NEW TOMCAT REFERENCE
With the Atlantic Fleet version published earlier this year, Detail & Scale now looks at the Pacific and Reserve units of the legendary F-14 Tomcat.
Various aircraft types provoke excitement with modellers and aviation enthusiasts in general, but few more than the mighty F-14. It was the subject of Detail & Scale’s recent softback examination of the aircraft’s US Navy Atlantic Fleet squadrons. Now though, Pacific and Reserve outfits are explored in D&S’s Colours & Markings Series Volume 4.
It has 127 pages (printed by Amazon) and provides imagery of Tomcats flown by the relevant units, each chapter being opened with operational histories, and an example of the squadron badge. Captions are extensive and provide date, BuNo information where possible, and the photos – all in full colour – offer glorious views of the Tomcat… mostly on the ground but there is a selection of air-to-air studies.
The units covered are: VF-1, 2, 11, 21, 24, 31, 51, 111, 114, 124, 154, 191, 194, 211, 213, 301 and 302.
If you wish to build on a theme, this is an excellent guide to the various iterations of squadron markings, as most change over time. Famous airframes, such as the notable VF-111 ‘Sundowners’ F-14A Miss Molly appear, but other highlights include Tomcats in non-standard camouflage.
Sporadic colour profiles help to tell the full visual story, as well as close-up photos of mission tallies and squadron artwork. This is a splendid book for anyone considering Tomcat builds, and will soon have you mulling over different Tomcat builds. For further details visit: www.detailandscale.com
Colours & Markings of the F-14 Tomcat
Part 2: Pacific Fleet and Reserve Squadrons
By: Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak
ISBN: 978-8-4570657-4-1
Format: Softback, 280 x 216mm
Price: UK £19.99, US $23.99
Our story on the Atlantic Fleet squadrons Tomcat book can be see here
