Grumman F-14 Tomcat (fixed-wing)
Fictional profiles of an unbuilt aircraft.
This is probably the most detailed aircraft profile that I have created to date. I think I finally figured out the canopy glass! During development of the F-14 Tomcat, Grumman proposed several different versions. One of these was basically identical to the variable geometry F-14 that eventually went into production, but had fixed, conventional wings. These "what if" aircraft profiles are based on that unbuilt fixed-wing version. I started out by drafting three views of an early F-14A Tomcat, then I replaced the swing wings with the fixed wings. These were further modified with wing fold hinges and wingtip missile rails from the F/A-18 Hornet.
November 2009 - April 2010

I created quite a few profiles, so I am splitting this up by variant:

• F-14A (prototype, pre-production and early production fixed-wing version for US Navy).
• F-14 IMI (Improved Manned Interceptor version for USAF).
• F-14C Super Tomcat (Improved version for US Navy).
• RF-14A Tomcat (Reconnaissance version for US Navy).

Grumman models of the fixed-wing (left) and variable-geometry (right) F-14 Tomcat.

Early drafting progress.

Drafting progress on the fixed-wing version.

I also drafted various F-14 details, including open canopy & radome, extended IFR probe, weapon pylons and missiles, and F-14D exhaust nozzles.

Drafting the fixed-wing side elevation view.

Landing gear details.

After importing into Paint Shop Pro and doing a lot of graphical work.

Zoomed-in view in Paint Shop Pro. I elminated black border lines. I also added a lot more highlighting and shading, as well as weathering (but more subtle and blended in). I used a very large number of layers, organized into layer groups. I also split everything up into separate layer groups - for example, the fuselage, nacelles, and wings are all in separate layer groups. This gave me more control over coloring, lighting, shading, etc., each of these elements. Various external configurations of weapons pylons and stores were also added in various layer groups. These could be turned on or off depending on the desired configuration.

Another look in Paint Shop Pro, with some of the layers visible. The background views also had to be updated if the external loadout changed!