1/72 Grumman/Sud Aviation F-14A(FR) Tomcat

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, im in for this GB, so here's my first (and i hope not only) entry.
i spent almost an hour browsing through the stash when i got home, looking for the perfect entry.



and Finally i found one, an old Revell 1/72 F-14A Tomcat. im gonna give her the Rafale treatment, with extra avianics, IRST bubble, French Air-to-Air armament (Magic, Super 530 & MICA missiles) ....



Back History:

in 1980, the French navy was looking for a replaceemnt for its outdated F-8 Crusaders in the fleet defence role. knowing the aircraft with its limited range, armament and avionics capability, is an outdate compared to the newer F-16, Mirage 2000, F-1's and Mig-29's buing build up at a rapid pace. to replace the F-8, the aircraft needed to have long range and endurance, a BVR capability and the ability to dogfight.

several aircraft were examines, such as hte F-4J, F-8U Super Crusader, the F/A-18A, F-14 and the Super Etendard CAA (Chasseur Anti-Aerienne). the F-4 and F-8U quickly were rejected due to the age and outdating of the designs, the F/A-18 lacked the range the FN required and the Super Etendard CAA project had encountered many problems (both developmental and political) and was scrapped. in 1982, it seemed the only aircraft that was left was the Tomcat and eventually, the Aeronavale bought 8 aircraft, most of them from undelivered Iranian stocks.

once arrived in France, the F-14A's were taking to the Sud Aviation plant, where most of the american avionics were replaced with french ones, and the aircraft was made suitable to carry french made weapons. the first 2 Tomcats were delivered to the FN in june 1983, and served from the carriers Foch and Clemenceau, who each operated 3 F-14's at one time. in the 1990's, French F-14A(FR)'s were involved in many operations, including air policing over Bosnia, providing air support during Allied Force in 1999 and in Afghanistan attacking Taliban sites in 2003.

when the Foch and Clemenceau retired in the late 90's and the Rafale encountered some delays, all the french F-14's were upgraded by Thales/Dassault, the upgrade included a new glass cockpit, an enhanced multimode radar, the ability to use the MICA AAM and the ability to operate in an air-to-ground role. for this they were now armed with LGB-11, Storm Shadow and many forms of unguided GP bombs.

the F-14 is expected to soldier on until 2011, witch by then, the Rafale would have completly replaced it in the carrier defence role.

[ysi_maniac]

Sounds good!

[Taiidantomcat]

Fine choice 

[ChernayaAkula]

Me thinks the duck artwork wouldn't look out of place on the Tomcat's big back, now, would it?

[Radish]