Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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FirstLook

Yellowhammer models YHD48023 Tomcat Nose Art & Afghan War Hero is a new release from Yellowhammer Models.  It provides markings for two F-14 Tomcats of the Atlantic Fleet. 

First aircraft is Bureau number 161435 an F-14B of VF-103.  The markings depict it, as it appeared in December 2001 when it was the squadron’s CAG bird aboard the USS George Washington. 

Traditionally, CAG Birds wear “00” modex.  Occasionally, where a squadron’s number falls within the modex range allocated to it, the CAG bird will wear it’s squadron number as the modex.  Hence 103 being VF-103’s CAG – make sense? 

The aircraft is finished in the standard F-14 Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) of FS35237 and FS36320 top surfaces over FS36375 lower surfaces.  Both sides of the vertical stabilizers, the top of the nose, the canopies and the spine are in black.  The fin caps and the top third of the leading edge of the Stabilizer are in yellow. 

Markings consist of: 

·        VF-103’s back and yellow sash for the forward fuselage as well as the intake mounted drop tanks.  The fuselage sash decal incorporates the national insignia, which is all black, as are the national insignia for the wings. 

·        The yellow trims for the tops of the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Squadron skull and crossbones for the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Clifton Award, and Secretary of Defence Phoenix Award, USS George Washington scripts, “Battle E” award and AA airwing identifiers in white for the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Nose art in the form of a silhouette of George Washington within a circle and the script “Kate’s Nickel”. 

·        Thin yellow striping in yellow and VF-103 scripts for the fuselage strake. 

·        Bureau number block and NAVY scripts for the rear fuselage. 

·        Aircrew and plane Captain’s names for the canopy rails and nose gear doors respectively. 

·        103 modex in black for the nose and wing tops as well as an abbreviated 03s in white for the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Minimal stencil data.  The data is all in black and it includes the intake warnings, turbine warning stripes as well as the ejection seat triangles. 

There are some great reference shots of this aircraft right here on HyperScale: 

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/vf103hivizschemedp_1.htm 

Note the differences in the spine.  One shot shows it with the entire spine black whilst another shows it with it only partially painted. 

The other aircraft is an F-14A, Bureau number 162698. The markings depict it when it was VF-14’s CAG bird embarked aboard the USS Enterprise.  As the title states, this aircraft took part in the opening shots of Operation Enduring Freedom against targets in Afghanistan in November/December of 2001. 

Paint scheme is the same as Kate’s Nickel except that it has black tips to the wings and horizontal stabilizers and lacks the yellow trim. 

Markings consist of:

·        Squadron insignia, AJ airwing identifiers, USS Enterprise scripts for the vertical stabilizers. 

• Bureau number block and NAVY scripts for the rear fuselage. 

·        Aircrew and Plane Captain’s names for the canopy rails and nose gear doors respectively (in white for the canopy rails and black for the gear doors). 

·        200 modex in black for the nose, nose gear doors and wing tops as well as an abbreviated 00s in white for the vertical stabilizers. 

·        Minimal stencil data, which is in the same style that was originally applied to the hi-viz, gull grey and white F-14s.  The turbine-warning stripe though is in black. 

·        Hi-viz national insignia for the fuselage and wings. 

·        Thin black striping and VF-14 titles for the fuselage strakes. 

·        Small squadron insignia zaps for the intake mounted drop tanks. 

There is also a single set of slime lights as well as a small selection of no step/push decals to be shared between both options. 

It not stated as to which company printed the decal sheet.  The decals are thin and glossy with minimal decal film.  Unfortunately, there is a slight register issue on my sample sheet with the yellow of the stencil data boxes and the red of the national insignia for the VF-14 option. 

The placement guide is a double-sided A-4 sheet that shows left hand side profiles of each aircraft on the reverse side as well as a generic plan-view of the upper surfaces.  No recommendation is made as to which kit the markings have been tailored for nor are there any references offered. 

All said and done though, this is a nice sheet from Yellowhammer Models.  It provides you with up-to-date markings for two aircraft that will shortly be leaving the fleet.  Be aware of the register issue when you are selecting your sheet and you won’t have any problems. 

Recommended.

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 23 May, 2003
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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