HT's 1/72 GWH F-15E

Hardtarget · July 23, 2017

I shall be taking part with one of these new boys.

*Pics to follow*

PhantomBigStu · July 23, 2017

Welcome aboard, one I'm particularly keen on following as I said in the chat

Vultures1 · July 24, 2017

Outstanding choice! Will be following with interest

helium · August 1, 2017

I am looking forward how this kit builds

Hardtarget · August 22, 2017

Right ho, the Eagle has scrambled.

Box Shot

DSC_0123 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Sprues which the number is impressive packed full of weapons and pylons.

DSC_0124 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

DSC_0125 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Decal sheet, clear parts and colouor call out for a couple of Mountain Home and a Seymour Johnson kites. I may not do either and my use some AM decals.

DSC_0126 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Reference, probably the best in the world.

DSC_0131 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Pit- the seats are made up of the usual 4 parts, the tub is one but the detail in that pit is awesome probably the same you would get with a resin AM or PE added.

DSC_0127 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Check out those IP's.

DSC_0128 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Wheelwell covers, shame you wont see the detail with the panels in the stowed position on the ground and in the air.

DSC_0130 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Hardtarget · August 22, 2017

Wheel Well detail is pretty good and are molded to the main frame.

DSC_0132 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Top wing section

DSC_0133 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Interestingly there are raised panel lines on the elevators which seem a littl over done when looking at the real thing. There are raised lines to indicate the panels on the real thing but i think due to limitations on IM that the lne is a too pronounced and wide. Still a little gentle sanding will reduce this or maybe will be fine after priming and painting. We shall see.

DSC_0135 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Underwing halves that slot to the top opf the wint and either side of the fuselage. No reall cleaning up required. NOTE DRILL THE HOLES as the instructison OMIT this key stage.

DSC_0136 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Wings done ready to be mated to the fuselage.

DSC_0137 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Done, no fit issues here, pops together well using the tabs.

DSC_0138 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Running a little tamiya cement down the join lines is all thats required. There is a little bit of a gap on the wing join which can easily be sorted.

DSC_0139 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Hardtarget · August 22, 2017

Intakes Warning the instructions are the wrong way round. You need parts R7 for the RIGHT and R10 for the LEFT.

DSC_0140 by stuart wellard, on Flickr+

CANS! Ared lovely and match any resin out there. Thet come at a main part then two infill sections.

DSC_0141 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Then you have the very delicate feathers/rods that sit over the main part. The Can at the back then inserts. It was all a little bit tight and i did wonder if i might break one of the rods but all wasy ok using my teeth!

DSC_0142 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

SoftScience · August 22, 2017

superb!

I need to get myself one of these.

PhantomBigStu · August 23, 2017

Was going to get myself the new academy, but seeing this its worth the extra 5 quid to get the GWH, coming along nicely

Jabba · August 23, 2017

Looks a very good kit, and it is progressing well.

Hardtarget · October 22, 2017

Right back to this build after yesterdays Mirage update.

Cockpit up is very detailed with raised details so you can opt to paint this or use the decals. I chose to use the decals to save time as they are in good register. A little trimming is required however to remove the film.

DSC_0002 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

With the tub complete and fitted into one side of the nose section of the fuselage via nice locating pins with the tub having nice pins to fit them in. The nose section also fits the main fuselage via large tabs similar to the the academy kit. This ensures a really nice fit with little cement required.

DSC_0003 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Next up was the intakes which in this kit you have two choices either stationary or in-flight configuration. You also get separate flaps which allow the AC to be on the tarmac. The fit of the intakes are nice as long as you have test fitted before hand.

DSC_0004 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Next up is the hard points and a few ordinance. WARNING the instructions do NOT tell you to DRILL HOLES for the hardpoints. I did this on my own for the wings but forgot to do ti for the fuselage HP's. Luckily using Jake Melamphys book it shows you exactly the distance required. Luckily i was also just about able to see one slight indentation in the fuselage where one holw was drilled. But you have been warned. I dont know how they missed this vital instruction.

DSC_0005 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Canopy is nice and clear with the usual seam down the middle which was taken care of.

DSC_0006 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Undercarriage was next and a really nice rendition it is. Given a coat of black then white using my little plastic stencil to mask the wheels.

DSC_0007 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

I used Xtreme Metal titanium for the rear heat sink areas. These will be masked ready for primer for the hole ac.

DSC_0012 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

DSC_0013 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Canopy fit is good.....

DSC_0014 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

But then we have to insert the canopy framing and this is where there is an issue. All good in this pic but....

DSC_0015 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

IT doesnt fit! The plastic for the framing is too thick to ensure the canopy sits on top of the main cockpit tub detail.

DSC_0017 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

DSC_0018 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

The only way around it was to trim the rear of the framing AND shorten the two main brasses by a couple of MM, making the frame that little bit shorter. Once this was done it fitted like a dream.

Edited October 22, 2017 by Hardtarget

Hardtarget · October 29, 2017

Deadline day update from tha last couple of days progress. Final photo reveal later today

The aircraft's canopy and titanium areas were masked and she was given a coat of grey stynlrez.

DSC_0001 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Although ive closed the nose up there is an option to have the radar on show if you want. Show here installed but not detailed.

DSC_0002 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Vallejo MA 36118 was sprayed over in light uneven coats so that there will be some difference between the paint areas which aid in the weathered look.

DSC_0003 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Underside.

DSC_0004 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

U/C installed with wheels. Burner cans ready as well as the tanks which i only use one later on.

DSC_0005 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Humbrol Clear airbrushed on for the decals.

DSC_0006 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Weapons load out painted and decaled ready for install.

DSC_0007 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

A/C decaled with her loadout ready for install and final weathering.

DSC_0008 by stuart wellard, on Flickr

Important note regarding decals.

You will notice on the decal sheet that rather than individual decals GWH have chosen to 'group' a number together within an area such as the no step markings. These are all linked as part as one which means that there is a huge area of decal film in-between to achieve the distance required. You can like me in some cases cut the film around the decal you actually need or retain the film however in some cases i chose to retain this fiml nad to my surprise even though the decal is tamia/hasegawa like in terms of thickness, they are quite durable and flexible almost rubber like. Setting them down with Mr Setter/surfacer didn't work as quickly as i had like so i used tamiya x20a and they went down like a dream. The perils of x20a is that it is so aggressive that you don't have very long before it eats the film and you cant move it. So decals look scary due to the fiml but settle nicely and therefore i have no qualms of retaining the film.