VF-101 Grim Reapers

Fightertown Decals, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

More big scale decals from the guys at Fightertown Decals.

This time, they are for the machines of VF-101, the ‘Grim Reapers’ and span the years 2001 to 2004.

All of the aircraft on the sheet are finished in the standard Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) of FS36375 light ghost grey undersides with FS36320 dark ghost grey fuselage sides and FS35237 medium grey upper surfaces typically worn by the F-14 and feature squadron-unique markings consisting of black vertical stabilisers, ventral strakes and the tops of the radomes, canopy rails and spines in black.  The fin caps are red as are the modex, unit titles, and airwing indicators. Each options a sport black shark mouths and eyes on their radomes in black (as are the NAVY titles and Bureau Number blocks).  All options wear full colour high visibility versions of the nation insignia.

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Thumbnail panels:

The individual options are:

• Gunfighter 163, F-14D Bureau Number 163414.  The supplied markings depict it from two differing time frames, from 2002 to 2003 and in 2004.  Where the markings differ between versions is with the airwing indicators (smaller AD on the 2004 version applied in the middle of the vertical stabilisers and larger AD on the inside of the rudders for the 2002 - 2003 version.   The other difference is that the 2004 version has the later rendition of the squadron’s grim reaper insignia with the 2002 – 2003 version wearing the ‘diving’ version of the grim reaper insignia on the outer faces of the vertical stabilisers.

• Gunfighter 164, F-14D Bureau Number 164342.  Again, you get markings for two different versions, from 2002 – 2003 and from 2004.  The changes are essentially the same as the previous option with the smaller AD and grim reapers being replaced by the latter versions.

• Gunfighter 101, F-14A Bureau Number 162689.  This was the Commanding Officer’s aircraft between 2001 and 2003.  It wears the later version large AD and the diving version of the grim reaper insignia.

• Gunfighter 101, F-14B Bureau Number 163222.  This machine was also marked up as the Commanding Officer’s aircraft between 2001 and 2004 (there were two Gunfighter 101s?) and the supplied decals allow you depict it with both the early and late AD and grim reaper insignia.  The other difference is that the 101 modex on the early version was a straight one without shadowing whilst the modex on the 2004 version was sloped to the rear and shadowed.

The decals have been printed by Microscale and are perfect as you would expect from this company.  

Six different sheets are provided in all.  The larger one carries majority of the markings whilst the others carry a set of stencil data, a pair of the diving grim reaper insignia, two a pair of 101 modex numbers, large and small AD airwing indicators, 163 and 164 modex numbers and Grim Reapers titles in red, and minor
no-step stencilling respectively.  You get a pair of Grim Reaper helmet decals for you 1/32 scale crew members as well as two sets of squadron patches (five different versions).  These latter decals are all multi-part to get around potential register problems.  There are also markings to produce a pair of ‘U.S. Navy F-14 Demo Team T shirts that feature two-part U.S. flags and Tomcat triangle patches for the sleeves.

A single set of stencil data is supplied and it consists of the larger more visible items including the slime lights, placards for the gear legs and ejector seats, red fuel caps and their black triangle alignment marks, and a decal to simulate the vents on the gun door.

The decals are sized for the Tamiya kit.

The placement guide/information sheets are just shy of being A-4 in size and are printed on glossy paper.  You get three sheets in all and they carry left and right hand side profiles of each option with one sheet carrying a pair of generic upper surface plan views.

The decals and the placement guides/information sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

This is a bumper sheet indeed as you get markings for four different machines, two of which have alternative markings provided to depict them from different years which in essence gives your six options in all, something that you very rarely see with 1/32 scale sheets.

Thanks to Fightertown Decals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2009 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 23 March, 2009
Last updated 26 March, 2009

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