Daco Publications

Uncovering the Grumman F-14 A/B/D Tomcat

by Danny Coremans

 ISBN # 90-806747-6-1   Product # DCB003  MSRP $34.75 Euro

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Aug 11 2006

 

 

 

Daco Publications continues to deliver the best modeling walkaround books on the market.  The F-14 Tomcat is one of the most well known jet fighters of all time......no doubt partly due to the movie Top Gun.  This 168 page softcover book from Daco Publications will be a incredibly valuable resource for the F-14A/B/D modeller looking for those detail pics to take their model to the next level.  This book contains over 750 colour photos of the U.S. Navy F-14 A/B/D Tomcat.

This book is 21 x 24 cm (5,33 x 9.5 inch), contains of 168 pages and has additional 2 large foldouts ( 1 meter / 40" long) with 1/72nd & 1/48th scale with the various cockpit lay-out drawings and a list of the Bureau Numbers.

the nose probe inside the radome:

Wow...where to start....this book is PACKED full of photos.........exceptionally well done photos.

the complete fuselage in detail, including flaps & slats tails shown from inboard (& outboard)

The photos are clearly printed on glossy paper with good light and provide endless detail of the various versions of the Tomcat.  The photos in this review will give you an idea of what this book has to offer....you've got to buy the book to see the larger photos.  And don't worry.....this book is a bargain........you won't be disappointed.

underside (here the front fuselage) some special features

The photos of the cockpit and engines with the engine covers removed as well as the engines out of the jet are photos you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere else.  This book also contains a massive selection of photos of such hidden areas such as the gun bay, avionics bay, gear bays and many other hidden areas that would be a gold mine for the super detailing scratchbuilder.

the three cockpit versions, starting with 6 pages of the A-model 10 pages for the F-14B cockpits

The level of detail in the photos will amaze you.

14 pages of the F-14D cockpits both ejection seats in detail (here the SJU-17)

The text in this book is mostly photo descriptions to help support the wonderful photos in this book.  There are also a large selection of weapons loads photos.

the nose landing gear - with never published sequences the landing gear bays from every angle

After seeing the photos in this book I'm inspired to try to do up a super detailed F-14 with open panels etc.

a large part is showing the Tomcat in maintenance, uncovering what's behind those panels or behind the seats

Detail....detail and MORE detail!!!

or below the wing pivot covers and then there's still space left for the armament section

The book also contains photos of the airframe rich in weathering information for the modeller keen on building a typical dirty US Navy bird.

Phoenix, Sidewinder, Sparrow, JDAM and other bombs, TARPS

plus the 1 meter long fold out pages with 1/72nd and 1/48th scale drawings and cockpit diagrams

If you like building the F-14......this book is a must have......you will love it and once you see it you will be inspired to add more and more detail to your next F-14 model.

plus the 1 meter long fold out pages with 1/72nd and 1/48th scale drawings and cockpit diagrams

You can get this book direct from the Daco Publications website.

I'd like to thank Danny at Daco Publications for sending me this review sample.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford