1/72nd scale F-15D/DJ kits?

[Col.]

Thank you all again, plenty more information to consider, much appreciated.

The Super Hobby website is easy to get lost into for several hours @Doom3r  but a great resource. Thank you.

In other news: this arrived yesterday,

 

 

A couple of bargains from eBay. Had a good look at the Academy kit and with a little work in the cockpit and airbrake area plus adding a couple of pilot figures it will hopefully make for a passable first example in my planned -DJ collection. Sadly the Hasegawa -E I was watching went for almost new kit price and my model budget is now maxed out for a wee while but I'll report back if there's any more additions or developments

 

[Julien]

On 28/01/2021 at 14:07, Viasistina said:

Hi.. it may be hard to obtain in the UK, but the Platz 1/72 kit of the F-15 is JSD/AF specific and is the best fitting F-15 out there.I've built them all and I really liked the Platz offering. Some may think the paneling is a bit heavy but it "disappears" quickly after some paint and primer and aids in any weathering work, minimal that may be on an F-15.

https://finescale.com/product-info/kit-reviews/2017/01/platz-f-15j-eagle-j-msip

 

Or you could on BM point to our own review?

 

 

[Col.]

4 minutes ago, Julien said:

Or you could on BM point to our own review?

 

 

Do you have a link to that review Julien? Sadly the BM search engine doesn't work well for me and the results often don't yeild the true content of this wonderful resource.

[Hook]

28 minutes ago, Col. said:

Do you have a link to that review Julien?

 

Here you go: 

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234987111-f-15j-eagle-172-platz-jsdf-aircraft-series/

 

Cheers,

 

Andre 

 

[Giorgio N]

On 1/30/2021 at 1:25 PM, CT7567 said:

I was not previously aware of a retooling to convert the panel lines to recessed versions, but I stand by all my other criticisms of this kit. The kiwimodeller photos speak for themselves as to the quality of fit without substantial putty and sanding work (and that is the "updated" tooling).

 

Not really.

 

It has CFTs but is missing the correct E style pylons for these (far from easy to scratchbuild, due to the compound curves involved). It has a pair of LANTIRN pods, but they have no real detail at all - barely more than a pair of tubes on pylons. It technically represents the "featherless" exhausts, but they are crude, at best (see photos in doom3r's links above).  It still has the tailhook fairing between the exhausts that was never on any true E airframe (and has since been deleted from C/Ds as well, at least in USAF service). None of the other small detail differences (ammo bay fairing, reinforcement plates, late-style vents, etc).  Armament is a mix of demonstrator weapons, crudely represented (e.g. AIM-9Ls with forward fins nearly as thick as the main missile bodies), and historical fiction (Vietnam-era GBU-8). Decals represent only the first pre-production Strike Eagle (86-0183), not to be confused with the long-serving demonstrator 71-0291 (originally a prototype TF-15A).

 

Mainly due to the LANTIRN pods being there at all, it was closer than most kits when released (circa 30 years ago), but it's never been any better than a mediocre kit and whether you want an E or a D there are many better options.

 

Thanks for the list, I was aware of some of these errors but not of others. I seem to remember though that the kit represents the bulged main wheel well area of the E and for this reason it would not work as a D, that is what the OP is trying to build.

Of course I agree that there are much better options around, and for the D my favourite would still be the Hasegawa kit.... if only it was available at a decent price