What is this that I have circled in yellow here? I have my own idea, but it may not be right.



It seems to be on all the later versions I have photos of, but I do have a "A" model photo that does not have it.



I remember reading somewhere that the incident in "Top Gun" where "Goose" is killed has actually happened in a F-14. When the F-14 goes into a flat spin and being the air is not flowing over the aircraft, the ejected canopy could just hang over the top of the aircraft and the "Rear" would get ejected into it.

And that this is actually a parachute housing so the pilot can deploy it and it would take the F-14 out of a flat spin.

I do not know for sure if this is true or that is even what it is.

I am pretty sure the red tube beside it is a fuel dump. But maybe it is a fuel tank vent.

I am thinking that "Castel" or another one of you modelers out there knows.