[Black Lion VF-213]

I was pondering which Tomcat will Century Wings release next in 1/72. (Gotta specify since 1/144 is out)
Of course this is what's out now:
VF-84 Jolly Rogers (Don't need to list all the ones, they all have the same paint scheme)
VF-41 Black Aces
VF-111 Sundowners
VF-21 Freelancers
VF-154 Black Knights
VF-101 Grim Reapers
VX-4 Evaluators

I was trying to interpret based on what's available against any trends or patterns to see if I could gauge what could be next. It seems that CW likes to make planes in a combination of these: 1. Very pronounced livery (all are visually appealing), 2. Squadron noteriety, 3. Carrier Wing or Aircraft carrier pairings, 4. Some sort of historical significance (VF-154 was the last squadron to use the "A" model, VF-101 received the very last Tomcat flight class). In light of all this here's the 7 most likely which I think we'll see:

In order of most likely
VF-1 Wolfpack
VF-2 Bounty Hunters
(These two because they're the first Tomcat squadrons, they were paired together for a long time, their liveries are very striking
VF-84. Yep the Jolly Rogers. I really think CW is going to try to make each of this squadron's birds. After AJ201, could AJ207 or AJ222 be next??
VF-32 Swordsmen. I know Witty makes one but c'mon, they ain't CW. VF-32 had Mig-killers in 1989. Plus the CAG bird looks great
VF-33 Starfighters. Can't think of anything historical, and no one else has made theirs, but man does that black tail CAG VF-33 bird with the lightning bolt on the side look great or what?!?
VF-143 Pukin Dogs. Nobody has a name or logo anywhere as cool as theirs. Plus they have a couple CAG versions that would look fantastic in our hangars
VF-211 Checkmates. Great looking scheme and they've been involved in both Iraq wars and have lots of combat time.

Let's discuss not what we think will come out just cause it's our favorite squadron, but reason it out.

What do y'all think fellas??

[STARMAN 352ND]

Well you know in July-Aug 2008 another Jolly Rogers AJ201 is due out.I have a feeling that may be the last one we will see for a while.
JP

[Black Lion VF-213]

Starman,
You really think that's the last VF-84 release? at least for a while? I think they're gonna make all of them. Sort of a pride thing for them. Something to distinguish themselves above all other diecast makers: Who else is gonna lay claim that "They made the entire 1978 Jolly Rogers squadron."?

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Well you know in July-Aug 2008 another Jolly Rogers AJ201 is due out.I have a feeling that may be the last one we will see for a while.
JP

...last Jolly Rogers or last Tomcat?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by lanslide

...last Jolly Rogers or last Tomcat?

That's a good Question.....I can't answer that one for you.
I'll say this there is still a few Tomcat schemes i like to see.
JP

[firefighterpilot1]

Originally Posted by Black Lion VF-213

Starman,
You really think that's the last VF-84 release? at least for a while? I think they're gonna make all of them. Sort of a pride thing for them. Something to distinguish themselves above all other diecast makers: Who else is gonna lay claim that "They made the entire 1978 Jolly Rogers squadron."?

I highly doubt it. That means there would be around 5 to 7 planes left, nobody is going to keep buying the same scheme with different numbers. After AJ201 I am done with this Jolly Rogers scheme. (and I own all the JR's made by CW)

I really hope it's not the last Tomcat we see for a while, that would make me resent AJ201 even more. SO MANY good schemes left to be done.

We probably have a couple of "next Tomcat" threads, my vote is still for a Pukin Dogs (in order of preference)

[Shawn 507]

Tophatters!!

[David Hingtgen]

A B-model. Don't really care what squadron/markings, so long as it's a B-model. (Though I would pass on VF-211 and VF-11).

As for a Pukin' Dogs B----yes, but not the "museum" scheme. IMHO that's a fake scheme, as no fleet plane actually wore it and it's a weird mish-mash of low and high-vis because they didn't quite follow the instructions.

Gimme this (the final "real" CAG colors):



Or for other B's, including the world's only red-tailed Tomcat, and a much-requested low-vis:



Surely, if there's ANY plane that Century should be willing to "risk" a low-vis release on, it'd be a Jolly Rogers B model. If any low-vis could sell in big numbers, it'd be the Jolly Rogers, on a type of F-14 that hasn't been done yet. We all know their "colorful planes sell" argument, but this is the Jolly Rogers, and there aren't any B's yet.

And if they want color---no F-14B is more eye-catching than the red-tailed VF-101 show bird.

PS to Century---please please PLEASE give us some GBU-12's! I'm just about finished with my OEF Tomcat book, and they are reporting for some operations being *90%* GBU-12's. It is THE bomb for a Tomcat. Many squadrons only dropped 1 or 2 GBU-24's in the entire operation but several hundred GBU-12's *per week*---yet Century gives us GBU-24's and no 12's. It's like giving an ASAT missile to an F-15 but no Sidewinders...

[firefighterpilot1]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

A B-model. Don't really care what squadron/markings, so long as it's a B-model. (Though I would pass on VF-211 and VF-11).

As for a Pukin' Dogs B----yes, but not the "museum" scheme. IMHO that's a fake scheme, as no fleet plane actually wore it and it's a weird mish-mash of low and high-vis because they didn't quite follow the instructions.

Gimme this (the final "real" CAG colors):


.

That was the pic I was looking for. DEFINITELY the best Pukin Dogs scheme, and one of the best Tomcat schemes EVER. I don't know if it's the lighting, but the blue looks to be not dark enough to be Navy blue but definitely too dark to be light blue (like my first pic)

As for the museum scheme, are you referring to the last pic in my post? I too have mixed feelings about that, I don't think it's a bad looking version, but you do make a good point about it never being an official scheme.

[David Hingtgen]

Yup, that scheme is the "perfect" blue---not too dark, not too light.

As for museum scheme---yes, the one you posted. It's "close but not quite"---I mean, they "made it up" for one flight to go to the museum. I like "real" schemes. Just IMHO.