NO RESERVE. 1/100 Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat U.S. Navy Carrier-capable, Supersonic, Twin-engined, Two seat, Variable-sweep Wing Fighter Aircraft, Tail Code "AA", A/C ID # NK103, USN VF-103 (Fighter Squadron 103) "Jolly Rogers" as flown from USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), 2004 with "Final Tomcat Cruise" displayed beneath the squadon's Skull and Crossbones insignias on the outward-facing sides of the twin tail planes.

Note that the "Final Tomcat Cruise" slogan is a bit misleading because the last F-14s were not retired from the Navy until September 22, 2006 and several squadrons continued to serve aboard US aircraft carriers from 2004 until sometime in 2006. What the slogan was anticipating was that this would be the last cruise of Tomcats aboard the Kennedy - in anticipation that F-18 Hornets would have replaced all F-14s in the VF - Fighter and VFA - Strike Fighter squadrons to be deployed aboard Kennedy in the future.

However, by this time in her career Kennedy was the Navy's most costly carrier in the fleet to maintain and due to tight budgets, the decision was made in Oct. 2005 to retire the ship. During the few years remaining until decommissioned on March 23, 2007 Kennedy visited a number of ports of call to allow the public to say "good bye" tp her.

Although Kenndey was stricken from the Naval Registry on October 16, 2009, that November the Navy placed her on a donation hold for use as a museum and menorial. A group in Maine and another in Rhode Island tried to put together viable plans supported by adequate financing for such an undertaking but both were unsuccessful and in late 2017 the Navy changed her status to that of waiting disposal. Finally, on October 6, 2021 Kennedy along with USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), the only other US conventional super carrier remaining in existence - which was also awaiting disposal, were sold to International Shipbreakers Ltd. for one cent each (which Seems obscene when you think about it).

The model is identified simply as a "Tomcat" in the information provided by the manufacturer which our distributor included in the invoice to us. However, we determined that it is in fact a "Super Tomcat" from an Internet site considered by many as "the definitive F-14 source". This site points out that with its new, more powerful engines and large number of improvements compared to the earlier F-14s, the F-14D's name was changed from "Tomcat" to "Super Tomcat", but there are no readily observable external differences between the earlier Tomcats and the Super Tomcats.

Model is unbranded - having been purchased by our distributor from directly from the two to three factories in China that manufacture pre-made collectible scale models. This and other such models that have been offered by factories come in a few different styles of boxes - none of which carry any brand names or part numbers. Much of the information on the boxes is in Chinese but the brief warning about age suitability appears in multiple languages. Some of the models, as is the case with this particular one, have a few descriptive paragraphs on the boxes' undersides about the actual aircraft represented by the model.

All of these unbranded models were initially sold as models bearing known brand names. Different type stands are used for the various unbranded the models and most can be recognized by experienced collectors as common to a specific brand or brands.

It not clear whether the unbranded models have the same markings / camouflage schemes as their branded counterparts but some may be finished with markings and camouflage unique to these unbranded pieces. Regardless, all of the few dozen different models amoung the unbranded items we have obtained to list are very high quality pieces.

The models in the group that we've obtained to date all appear on the invoices with "FS", "FSF" and "FSH" prefixes followed by numeric "0XX" designators all of which have "A", "B", or "C" suffixes. Each of the part numbers are assigned to single models with no duplications. When the contact at our distributor was asked what the "FS" stood for, he responded "Factory Select" but gave the impression that this was his choice.

For the purpose of this listing we are using both "Unbranded" with the corresponding bare numbers lacking the "FS" or other prefixes and the "Factory Select" designation and the full numbers on our invoices assigned to the specific items. Interestingly, somewhat detailed identifying information for each of the models appears on our invoices but not on the models' packaging.

Although the boxes for several FS models are black on all sides with three views of the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter on the bottom, this model comes in a box with graphics highlighting the F-14 on its top as shown in our seventh picture and information about the aircraft appears on the box's underside.

Model has fixed landing gear that cannot be removed but also comes with a stand so it can be displayed both "on the ground" as well as "in flight".

Diecast model with resin and plastic parts. Unbranded #034C / "Factory Select" #FS034C.

MIB.

FOR ANYONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO INTERPRET A MODEL'S SCALE, THE MODEL IS 7 5/8 INCHES LONG WITH A 7 1/2 INCH WINGSPAN WITH THE VARIABLE-SWEEP WINGS FULLY EXTENDED. THESE ARE EQUIVALENT TO DIVIDING THE LENGTH AND CORRESPONDING WINGSPAN OF THE REAL AIRCRAFT IN INCHES BY 100.

Buyer pays shipping as indicated:

(1) US - Free Shipping by USPS First Class Package or Priority Mail to anywhere in the 50 states depending on weight.

(2) CANADA - $19.00 US for this 1/43 Scale item; $2.00 US per item for each additional 1/43 or smaller scale item in the same shipment.

LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE - $27.00 US for this 1/43 Scale item; $3.50 US for each additional 1/43 or smaller scale item in the same shipment.

(4) ALL OTHER COUNTRIES - $27.00 US for this 1/43 Scale item; $4.50 US for each additional 1/43 or smaller scale item in the same shipment.

International shipments will be identified a "Merchandise" on the necessary US Customs forms and the price paid for each model in a given shipment will be used as its declared value. Any duties or other taxes levied on any foreign shipment are to be borne by the buyer.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS BY FIRST CLASS MAIL INTERNATIONAL, WHICH COVERS PACKAGES UP TO 4 LBS IN WEIGHT. BECAUSE THIS MODEL IS RELATIVELY LIGHT-WEIGHT, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SHIP A FEW ADDITIONAL MODELS WITH IT AND STILL BE UNDER THE 4 LBS. LIMIT. THE INCREMENTAL SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES FOR ADDITIONAL MODELS WILL VARY BETWEEN $2.00 AND $4.50 EACH, DEPENDING UPON WHERE THE MODELS ARE TO BE SHIPPED.

Virginia buyers pay 6.0% Sales Tax. Allow 10 days for checks to clear. EMAIL US TO HOLD ITEMS PENDING ADDING MORE TO THE SHIPMENT.