This is my 1/144 scale VF-103 “Jolly Rogers” F-14B. The F-14 represents an aircraft from VF-103 as it appeared in November 2004, flying off the John F. Kennedy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I’m building a carrier launch diorama centered on this plane. It was built from a Revell F-14D kit. I scratch built the F-14B chin pod. Other modifications include adding details to the ejection seats, specifically the black and yellow striped ejection seat handles, made out of .006” brass wire. The rear tailplanes were molded onto the top half of the fuselage, so I carefully cut them off and mounted them in the launch position. The markings are Fightertown Decals VF-103 low visibility markings, kit decals and misc decals I had in my stash. I used two Goffy Models detail sets for the wings in launch position, laser guided bombs, targeting pod and landing gear doors. The nose landing gear was modified to depict the lowered launch position with the launch bar lowered (it'll be attached to the catapult shuttle in the diorama). I used Model Master acrylic paint on the model and used a gray pin wash to highlight the panel lines. I threw in a couple penny shots for the standard size comparison.








































Erik

Very, very nice, Erik. I'm not much of a jet guy, but, this is a lovely model. Well done for something so small. The detail and paint is absolutely supurb.

I'm assuming you own some high power optivisors, or have extraordinary eyesight.

Thanks. I don't use magnification, but I have 20/15 eyesite. I do use a bright halogen light to work under though. That helps a lot!

Erik

Hi Erik.
Your Tomcat build is outstanding, fantastic example of working in 1/144.
I feel inspired to buy the Revell kit myself. Please post images when you have the diorama set up.
Thanks for posting Erik
All the best.
tim