Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, June 28th. The auction will begin at 8:00AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, June 29th or Friday, June 30th.

Hollywood (Whip Hubley) and Wolfman's (Barry Tubb) F-14A Tomcat pyrotechnic model miniature from Tony Scott's action film Top Gun. Top Gun was highly regarded for its aerial combat sequences, which utilized a mixture of live-action photography of actual F-14 jets, and visual effects work with models of various scales. In the film's climactic battle sequence, the F-14 piloted by "Hollywood" and "Wolfman" was shot down by an enemy MiG.

The shots of the F-14 being hit by the MiG's missile were achieved with "pyro" models approximately 6' in length, and practical explosion effects. Two shots appear in the film-the first is an explosion shot where the missile impacts and a charge is set off, blowing off a rear section of the aircraft; this was done with a model miniature mounted on a pole arm through its wing. The model offered in this lot was used in the second shot, which sees Hollywood and Wolfman's F-14 falling out of the sky while ablaze. The shot was achieved by dropping the flaming model from a large man-lift. It was shot from underneath, and the model was caught in a net. Behind-the-scenes footage of the shot exists in a documentary on the film's effects. After the first take, the model crew cleaned up the piece for a possible second attempt; it was deemed not necessary as the first shot was approved.

This is one of the few 6'-scale models that survived the shoot. It is cast in fiberglass around a wood structure, and detailed with emblems and markings that match the full-size jets used in filming. The canopy window is made of thin plastic which covers a pair of hand-painted miniature pilots affixed with helmets labeled 'YES' and 'NO' (an in-joke from the model crew, knowing the helmets would never be seen in detail on film.) Its nose is hand-numbered "114," the same number on Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's (Tom Cruise) F-14, which was applied to all models used in the shoot. The model is missing a large section from its rear that represents the missile impact in the shot.

This model exhibits signs of age and wear, including a large section of the starboard quarter deliberately removed by production as well as several cracks throughout the body and yellowing on the canopy window plastic. Dimensions: 73" x 64" x 21" (185.5 cm x 162.5 cm x 53.5 cm)

Special shipping required; see notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: $20,000 - 40,000

View all lots from TOP GUN (1986)