1/48 Academy F-14A Bombcat

by Paul Nortness

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This is an Academy F-14A from their newer "Bombcat" boxing.  It is essentially the same kit as their earlier F-14A, with some new additions.  They have added new NACA gunvents, GPS dome on the spine, current ECM fairings (front gear door, forward wing gloves, etc), as well as new BOL Chaff dispensors, Phoenix rails for the shoulder, LANTIRN and of course bomb rails. They have also included GBU-31 JDAMs and GBU-24 Paveway III bombs to strap under the belly of the beast.

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The kit was built completely out of the box with the exception of Aeromasters "Tomcat Supreme Pt. 2" decals depicting the VF-154 Black Knights. The model was painted using Model Masters acrylics and weathered with pastel chalk. The stencilling on the weapons was included on the kit decals, which were not as bad as I anticipated. I had heard horror stories regarding Academy decals and was pleasantly surprised.  I probably wouldn't use them to decal an entire model....but they do the trick in this case.  The kit sheet also includes full aircraft data markings.  I had attempted to use them, but they are printed in a grey that completely disappears against the dark ghost grey. Oh well.

Paul 

Photos and text © by Paul Nortness