we going to get?

 

The render shows an F-14A+/B in late-80s-mid/late-90s configuration - meaning fishbowl RIO display and no Sparrowhawk HUD. The fishbowl was changed to a large MFD in the very late 90s/early 2000s. The Sparrowhawk started to show up in the early 2000s.

 

This config makes sense since it shares much with an 80s F-14A and covers the widest range of dates (~1987-2000). There was an F-14B Upgrade (official name) with some small avionics change and MFD that started fleet intro around 1997 and was largely complete by 2000.

 

No more Tomcats were produced after 1992, so all upgrades after that were slowly integrated across the fleet and to all models (more or less). All operation Tomcats eventually got MFDs, only the B received the new HUD (F-14D was built with one).

 

-Nick