The ghost of the Jolly Rogers squadron, I swear, seemed to be perched on my workbench, judging. Dust motes danced in the late afternoon sun, illuminating the barely started Revell F-14D Super Tomcat kit. I’ve seen enough of these birds in various states of undress (and in the air) to know a decent kit from a flimsy one. Today’s mission: assess this miniature iteration.

First impressions? The 1:72 scale feels right. Not too fiddly, not too simplistic. With a model length of 260mm, you get a decent presence on the shelf. The plastic is your standard injection-molded fare, the grey a familiar friend to any experienced modeler. The panel lines are crisply defined. Crucial for realistic detailing. This is a good foundation. The box art promises a glorious Tomcat, wings swept back in a menacing pose. That iconic variable-sweep wing mechanism is a real selling point. Makes all the difference, mind you, from a static display to a dynamic one.

However, the included instructions are… well, they could be clearer. Revell’s instructions sometimes suffer from overly simplified diagrams and a frustrating lack of detail. Novices might struggle with the more intricate steps, like correctly aligning the intake trunks, which can be tricky. Don’t panic, though. YouTube is your friend. A quick search turns up countless tutorials addressing common model assembly challenges. That’s a decent workaround.

Considering the alternatives, like the older, Hasegawa F-14 kits, this Revell offering holds its own. The Hasegawa kits tend to command a premium, especially now. You’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here. And the plastic quality, overall, is pretty good.

The kit does require painting and glue. No surprise there. Anyone expecting a snap-together marvel is in for disappointment. But for the serious hobbyist, this is where the fun begins. Remember, a good paint job elevates a model from toy to realistic representation. You’ll need to source your own paints. But you knew that.

There’s a small detail that I’ve noticed, specifically: the decals. They seem a little thick. A common issue. A good decal-setting solution can help those decals to snug down. (If you don’t know what I mean, Google it. Seriously).

So, my verdict? For the seasoned modeler looking for a detailed, satisfying build, this F-14D kit is a solid choice. It’s a great base. This is an excellent project. Get yourself some decent tools, a well-lit workspace, and that bottle of Tamiya paints you’ve been eyeing. The sky’s the limit.