F4DPhanv3 Posted November 3, 2025 Share Posted November 3, 2025 Looking for 1/48th decal availability for F-14's from VF-41 from Operation Deliberate Force, as this was the only combat deployment of the TALD decoys by F-14's. Would be a unique and interesting project. Did a Google search and didn't really come up with options.... Appreciate comments and assistance. Best, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog-03 Posted November 4, 2025 Share Posted November 4, 2025 I was aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt early in the 1995 cruise. I've got photos of several aircraft that I took during May 1995, when we were in the Persian Gulf, a few months before DELIBERATE FORCE. You're welcome to copies if you'd like. To my knowledge, there aren't any decal sets that cover VF-41 specifically during that operation. The closest I can get are Superscale sheets 72-885, 48-1044, and 32-240. They give you markings for BuNo 160394 with the “Strike Cat” nose art and markings for AJ101 during the 1995 cruise. Being the skipper's jet, AJ101 carried full color, high-vis markings instead of the low-vis gray on the line jets, the tail ace of spades had a red blood stripe instead of gray and the tail caps were red instead of gray. Unfortunately, 160394 crashed in the Mediterranean, 22 May 1995, during launch from TR, approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Sigonella, Sicily, both crew members rescued. I don't know what BuNo replaced 160394 as AJ101 and would have participated in DELIBERATE FORCE so that would take some additional research. For a line jet, you could take the low-vis ace of spades from DMX 21-7153 or CAM 32-124, combine with the "USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT" from the above sheets and any low-vis gray data markings but you'd still have to source your own modex and bureau numbers. Or you could take Option 3... If you have access to custom decal printing, I made the artwork that you could use to print decals for any squadron aircraft during the cruise. Airborne-All the way! Doug Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhanv3 Posted November 4, 2025 Author Share Posted November 4, 2025 Doug, WOW!!! Great info!! I'd be grateful to receive any images you might be willing to share. I'll PM you my email. Yeah, been searching the internet & decal websites but couldn't come up with 1/48 ODF VF-41 F-14 decals. For now, using Tony Holmes book, 'F-14 "Bombcat": The US Navy's Ultimate Precision Bomber' as a reference, pages 44-47 which describe the TALD use during ODF; only small photo of Lt(jg) Paul Filardi posing next to an F-14 BRU-42 ITERS with 2 TALD's loaded....but no photos of the actual aircraft or markings carried during the cruise/operations. Thanks for the decal recommendations; prefer dirty line jet, but I'll work with what I can get.....Superscale 48-1044 is a possibility if I can locate a copy...DMX only 1/72nd I think.... I like option 3 :)....but don't currently have access to custom printing.....Jost Schrieber from AWACS RESIN ( on this forum) does his own decal printing, but don't really want to bother him....he does mostly 1/72nd C-135/707 military aircraft, as he was a mechanic forever in Europe on those aircraft...... ....maybe we could convince Kursad at Caracal decals (also on this forum) to make a sheet? I could run it by Bob Sanchez at Twobobs too...... Doug, thank you again for your post and info- super helpful and much appreciated!! Definitely interested in any info and images you can share! Best, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhanv3 Posted November 9, 2025 Author Share Posted November 9, 2025 Doug, any thoughts on maybe sharing images you have from F-14's from "Operation Deliberate Force"? Again, its a unique operation which no decals exist for....but may be we can see if Caracal or Twobobs would be interested in? Unique subjects with unique ordnance loads. Just wondering. Thanks your your help. Best, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog-03 Posted November 13, 2025 Share Posted November 13, 2025 Yeah, I've been trying to get all the photos organized and labeled. I've also been trying to check some details with the decal artwork. Send me your e-mail and I'll start sending material your way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhanv3 Posted November 13, 2025 Author Share Posted November 13, 2025 Doug, Thanks! Appreciate your efforts and anything you can share. ...again, can contact Bob Sanchez at TwoBobs or Kursad at Caracal to see if they're interested. Not a current project of mine but as with all projects, but one I'm very much interested in making, and planning and gathering of research material takes time... Thanks you again! Best, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhanv3 Posted November 13, 2025 Author Share Posted November 13, 2025 PM Sent with personal email. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.