VF-24 Renegades

Last Rage

Part 2

1/48 scale

Fightertown Decals

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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As the title says, this is part 2 of Fightertown Decals coverage of the F-14As of VF-24, the Fighting Renegades. 

The sheet provides markings for three different Tomcats of VF-24 for the period between December 1995, when they deployed aboard the USS NIMITZ for their last WestPac cruise, until they were dis-established in August of 1996. 

The individual aircraft are: 

• The CAG bird, Bureau number 161279, modex 200.  Although relatively drab compared with the full colour markings worn by today’s CAG tactical paint scheme painted CAG birds 161279 was relatively bright for 1996. It has gloss black vertical stabilisers and ventral strakes in addition to its basic (TPS) finish of FS35237 dark blue/grey over FS36375 light compass grey.  The squadron “check mark” insignia is also in full colour as are the outlines to the modex numbers and the edging to the ventral fin (red).  The NG Air Wing indicator is also red with light grey “shadowing” as is the air wing indicator.

• Bureau number 161295, modex 206.  This option is in the same basic TPS finish as the previous option including the black tail and ventral fin but with plain black modex.  Still a bright machine for a line bird.

• Bureau number 161869, modex 202.  A real Plain Jane line bird with basic TPS finish and no colour at all.

You get enough markings to model any two machines on the sheet.  Find yourself another set of national insignia and cut another red squadron “check mark” from red decal film and you can do all three.  Stencil data on these aircraft was restricted to the larger and more visible items and these are all supplied.  The same minor but very welcome decals that are on Part 1 also appear on this sheet - the data placards that were affixed to the landing gear struts and catapult launch bar - the red and black checkerboard markings for the crew’s helmets, shoulder patches, and squadron insignia, all of which are two-part decals. 

As with Part 1, the same attention to detail has been put into the placement guide.  It is A-4 in size and printed on good quality glossy paper.  It shows both left and right hand side for each option as well as a generic plan view of the topside.  Small colour photographs show you a crew helmet and landing gear to assist with the correct placement to the scale counterparts of these items.  Full and comprehensive notes are also included and tell you about weapons load outs, weapon rail configuration and the fact that they were heavily weathered at the completion of their deployment.  Other facts include that modex 200 and 206 are block 115 F-14A and modex 202 is a Block 130 machine that all had the ECM bumps under the glove vane and beavertail and had the NACA vents and tall TACAN antenna. 

The decals themselves have been printed by Microscale.  All of the designs bar one on my sample are in perfect register, sharply printed and look to be the right shades of colour to my eye.  The exception to this is a single NAVY title that looks to be a bit smudged.  I’m willing to give the guys at Fightertown Decals the benefit of the doubt on this one seeing as it is a sample and they no doubt wanted to push them out of the door for review.  I’d worry if the problem was on a single irreplaceable design but there are two other ones supplied on the sheet as well. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The decal sheet and support guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

A great companion sheet to Part 1 of the VF-24 Fighting Renegades Last Rage from Fightertown Decals.  Well researched, well presented and definitely a must-have if you are a Tomcat fan.  Get one while you still can!

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Fightertown Decals for the review sample.

Postscript

Additional support information on the aircraft featured on this and the other sheet covering VF-24’s F-14s feature on the Fightertown Decals website at http://www.fightertowndecals.com/

Review Copyright © 2007 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 21 June, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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