dmk0210 Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 (edited) I'm thinking that they probably came right from Grumman in the TPS scheme by the time the F-14B hit the fleet, but were any of the early F-14Bs (called F-14A+ at that time) painted in overall gloss 16440? Or were only F-14As ever painted in that scheme? Edited July 18, 2015 by dmk0210 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) From the factory it was only F-14A's that were in gloss gull gray. All the rest were in TPS. There was one F-14B from VF-101 that was painted in gull gray (can't remember if it was in gloss or flat though) some time in the mid 90's. Edited July 19, 2015 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) VF-2 had a D (not a B ) painted up in gloss grey and white for their 25 anniversary bird back in the day. Edited July 19, 2015 by phantom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I THINK there was a PMTC airframe that was overall gull gray. I'll have to check. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I remember seeing a couple of VX-4 A+s back in 1987 and both of those were in TPS... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I remember seeing a couple of VX-4 A+s back in 1987 and both of those were in TPS... -Gregg Did they come from the factory like that? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Did they come from the factory like that? I;m not sure but it would be my guess that they did. VX-4 hadn't had them very long at that point, they did have VX-4 markings applied however ... >>> Markings were similar to this <<< -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fasteagle12 Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I've seen Tomcats in photos in overall gloss gull grey.... here is an example: http://flitetime.net/f14vf1.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) That is an A from the late 70s or early 80s. Note the Feris scheme in the back ground and the old 70s/ 80s pick up trucks. Edited July 19, 2015 by phantom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I've seen Tomcats in photos in overall gloss gull grey.... here is an example: http://flitetime.net/f14vf1.jpg The OP is asking about F-14A+/B models though ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fasteagle12 Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 The OP is asking about F-14A+/B models though ... :thumbsup:/> -Gregg Duh....I guess I should learn to read...thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmk0210 Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) Thanks guys. I was hoping there were some early -Bs in that attractive glossy scheme, but oh well. VF-2 had a D (not a B ) painted up in gloss grey and white for their 25 anniversary bird back in the day. VF-32 also had an F-14B with a gray and white 'retro' scheme right before the squadron switched to the F/A-18 and turned their Tomcats in to the shredders.(Two Bobs does a sheet with this aircraft) http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-F-14B-Tomcat/1346788/&sid=0694c163ce318fbbcb7192cb904ecc7a http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Grumman-F-14B-Tomcat/1075190/&sid=ef2ffe9b9daa34b3629addee8a4114e2 . Edited July 19, 2015 by dmk0210 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmk0210 Posted July 19, 2015 Author Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) There was one F-14B from VF-101 that was painted in gull gray (can't remember if it was in gloss or flat though) some time in the mid 90's. VF-101 was the first F-14A+ fleet squadron weren't they?Are you referring to this aircraft? (This one comes up with a few pics at the top of a Google image search for VF-101 and F-14B) http://www.topedge.com/alley/images/f14b/f14b101s.jpg (F-14B-145-GR BuNo. 162923 Specially painted for the 1997 NAS Oceana airshow. Image Courtesy Doug Thorne) http://www.masm.fr/Navycag/vf/VF101/VF101-CO-f14aad101.jpg Edited July 19, 2015 by dmk0210 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I took a midshipman tour of the Long Island Grumman plan in '91-'92. I have a few photos of F-14D and F-14A+/B's on the line and they were all TPS. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 VF-11 also had a retro scheme in gull gray over white. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I;m not sure but it would be my guess that they did. VX-4 hadn't had them very long at that point, they did have VX-4 markings applied however ... >>> Markings were similar to this <<< -Gregg I failed to see the + after the A. Geez, I read it to fast. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 VF-101 was the first F-14A+ fleet squadron weren't they? Are you referring to this aircraft? (This one comes up with a few pics at the top of a Google image search for VF-101 and F-14B) http://www.topedge.com/alley/images/f14b/f14b101s.jpg (F-14B-145-GR BuNo. 162923 Specially painted for the 1997 NAS Oceana airshow. Image Courtesy Doug Thorne) http://www.masm.fr/Navycag/vf/VF101/VF101-CO-f14aad101.jpg Yup that tomato! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishthe47guy Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 VF-101 was the first F-14A+ fleet squadron weren't they? Thats a good question. Is the FRS considered a fleet squadron vs. VF-74, the first deployable squadron? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) VF-101 and VF-74 were the first 2 squadrons to take delivery of the A+. F-14A+'s came straight from the factory in the 3 tone TPS (35237,36320,36375). As pointed out, VF-11 and VF-32 did retro schemes as the tomcat's service life was coming to an end. VX-9 and VF-101 had F-14B's (A+'s) painted up in overall 36440, and decals are avaialbe for both through Fightertown. Edited July 20, 2015 by VFA-103guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmk0210 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 (edited) VF-101 and VF-74 were the first 2 squadrons to take delivery of the A+. F-14A+'s came straight from the factory in the 3 tone TPS (35237,36320,36375). Thanks for the info! As pointed out, VF-11 and VF-32 did retro schemes as the tomcat's service life was coming to an end. VX-9 and VF-101 had F-14B's (A+'s) painted up in overall 36440, and decals are avaialbe for both through Fightertown. I actually have that VX-9 sheet from Fightertown (FTD48-004). Brian states in the info sheet that Vandy 240 was "Gloss Gull Gray FS 16440 with Gloss Black FS 17038 tails, skunk stripe, ventral fins and fuel tanks. 240 was known as the "White Whale" by VX-9 Air and Maintenance crew" Edited July 21, 2015 by dmk0210 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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