Hoops

Good evening! There was a bit of a work in progress thread for this build a while ago. The build has been done with it for a quite a while, but I worked on some photography this afternoon. I've got to work on depth of focus and few other things on the photography, but this was my first time shooting models in a light box. It's already much better than trying to do it on kitchen counter, but I've still got some learning to do. The air data probe is just press fit on the aircraft now. That way I can remove it if necessary and it doesn't get broken off. The wingtip pitot is complete, but not installed at this time for the same reason. On to the photos! P1030509 by J Hooper, on Flickr P1030512 by J Hooper, on Flickr P1030513 by J Hooper, on Flickr P1030515 by J Hooper, on Flickr Cheers, and I hope you enjoyed! Hoops

Probably to more effectively capture the panel lines on the top?

Despite being published, I'm pretty sure that this is incorrect. Yes, Kai means "upgrade/update" but in the case of the JASDF F-4s, it refers to a very specific set of upgrades to the F-4EJ and that model only. These included those items visible to the modeller such as Multi-function displays and new HUD in the cockpit, large antenna on the spine, J/APR-6 RWR antennas on the wingtips and fin tip, protruding light on the tail, and lightning arresting strips on the radome. Other improvements that are not visible to the modeller include incorporation of the AAM-3 and ASM-2, new radar/central computer/INS etc. The late addition Recce version, the RF-4EJ received some upgrades in conversion that were also part of the "Kai" standard, but not all of them. These include the larger antenna on the spine, protruding light on the tail, J/APR-6 RWR antennas everwhere. No upgrades in the cockpit, and no lightning arresting strips on the radome. Also added was a HF radio in the tail which creates some new panel lines on the tail and a vent on the left upper rear fuselage. Additionally a RADALT was added with antennas on the bottom of the gun trough. Neither of these changes are found on the F-4EJ Kai. Hasegawa and in the Model Art Profile (the definitive reference on JASDF Phantoms) refer to only the following models: F-4EJ: Originally delivered fighter version RF-4E: Originally delivered recce version F-4EJ Kai: Fighter aircraft upgraded in the 80s/90s to prolong their usefulness RF-4EJ: Fighter aircraft upgraded to incorporate podded Recce capability with other improvements. +1 Cheers, Hoops

That did the trick, thank you Creepy Pete. It won't work to buy them from L'Aresenal as it's the wrong scale, but looking at their product gives me enough info to scratch build it in 1/72. Cheers! Hoops

Good Morning! I'm building the very nice Special Hobby Mirage F.1CR in 1/72, marked as one of the aircraft the visited Red Flag in 1990. The pictures that I've been able to find have a practice bomb dispenser on the centerline pylon. Photo Here: Also seen on this build in 1/48: Since I don't speak French and Armee de l'aire is not really my realm of expertise, can somebody point me the right direction as to what the dispenser is called, or where I can find some better images of it? I'll just scratch build it, but I need a bit more info that I can get out of those few distant photos. Cheers and thanks! Hoops

Just realized another point, the two seater in the background does not have the in flight refueling light on the vertical tail. Being based on a FSD airframe 752 did not either. Cheers, Hoops

I think that the two-seater in the the rear of this photo is actually 752. A couple of data points: All of the Air Force painted Euro 1 aircraft had the "Ejection Seat" text painted in white on the warning triangle, the warning triangles on 752 were black only. 752 had the sensors stuck to the inside of the canopies (helmet trackers?) not present on normal F-16s. Perhaps the FLIR was removed temporarily? Cheers, Hoops

Big Plane Kits (BPK) has also announced an injection molded 1/72 scale P-8 based on their forthcoming 737-800 kit. Hoops

Count me in, probably do my with and APS-154 AAS! Hoops

Great work so far, I'm excited to see how the intake turns out! I've never built the Esci kit, but looking at your sprue shots, I'm surprised at the similarities with the Fujimi kit in the same scale. According to Scalemates the Fujimi kit was tooled two years earlier, and I think it's probably a bit finer detailed, but there are so many things that look very similar. Cheers, Hoops

The F-15SA is currently the most advanced Eagle in service, and has a number of differences from a baseline Strike Eagle. Of particular note, it is the first F-15 with Fly By Wire controls, that allows the reintroduction of stations 1 and 9 on the outboard wings. This build will incorporate the bright orange paint scheme linked to above. Decals don't yet exist for that aircraft, I've completed the artwork and hope to see them printed soon. The Great Wall Hobby kit starts off as a F-15E, in there is no work necessary to bring it up to that standard, all the conversion work will focus on capturing the differences for the "SA." The best place to start for these changes is the Hasegawa F-15SG kit, which includes spures "Q" "R" and "S." These provide the longer stub pylons, the larger fin tip antennas, the GE engine exhausts, and the MAWS sensors for under the cockpit and the tail booms. I will describe the other changes in more detail as I complete them as part of the build, to this point, basic construction progresses. The only modification so far has been to adapt the Hasegawa tail booms to the GWH kit: 20200105_110149 by J Hooper, on Flickr 20200105_110136 by J Hooper, on Flickr I opened up the engine vents on the top of the nacelle humps as there are simply scribed as ovals on the kit. 20200105_110117 by J Hooper, on Flickr All for now and thanks for looking! Cheers, Hoops

The first that I will cover is the Hasegawa based F-15D. Many are probably familiar with this kit, having been the standard for F-15s in 1/72 scale for the last three decades. There will be some work required to bring the kit up to the standard required to accurately depict "715." The Isradecal book on the Baz has been very useful on this build. Israel was very early ordering F-15s, most being purchased in the late 70s and early 80s. This particular aircraft was purchased much later, however. There may be others, but these are the F-15D serials that I've found that were part of this later buy: IDF Ser. USAF Ser Delivery Year 701 90-0278 1992 706 90-0276 1992 714 90-0279 1992 715 90-0277 1992 733 90-0275 1992 Based on that timeline production of "normal" F-15C/Ds had ceased, and McDonnell Douglas was only producing F-15Es. I've not seen it written down anywhere, but I think that it is for that reason that these F-15Ds incorporate a number of aspects of the F-15E, while not being full Strike Eagles. These include: -Round ESM antennas on both tail stings -F-15E style engine vents on the top of the nacelle humps -No notch in the underside engine petals -Tail hook stands proud of the underside Construction began with the cockpit, and I modified the rear instrument panel to represent the missionized rear seat of an Improved Baz. I also added a multifunction display to the lower left of the front instrument panel (similar to an MSIP F-15C). Reference was taken from the Isradecal book. 20200105_134504 by J Hooper, on Flickr Modifications for the underside include: -The CFTs were used for the Hasegawa kit, but the attachment points for the external pylons were filled in, as were numerous vents that are not applicable on the baseline F-15 CFTs. -Sparrow pylons for the CFTs were sourced from an old tool Hasegawa F-15E kit. -The Jet Fuel Starter Exhaust was opened up, the mesh is no longer present on the late F-15s. -Notches on the underside engine petals were filled in. -Round based antenna behind the nose gear was removed -The two small blade antennas under the nose were removed -The incorrect panel lines around the pitot tubes were filled in on both sides -The panel line meant to show the boot on the tip of the nose was also filled in, not present on this aircraft. -While not strictly visible on this photo, the chaff/flare buckets in front of the main gear were scribed in place. 20200105_105843 by J Hooper, on Flickr Modifications for the top side include: -Addition of the SATCOM antenna behind the cockpit. This was taken from the GWH F-15I kit. -The environmental control system vent on the starboard side behind the cockpit was opened up and detailed -GPS antenna added to the right mid fuselage -Early F-15 style engine vent was filled, and Strike Eagle style vents added -Fairing between the engines was cut off and the blanking piece added -The air exhaust on the top of the intake was also filled with sheet styrene to bring it flush. 20200105_105829 by J Hooper, on Flickr The weapons load will include two AGM-142 Popeye missiles, and the associated datalink pod on the centerline. The missiles were taken from the GWH kit, but there is one error as molded. The sensor window should look downward on the tip of the missile, but as molded, it looks upwards. The wiring conduit should be down the port side of the missile, when oriented correctly and the white hemispherical antenna on the tail should be oriented to the bottom. If those two are aligned, the sensor looks up, so I cut the nose of the missile off, flipped it 180 degrees and reattached it. The datalink pod included in the GWH kit is appropriate for the AGM-130 that is also included, but not for for the Popeye. I sourced it from a Kinetic Israeli Weapons set in the stash. Despite the error decribed above, I still think the GWH AGM-142s are better than Kinetic's so I used those. 20200105_105957 by J Hooper, on Flickr

Good Morning, Attached are the first few photos of my next work in progress, this is a bit of kit bash between these two kits and both are being built parallel. 20200105_134423 by J Hooper, on Flickr The fist subject will be a new F-15SA (Saudi Advanced), still being flown by Boeing for flight test and integration purposes. Inspiration for this build can be seen in the link below: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21755/f-15sa-bristles-with-a-dozen-aim-120s-missiles-during-star-wars-canyon-run The second subject will be a Israeli Defense Force F-15D, it will be one of the aircraft seen recently at Waddington, but with a different load out: Flickr Image (not mine!) The Great Wall Hobby kit is a Strike Eagle out of the box, where as the Hasegawa kit is really an F-15D with some extra parts thrown in. The Hasegawa kit is still, good, but it shows it's lineage, and there are still some steps that need to be taken to make it an accurate Strike Eagle. For that reason I will take advantage of the kit's individual qualities, to make the best out of both.

Good Morning, The Wolfpak Decals for this aircraft came in late this week, so I finished up the decaling last night. 20200105_104753 by J Hooper, on Flickr The next step is to put a clear coat over the decals to seal them before applying a wash and any other weathering. 20200105_104559 by J Hooper, on Flickr I didn't apply any decals to the underwing stores, so they are already weathered. Just waiting on a dull coat to seal those items up. In this image, the impressing weapons load is just set onto the aircraft for illustrative purposes. 20200105_105136 by J Hooper, on Flickr Not too much left on this build, in the end phase now! Cheers, and thanks for looking, Hoops

I think that the nose radome was a bit off, but I'm not a pro concerning the SHARs. Hoops

Wash and clear coat complete. I need to add the pitots and some lights still however. Once that is complete, I need to get into the local woodshop and build a base to display the aircraft in flight. Please enjoy: 20191101_155547 by J Hooper, on Flickr 20191101_155601 by J Hooper, on Flickr Cheers, Hoops

I also finished the detail painting and construction on most of the external parts. Some will still need a few decals, and will definitely look good after a wash. The data probe for the nose has only had the orange painted, all other details still need to be touched up with a brush later. Lots and lots of bombs! I would have loved to put the orange markings on the fins of the GBU-12s, but there was no way I was going to be able to paint those consistently. If there were decals available, I would use them, but they don't exist in 1/72. 20191101_160101 by J Hooper, on Flickr Cheers and thanks for looking! Hoops

I've done all the major painting, next step will be any detail painting. Antennas, touch ups, others. Airbrush work is complete however. 20191101_155816 by J Hooper, on Flickr 20191101_155827 by J Hooper, on Flickr Painted with Model Master Acrylics, but I found the Dark Ghost Grey to be to purple and too dark, so I misted some Light Ghost Grey over it until I was happy. I hope I don't have to do any touch ups on any of those areas, good luck getting the colors to match! In positive news, I'm really happy with how the panel lines turned out. I think that they'll look really good under a wash.

Sorry for responding so late, this build is definitely on the back burner as I complete some other projects. I'm sure we can come to an arrangement if you are interested in a set of the plans. PM me if you want.

I added a number of fishing weights, secured with Milliput, beside the nose gear well. It's probably more weight than was necessary, but this will definiately not be a tail sitter. With regards to the build, I'm just finishing up my Viggen and two F-14s, both just need a clear coat to be complete. Additionally a V-22 I'm building with my daughter needs only some work in the cockpit and it will be done as well. Once those minor steps are complete, work will focus on the A-10 again. Cheers! Hoops

Great work on a very special scheme. Congratulations! Hoops

I guess we have you to thank that Zvezda is planning on releasing a new tool Herc in 1/72? Beautiful work, keep it up! Hoops

Very nice build! Cheers and thanks for posting! Hoops

Great build, really like the decals! Cheers, Hoops

I don't foresee that happening, unfortunately. All the hard work would be getting the artwork to fit the other kit. I'm sure it would be similar, but just enough different that you'd have to start all the sizing from the beginning again. The decals are complete, it turns out that Model Master Acrylic RLM 66 Schwartzgrau is a perfect color match. I used it touch touch up and small gaps between the decals and paint those areas that were in the cutouts, or on the ventral fin. 20191005_171028 by J Hooper, on Flickr 20191005_171157 by J Hooper, on Flickr I'm going to be on travel for work the next three weeks, so there will be no progress in the mean time. Next steps will be a gloss coat and weathering. Thanks for looking and cheers! Hoops