Evans, Andy Profile and Scale Series. Volume 4: Grumman F-14 Tomcat

It was the perfect combination: a powerful two-seat swing-wing aircraft - a potent long-range radar capable of tracking and engaging multiple targets, with the ability to carry no less than four different types of air-to-air weapons: an internal Vulcan cannon for close range, the AIM-9 Sidewinder for close combat, the AIM-7 Sparrow for medium-range engagement and the unrivalled AIM-54 Phoenix - a long-range killer extraordinaire - there could only be one aircraft, the peerless Grumman F-14 Tomcat. After the failed beginnings with the F-111B, the US Navy finally had the aircraft it wanted, and one that would stand the test of time and combat, deployed with both the same determination and speed. The F-14 was born in the desperate days of the Vietnam War and became an unrivalled symbol of naval air power. The Grumman design excelled in its role as a long-range, carrier-based interceptor aircraft, and indeed the Tomcat remained one of the world's premier fighter aircraft until its retirement. The biggest factor that set the Tomcat apart from other fighters, apart from its obvious size and design, was its role as an air superiority fighter. This is not to say that its air-to-ground capabilities were not utilised. In fact, after the retirement of the A-6 Intruder and until it was replaced by the Super Hornet, the Navy turned to the F-14 to fill the gap - and developed the so-called "Bombcat" as an interim measure. This work is aimed at modellers and enthusiasts alike, with historical details, tours, colour profiles and modelling of the Tomcat in common scales.