FCM Decals 1/48 F-14A Tomcat VF-114 Aardvarks Decal First Look

by Michael Benolkin

First Look

FCM Decals has an interesting line of aftermarket decals from Brazil. The subjects covered in this line include many Brazilian civil and military aircraft subjects, WWI aircraft, and the occasional look at the aircraft of other nations as well.

In this set, we have an interesting pair of F-14A Tomcats from VF-114, the Aardvarks depicting two examples of the aircraft after they adopted the low-visibility camouflage, but one example from a cruise aboard USS Enterprise and the other from aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The two aircraft depicted here are:

• F-14A, 159833, VF-114, NH/102, USS Enterprise, 1984, XO's aircraft
• F-14A, 159836, VF-114, NH/101, USS Abraham Lincoln, 1990, skipper's aircraft

According to the instructions, neither aircraft had received the NACA vented gun doors that were retrofitted to most F-14A Tomcats, so you can use the earlier Academy, Italeri, or Hasegawa kits for this project. The decals include the early gun gas vent decals for the Italeri kit. The sheet also includes sufficient stencols for two complete models.

This is a nice set of decals printed by Microscale and provides another outstanding squadron option for your favorite Tomcat kit.

For a list of retailers that carry the FCM Decal series, look here.

Thanks to FCM Decals for this review sample.