1-200 VF-111, "Sundowners" USS Kitty Hawk & Carl Vinson

1-200 VF-111 "Sundowners" USS Kitty Hawk & USS Carl Vinson — F-14A Tomcat Decals

Recreate VF-111 "Sundowners" F-14A Tomcats from USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with historically accurate 1-200 scale aircraft decals. Serving with Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15), the Sundowners carried the NL tail code, their distinctive rising-sun tail markings, and the famous shark-mouth nose artwork.

Squadron History — USS Kitty Hawk & USS Carl Vinson

The Sundowners trace their lineage to VA-156, established in June 1956 and redesignated VF-111 in January 1959. After extensive F-8 Crusader and F-4 Phantom II service, including combat operations during the Vietnam War, VF-111 transitioned to the Grumman F-14A Tomcat in the late 1970s and continued with CVW-15.

VF-111 deployed with USS Kitty Hawk in May 1979–February 1980 and April–November 1981. These cruises brought the squadron to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean during a period marked by the Iranian hostage crisis and regional tensions. The squadron's Tomcats provided fleet air defense and Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) reconnaissance capabilities.

In 1983, VF-111 joined USS Carl Vinson for the carrier's maiden around-the-world deployment. The Sundowners subsequently completed Pacific and Indian Ocean deployments with Carl Vinson throughout the 1980s, including operations in northern waters and a 1988 deployment supporting Operation Earnest Will, which protected shipping during the Iran–Iraq War.

VF-111 returned to USS Kitty Hawk in 1991 and continued Pacific and Persian Gulf operations. During the 1992–1993 deployment, the squadron supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq, with Kitty Hawk aircraft participating in the January 13, 1993 strike against Iraqi targets.

VF-111 completed its final deployment aboard Kitty Hawk in December 1994 and was officially disestablished on March 31, 1995, concluding an extensive history of carrier-based fighter service.

Decal Markings & Sheet Contents

These decals are specifically designed and sized to fit our 1-200 scale F-14 3D-printed aircraft miniatures, representing VF-111 Sundowners F-14As from the USS Kitty Hawk and USS Carl Vinson eras.

• Markings for 4 complete aircraft (airframes) per sheet.

• One shark-mouth marking for each airframe, plus 4 smaller shark-mouth markings for external fuel tanks.

• Historically accurate Modex numbers and Bureau Numbers (BuNo) representing VF-111 F-14A aircraft.

• VF-111 Sundowners squadron markings associated with CVW-15, USS Kitty Hawk, and USS Carl Vinson.

• Specifically sized for our 1-200 scale F-14 3D-printed miniatures.

Key Historical Details

• Squadron: VF-111 "Sundowners"

• Aircraft: Grumman F-14A Tomcat

• Carriers: USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

• Carrier Air Wing: CVW-15

• Tail Code: NL

• F-14 Era: Late 1970s–1995

• Major Operations: Earnest Will, Restore Hope, Southern Watch

• Theaters: Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Northern Pacific

Model Compatibility & Application

These 1-200 scale waterslide decals are specifically sized for our F-14 3D-printed aircraft miniatures and are suitable for naval aviation displays, historical aircraft modeling, and tabletop air-combat wargaming.

For best results, apply decals over a smooth gloss-coated surface before sealing with a suitable clear finish.

Decal Application and Gloss Coat Tips: https://www.flightdeckdecals2400.com/gloss-coat-decals-tips