This new release from SB Decals features 3 different F-14's from 3 different Squadrons including VF-11 Red Rippers, VF-101 Grim Reapers and VF-102 Diamondbacks.  SB Decals are a collaboration between Sprue Brothers Models and Steel Beach Accessories.  This decal sheet is designed to fit the 1/48 Hasegawa F-14B kit.  

The first aircraft is VF-11 Red Rippers – 2005 (F-14B BuNo 161437) This jet carried the standard TPS paint scheme of Medium Gray (FS35237) topsides, Dark Ghost Gray (FS36320) sides, and Light Ghost Gray (FS36375) undersides. The outside of the tails was freshly painted to put the St. Patrick’s Day markings on. All other markings were standard for VF-11 at the time. The national insignia on the wings were gray, while the fuselage sides carried full color national insignia. This jet also had the reinforcement plate around the RIO ’s boarding step. The red used by VF-11 was brighter than the standard Insignia Red. A good match is Model Master Guard’s Red and can used to paint the fin caps. This was a LANTIRN equipped jet.

The second aircraft isVF-101 Grim Reapers – 1998 (F-14B BuNo 161862) This jet carried the standard TPS paint scheme of Medium Gray (FS35237) topsides, Dark Ghost Gray (FS36320) sides, and Light Ghost Gray (FS36375) undersides. All the trim was painted in Insignia Red. Paint the red and then add the white decal striping afterwards. There were only crew names on the left side of the canopy frame. The right side of the canopy frame was a solid white line. There are other pictures of this plane without the white trim. We were able to get pictures with the white trim, which we thought looked a bit sharper.

The third aircraft isVF-102 Diamondbacks – 2000 (F-14B BuNo 163227) This jet carried the standard TPS paint scheme of Medium Gray (FS35237) topsides, Dark Ghost Gray (FS36320) sides, and Light Ghost Gray (FS36375) undersides. All stenciling was in Medium Gray, while squadron markings on the tail were in Combat Gray. This was a LANTIRN equipped jet.

No need to worry about which Tomcat to build.....3 sets of stencils are included so you can build all 3 aircraft.  The 3 pages of instructions sheets includes 3 views of the 2 colour birds on this sheet and 2 views of the lo-viz aircraft.  The decals are flawlessly printed with perfect registration and good solid colours.  

There's also some other items you might want to use to dress up your F-14.  If you are building the Hasegawa kit, you can enhance your model with the Steel Beach Bombrack Set (SB 138), which gives you bombracks, PTID screen, and LANTIRN hand controller, all of which are missing from the Hasegawa kit.  If you are building the R/M kit, the Steel Beach F-14B Update Set (SB 146) will upgrade your F-14A/D into a B.  You can also cover up those pesky intakes with vinyl intake covers from Steel Beach (SB 201 – Red; SB 202 – Black).  All of these items are available at here.  

Click on images below to see larger images

I got a chuckle out of the Leprechaun and Pot of Gold artwork on the tails of the VF-11 Red Rippers jet.  The other paint schemes are good especially the VF-101 Grim Reapers aircraft with it's hi-viz markings and red highlight areas, but the Leprechaun and Pot of Gold artwork caught my eye....I guess it's the Irish in me.  This is a very well done sheet and I look forward to seeing more releases from SB Decals.

This sheet is available through Sprue Bros or go to the SB Decals webpage on the Sprue Bros site.