Darren Roberts

NICE! But come on, you didn't make it dirty enough!

I'll have to look at Tomcat Alley, but I believe that the Bi-Centenial a/c from VF-14 was one of the first to have the standard beaver tail. Either that, or it was the last to have the original. I'll have to look when I get home. I think it's the former, though.

Thank you all for the compliments. Believe me though, there are much better models out there! In regards to the panel lines, my next FSM article that I'm working on is giving the old Monogram F-14 some TLC. It will include all the hints and tricks that I've come up with, plus a few extras that I'm working on. It will also deal with how I accent the raised panel lines. I'll still try and do a quick article for ARC on the panel lines, though. Thanks again for the kind words. Now, on to the next one.......!

I finally finished up Ripper 100. It's the Revell 1/48 scale F-14D with a Steel Beach update set and fuel tanks. A set of Black Box NACES seats rounded out the cockpit. The panel lines were done with a Micron ink pen and burnt umber pastels. It's now on its way to Oceana to reside in the VF-11 ready room.

First off, I WASN'T getting naked in DQ. I was hot and simply taking my coat off! They were the ones that came up with the illicit substance in the parfait thing. Brian is correct about the TPS scheme on OEF Diamondback a/c. The pictures in the David Brown book were from the America cruise in the '95-'96 time frame. Anything after that would be TPS. It really was a fun time. We were actually just planning on getting together to gab, and it kind of morphed into the TomCon thing, which was good for a laugh. I know I'm pumped to get back to the bench and start working on my Topgun F-14 in Pete

Okay, I'm going to add fuel to the fire. The Superscale sheet is CORRECT! The last time VF-102 was on the America was in 1995 in the Adriatic Sea. Every picture I've seen of VF-102 during that cruise shows overall Light Ghost Gray. The decals depicted on the Superscale sheet are for that cruise. You'll notice that on the tail there are USA markings. That's what they put for USS America. Now, the majority of the markings didn't change, so you can use them for later timeframes and paint the 3 tone TPS, but the instruction sheet, at least for VF-102, is correct. There, I've said it. I feel better

What timeframe are we talking about for VF-102, because at one point they were painted in an overall Ghost Gray scheme. Now, whether it was light or dark, I can't tell. But from the pictures it's pretty obvious there was no Medium Gray up top. I would assume that they were probably overall Light Ghost, though.

Great work! Doesn't it feel good to near completion on that kit? That's a TON of work. One suggestion I might make is to take off one of the small blade antennas behind the GPS dome. I believe there should only be one back there. Again, outstanding work, and you need to put that in the Tomcat Group Build.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, I get to see the model this weekend. YEAH! I can't wait. For a layoff of 5 years, I don't think you've missed a beat getting back into the swing of things. See ya in a couple of days. And you too, Jeremy!

Dude, that's a TON of errors. I've never really payed any attention to the words, just looked at the pictures. My favorite goof in the Squadron F-14 In Action book is when they show a picture of the VF-84 a/c on the deck. If you look closely, IT'S A MONOGRAM KIT! I will say that it's a very convincing photo, though.

That it is! To be picky, the ventral strakes should be red with a white VF-1. Other than that, you're good to go. BTW, the timeframe is 1978-79, just before the 'Pack switched airwings.

I'm currently contracting with a guy to produce the LANTIRN, A/B, and D update sets. He's currently out of work and has the time to cast quite a few sets. Give it a couple more weeks and Gordon at Spruebros. should have plenty.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

This is the Revell kit pretty much out of the box with a pair of AIM-120's added. I fixed the stance of the landing gear as best I could so the rear doesn't sit as low. It's a fun little kit to build that really looks pretty good when completed.

If you go to the Gallery section, it's included in the submission I wrote for the VF-124 Tomcat model....I think! :wacko: I know you can get to it from Steve's pinned article on the Academy Tomcat. He makes reference to it in there.

The Fujimi kit is rivaled only by the old Revell kit for the worst 1/48 scale Tomcat model. For me, the Revell* kit is worse, so at least you aren't at the bottom of the barrel! *To avoid confusion, I'm not referring to the Monogram kit reboxed under the Revell name, but rather the VERY old Revell kit from years ago. Ugh! I shudder just thinking about that kit. :wacko:

Let me know what you think.

Okay guys, I just finished up the Pacific Fleet tail plaque. The tails are 1/48 scale and all the Pac Fleet squadrons are represented. I'll start working on the Atlantic Fleet later. If you're interested, each Fleet plaque is $100, or if you buy both, it's $175. If that's a bit rich for your blood and you'd like to put the plaque together yourself, you can get the finished tails for $50/fleet. Email me if you're interested. I also have smaller plaques for $35. I'm just getting set up, so I'd be interested to know your reaction/interest. Now, back to the full Tomcat model for the GB!

Both actually had blue tails, but in most pictures it appears black. Gypsy 200 was not involved in the kills, but they put the kill markings on them nonetheless. It was Gypsy 207 and I believe Gypsy 202 that had the kills. I chatted with VF-32 about it once, and they were less than forthcoming about the events, even 12 years later.

That's why I made INTAKE COVERS! but the red ones are never in stock!!! :( ....pull your finger out! :D :lol: I'm going to have a company cut me 100 sets of red, so pretty soon you won't have any problems getting them! It's hard with 2 little ones to get stuff done. Okay, cue the violin music......

That's why I made INTAKE COVERS! B)

Looking outstanding. I can't wait to see the finished model. I'm glad I could help out!

WRONG - The F-14 is finished for deployments with the Pacific Fleet, but they will still have a couple of more cruises on the Atlantic, VF-32 is in the gulf at this moment on the Harry S Truman, i get emails from them at least three times a week. VF-213 and airwing 8 are scheduled to relieve them in late March and there is talk of VF-31 rejoining the Atlantic fleet for a cruise, maybe as part of Air Wing 8. This has been strongly debated though. I think you will see that VF-213's will be the last Tomcat cruise in '05 and that all squadrons will be or have started conversion to the Super Hornet

VF-143 has already begun turning their aircraft in, and VF-11 has changed side numbers (modex) to the 100 series. They will be giving up their Tomcats beginning sometime in May. They have one more det to El Centro, and then that's it for the Rippers.

Add some black to the insignia blue and you should have a pretty good match.