Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => The Snoops, Sensors, Spooks, & Spies GB => Topic started by: Logan Hartke on May 08, 2014, 04:04:50 AM
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As always, click on the image below to see the picture at 100% or view it at my DeviantArt page (http://comradeloganov.deviantart.com/art/V-507-F-14A-TARPS-USMC-VMFP-3-Eyes-of-the-Corps-452637698).
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/V-507%20Vagabond/900px/USMCVagabond1.jpg) (http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/127/0/d/v_507_f_14a_tarps___usmc_vmfp_3_eyes_of_the_corps_by_comradeloganov-d7hhlhe.png)
The United States Marine Corps was initially interested in the F-14 as an F-4 Phantom II replacement; going so far as to send officers to Fighter Squadron One Twenty-Four (VF-124) to train as instructors. The Corps' enthusiasm for the F-14 cooled, however, when development of the stores management system for ground attack munitions was not pursued. With the development of the TARPS camera pod, the Marines Corps once again looked at procuring the F-14, this time as a replacement for the aging RF-4B Phantom IIs serving with Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VMFP-3).
VMFP-3, the "Eyes of the Corps", began slowly converting to the F-14A Vagabond in 1981, but they retained a flight of RF-4Bs for operation from the USS Midway (CV-41) until 1984 when the remainder of the unit converted. Since the RF-4Bs were completely unarmed, ground attack capability was not an issue. In fact, the F-14's considerable air-to-air armament meant that it required no escort, a great improvement over the RF-4B. The F-14s were initially operated in a high visibility scheme to match the RF-4Bs, but quickly switched to a low visibility overall gray with subdued national markings.
Cheers,
Logan
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Whoa! Talk about throw back!! :-*
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Indeed it is, Taiidan! The scheme came from a Phantom and suits the V-507 well, I think.
Cheers,
Logan
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Looks great!
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Love the -507, looks great! 8)
I also seem to be acquiring kits of USN aircraft with 1970s colourful tails, so I'm getting a bit interested in schemes like this one. Were they carried routinely, or is a special occasion thing?
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Well, based on the number of schemes I've seen on VMFP-3 RF-4Bs over their 15 year history, my napkin math has them completely repainting their aircraft every other weekend. Their CO must've had a relative that worked at Sherwin Williams because they would do a new paint scheme on their aircraft at the drop of a hat. If the Soviets were trying to figure out how many RF-4B photo-recon squadrons the USMC had based purely on unit markings, they'd probably come up with about 17 at any one time.
They were actually very common in the USN and USMC until the low vis gray came to dominate.
Cheers,
Logan