Grumman F-14A Tomcat (Late)
Tamiya (Aardvarks)

TCS, standard wheels (not the original ones in the Tamiya kit) and rudder braces. There was absolutely nothing in the fleet by the mid 80's with old wheels and no rudder braces. Last documented non-rudder brace/original wheel jet I have ever seen was 1982. And that was a unique oddity only a few jets made it that long.



For pre-1978, the Tamiya kit is perfect. 78-81, it will cover a handful of jets. Post 1981 you need braces, wheels, and when TCS came out. (and starting with block 100/115 you need the ECM bumps on the tail and under the glove vanes. And then the ECM was retrofitted on older jets. Post 1992 you need NACA vents, tall Tacan (actually in the kit!) and ECM. Post 1996 you can add Lantirn and B/D ECM bumps on front gear door and on the leading edge of intake cover.

*If these things matter to you*