Military Model Scene

Title: Half Century, Baby!
Author: David Parsons & Mads Bangso
Publisher: Tempest Books
ISBN: 978-1-91165-892-4

'Fifty Years of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat', a celebration of this classic Cold War era jet. A 270-page landscape format hard-cover book, written by an author who once flew in this powerful machine.
The story is spread over 11 chapters, plus 2 appendices. It begins by charting the development of the Tomcat, combining the lessons of the Vietnam war in the one fighter, fitting it with an internally mounted gun and a strong missile armament to create a Fleet Defence Fighter for the Cold War era. It was the one aircraft to carry the large Hughes AIM-64 Phoenix missile, and with the system to enable the RIO (Radar Intercept Officer), the 'back seater', to control them. Having covered the naval fighters which preceded it, we get to the First Decade. This is followed up through the remainder of the book with the second, third and last decades, interspersed with some other elements along the way. In particular we learn how it was adapted for other roles, which it took on with its' appropriate ease. Fitted with the TARPS pod for reconnaissance, the LANTIRN pod to enable the 'Bombcat'. Then of course there was it's special place in cinema history and the film star of Top Gun, which was in fact a follow-up to its' earlier appearance in The Final Countdown. It round things off with a look at where the survivors are now, including those supplied to the Tomcat's one foreign operator, Iran, where it is still in service.
The story is told with the many memories of those who served in them over the years, and illustrated with a fantastic selection of archive photos, some of which are reproduced as full page pictures that readers will love. There are also over 120 artwork colour profiles, illustrating the many colours and squadron markings worn by the F-14 over the long in-service career. Very colourful markings at the beginning, though that then went through the period of being toned right down, though some more colour did reappear towards the end. Camouflage schemes we see include the Ferris pattern, Iranian camouflage and the various aggressor finishes. It is finished off with yet more artwork in the two appendices, for Tomcat Squadron Helmet Markings and Tomcat Squadron Patches.
My personal memory of the F-14 was to see it at International Air Tattoo at Greenham Common in 1976, and the most impressive take-off I have ever seen. Then the films, Top Gun especially, plus it did actually get into combat, against Libyan jets and later in the Gulf War. It was Top Gun that really caught the public imagination though I think, and this book will please not just modellers and aviation enthusiasts, but the Top Gun fans as well. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Tempest Books for the review copy.

Robin