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F-14 Tomcat Model Kits: F-14A vs B vs D and the Top Gun Kits
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The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy's fleet defense fighter for more than three decades, and the 1986 film Top Gun made it famous far beyond the Navy. It is also one of the most popular jet subjects in modeling. But a Tomcat kit can show three main versions in very different paint schemes, and jets in large scales are much bigger than most people expect. This guide covers the versions, the Top Gun kits and how to choose a scale.
The Tomcat in brief
The F-14 first flew in December 1970 and entered squadron service in 1974. It was built to protect aircraft carriers from long-range bombers and missiles. Its powerful radar and the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missile could engage targets far beyond visual range, and its two crew members, a pilot and a radar intercept officer (RIO) in the back seat, shared the work.
The feature everyone remembers is the variable-sweep wing. The wings moved forward, to about 20 degrees, for low-speed flight and carrier landings, and swept back to 68 degrees for high speed. On deck they could be "overswept" further back to save space. Around 700 Tomcats were built, including aircraft for Iran, the only export customer. The US Navy retired its last F-14s in 2006.
In the 1990s, Tomcats were also adapted to drop precision-guided bombs, earning the nickname "Bombcat". So a late-career F-14 might carry bombs and a targeting pod as well as air-to-air missiles.
F-14A vs F-14B vs F-14D
- F-14A: the original, and the version in Top Gun. It used Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines, which were widely criticized as underpowered for the aircraft and could stall if handled roughly. The F-14A served from 1974 to the end of the Tomcat's career.
- F-14B: first called the F-14A+, it replaced the TF30 with the much more powerful General Electric F110. Some were built new and others converted from F-14As. Avionics stayed largely the same as the A.
- F-14D: the final version combined the F110 engines with new digital avionics, an upgraded radar and a new cockpit. Only a small number were built new, with more rebuilt from F-14As. Revell sells its F-14D as the "Super Tomcat", a name often attached to the D.
How to tell them apart on a model
The differences are subtle, so look at three places:
- Exhaust nozzles. The F-14A's TF30 nozzles are long and extend well behind the airframe. The F110 nozzles on the B and D are shorter and more tapered. This is the easiest way to separate an A from a B or D.
- Chin pod. The F-14D carries a twin sensor pod under the nose, combining an infrared sensor and a TV camera. Most F-14As and Bs have a single pod or none, depending on when they were photographed.
- Glove vanes. Early F-14As had small retractable vanes in the fixed wing gloves, ahead of the moving wings. They were later disabled, and the F-14D does not have them.
| Version | Engines | How to spot it | Kits in our catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-14A | TF30 | Long exhaust nozzles; the Top Gun version | Tamiya 1/48 (61114), Tamiya 1/32 Black Knights (60313), Revell 1/48 Maverick's F-14A (03865 and 85-5872) |
| F-14B | F110 | Short, tapered nozzles; otherwise like a late F-14A | No dedicated F-14B kit in our catalog yet |
| F-14D | F110 | Short nozzles plus a twin chin pod | Tamiya 1/48 (61118), Revell 1/72 Super Tomcat (03960) |
The Tamiya Tomcats
Tamiya's 1/48 F-14A and F-14D are modern kits with a strong reputation for accuracy and fit, and they are the usual recommendation for a Tomcat in this scale. Build the A for the 1970s and 1980s, including the Top Gun era; build the D for the final years of the Tomcat's service. Tamiya's 1/32 F-14A, released in "Black Knights" markings for squadron VF-154, is an older and much larger kit.
Tamiya F-14A Tomcat
Tamiya's 1/48 F-14A is the go-to kit for the original Tomcat, with the long TF30 nozzles that mark the A. It suits builders with a few kits behind them who want an accurate, well-engineered jet. Check the listing for the stores and markings included.
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Tamiya F-14D Tomcat
The 1/48 F-14D from Tamiya captures the last Tomcat, with its F110 engines and twin chin pod. Pick it for a 2000s Navy jet in low-visibility greys.
Check price on AmazonThe Top Gun connection
The original Top Gun was filmed with the cooperation of the US Navy, using real F-14As from Navy squadrons, with the fictional enemy "MiG-28" played by black-painted Northrop F-5s. Maverick and his RIO, Goose, fly an F-14A, so a Top Gun Tomcat should always be an A with the long nozzles.
In Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the main jets are F/A-18E and F Super Hornets, but an F-14 returns for the film's climax, and Tom Cruise's own P-51D Mustang appears as well. That is why the Top Gun product range now covers Tomcats, Super Hornets, a MiG-28 and even Mustangs.
Top Gun plastic kits
Revell sells "Maverick's F-14A Tomcat" in 1/48 under two catalog numbers, 03865 and 85-5872, which correspond to Revell's European and American ranges. Compare the two listings to see whether one includes paints and glue. Revell also offers a 1/72 "Top Gun Movie Set"; check its listing for which aircraft are in the box. Those Revell kits are designed around film-style markings, while Tamiya's kits show service aircraft, so a film fan who wants exact movie markings will usually prefer the Revell kits.
Revell Maverick's F-14A Tomcat, Top Gun
Revell's 1/48 Maverick's F-14A is made specifically for Top Gun fans, with markings for the film aircraft. It is a natural gift for a movie fan who builds models, and 1/48 gives a sizeable jet for the shelf.
Check price on AmazonTop Gun block sets
If the Tomcat is for display rather than painting, block sets are an excellent alternative. COBI has released more than one Top Gun F-14 set in roughly 1/48 scale; compare the piece counts in the listings to pick between them. Revell's Brick System Maverick's F-14A, at about 2,500 pieces in 1/32, and the MISINI F-14 at about 2,450 pieces in 1/35, are big, display-size builds. COBI's MiG-28 set lets you build the film's opponent too. Our block set guide explains how the brick brands compare.
COBI Top Gun F-14A Tomcat, 757 Pieces
COBI's Top Gun F-14A is a licensed brick-built Tomcat at about 1/48 scale. It needs no glue or paint, and the moving parts of the real jet make it a fun build for teenagers and adults. A good pick for fans who would rather not paint.
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COBI Grumman F-14 Tomcat, Top Gun, 869 Pieces
Revell Maverick's F-14A Tomcat, Brick System, 2,500 Pieces
MISINI F-14 Tomcat Fighter Jet, 2453 Pieces
COBI MiG-28, Top Gun, 332 Pieces
Revell Maverick's F/A-18E Super Hornet, Top Gun
Tomcat paint schemes
Tomcat colors fall into two eras:
- 1974 to early 1980s, high visibility: light gull grey on top and gloss white underneath, with bright squadron markings on the tails, such as the skull and crossbones of VF-84 "Jolly Rogers". These are the most colorful Tomcats.
- From the early 1980s, low visibility: the Navy moved to flat greys, with national insignia and squadron markings in darker grey. Most late F-14As, and all F-14Bs and Ds, wore these schemes, often heavily weathered and patched by deck crews. Squadrons still added colorful markings to their commanders' aircraft.
The film aircraft from 1986 sit at the boundary, with grey finishes and toned-down, film-specific markings. Follow your kit's painting guide for those.
Choosing between 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 jets
Jets are much bigger than WWII fighters. The F-14 is about 19 meters long, roughly twice the length of a P-51 Mustang, so a 1/48 Tomcat is about the same size as a 1/24 Mustang. Here is what that means on your shelf:
- 1/72: about 27 cm long. A Tomcat at this scale is still a substantial model, takes less space and costs less. It is the scale for building a collection of modern jets.
- 1/48: about 40 cm long, and about 40 cm across with the wings forward. This is the most popular scale for jets, with the best choice of kits, decals and accessories.
- 1/32: about 60 cm long. A spectacular centerpiece, but it needs a large shelf or a dedicated display case.
The swing wing helps. With the wings swept back, a 1/48 Tomcat is only about 24 cm wide, which is much easier to display than its spread-wing size. Check whether your kit allows the wings to be posed, or to move, before you glue them.
The same thinking applies to other modern jets in our catalog, such as the F-15, F-16 and F-4 Phantom. For a first jet, a 1/72 or 1/48 single-seat fighter is easier than a Tomcat, which has a complex wing, two cockpits and long intakes. Our scale guide has more on choosing a scale.
Revell F-14D Super Tomcat
Tamiya F-14A Tomcat Black Knights
Revell Top Gun Movie Set
Revell Maverick's F-14A Tomcat
Build tips for jet kits
- Add nose weight. Unlike WWII tail-draggers, the Tomcat sits on a nose wheel. Put the weight the instructions call for in the nose before you close it up, or the finished model may tip onto its tail.
- Paint the intakes first. The long air intakes are hard to reach after assembly. Paint the inside white before you glue them, and fill any seam you can reach.
- Plan the decals. Modern jets carry dozens of small stencils. Apply them over a gloss coat, a few at a time, with a decal setting solution.
- Leave the missiles and pylons for last. They break easily when you handle the model.
- Two cockpits. The Tomcat has two seats and two instrument panels. Paint both before you close the fuselage.
Tip: Tomcats on carrier decks were often grimy, with fluid stains streaking back from panels. A light wash and a few vertical streaks of thinned dark paint make a low-visibility grey jet look far more convincing.
Building more Top Gun subjects? The Mustang from Top Gun: Maverick is covered in our P-51 Mustang guide.
Quick answers
Which F-14 was in Top Gun?
The F-14A, the original version with TF30 engines. Revell's Maverick's F-14A kits are made specifically for the film markings.
What is the difference between the F-14B and F-14D?
Both have the more powerful F110 engines. The F-14D also has upgraded digital avionics, a new radar and a twin sensor pod under the nose.
Which F-14 kit is best for a beginner?
A Tomcat is a complex subject. If you are new, start with a simpler jet or a COBI block set. When you are ready, Tamiya's 1/48 F-14A is a well-engineered kit with good fit.
How big is a 1/48 F-14?
About 40 cm long and about 40 cm wide with the wings forward, or about 24 cm with the wings swept.
Is there an F-14B kit in your catalog?
Not as a dedicated kit at the moment. The F-14B looks like a late F-14A with shorter F110 nozzles, so experienced builders sometimes convert an A kit with aftermarket parts.
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