[David Hingtgen]

I want a low-vis version of VF-101 too, as it's the first (and only) F-14 I've seen fly. AD 167, 163417 please. They can use the same tail and nose artwork, just in different colors.

[zed550]

small correction about the vf-111 jet its from 1988 not 1978!
my fault must have hit the wrong key apologies to all.
just been informed of another secret release.

[valkyrie]

What about the VF-101? Is there going to be low-vis version?

[SKUNKY]

Joe Q. Kasualkollektor doesn't seem to want anything other than "showbirds"......and evidently that's who's driving this hobby...

[ZS-VAN]

I see photos on the Flying Mule website for those interested.

[David Hingtgen]

1988? That's a relief. I'll get back to everyone on exactly what to expect---I know 1987 and 1989 off the top of my head, but I'll have to check some of my stuff for 1988. Might be one of the "SuperCAG" variations.

PS--VF-101 low vis, AD 167, technically is a show bird---it's just in low vis. It's the back-up demo plane for 2003, and the one I saw fly the demo. VF-101 didn't always have 2 in high vis for shows, so a low-vis one often did do the shows.

[Panther10]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

Joe Q. Kasualkollektor doesn't seem to want anything other than "showbirds"......and evidently that's who's driving this hobby...

Gimme his addres so I can kill 'im!

[David Hingtgen]

The VF-111 1988 CAG is actually a very famous F-14 in a not-so-famous scheme. It's "Miss Molly"----but one year before the Miss Molly markings were applied. It is about (but not quite) as typical a VF-111 CAG F-14 as you'll see. Its distinguishing feature is that it is displaying the assigned squadron color of yellow on its tail (VF-111 was always the 2nd squadron in the wing, VF-51 was first---thus VF-111 is always "2xx"---and "2xx" is assigned yellow)-------the forward edge of each ray of the sunburst has a thin yellow border. It's very hard to see in most photos, even of the few VF-111 planes that did this. (I have plenty of good shots showing the multi-colored border stripes---but yellow-only stripes are only barely visible in a few pics, if you're staring hard and know what to look for) The bureau number is 161621, which is famous for not only being Miss Molly, but also an actual TARPS F-14A, as well as being the Black Knight's CAG for many years in many schemes----including the one FoV released. (But not the one Century did).

Best I can provide is a scan of a decal to show how its tailfin is painted---look closely for the yellow striping:


PS--I do believe "Miss Molly" also has the yellow borders, but it is often missed. My avatar is in fact Miss Molly, but you simply can't tell if the yellow is there or not due to the quality of the photo. I've found good closeups of the nose of Miss Molly, but never the tail. You have to be VERY close to see the yellow stripes.

[David Hingtgen]

......or you can just ignore all that, because I found a nice big pic of 161621 in 1988 at M.A.T.S. You can see the yellow striping decently if you click on it for the full-size version, though they show up more like orange. Also, this is a Block 125 F-14, as-built, so that will be a new configuration for Century. Fairly unique combination----has the "armpit" antennas and the beavertail antenna, but lacks the "shoulder" antenna and nosegear door antenna. (F-14 antennas are always in pairs---if you have one you have the other, and vice-versa). These were the final F-14A's, as Block 130 started the F-14B.

[Canucklehead]

Oooh, that's a nice Tomcat. I may have to get one of those, since they'll probably never do a VF-1 bird. I don't usually consider jets for my collection, but CW is making it hard to resist, as is HM with their A-10's.