Mr T Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 This is my entry for this group build. It will be an Israeli F15C from the Hasegawa kit that I bought about 1988-9. The kit decal sheet is for USAF aircraft, but I have an old Cutting Edge decal, which also details the airframe differences and an equally old Microscale decal sheet for the stencils, which on the Israeli aircraft were largely unchanged with just a few in Hebrew. As was typical for Hasegawa kits of the period, there are no weapons, and so these have been separately sourced as shown. The Pythons will need new pylons, which I think are going to be scratch built. There is a Dream model etch set that will tart up the cockpit and ejector seat quite nicely. Been on my to-do list for a while, and now seems a good time. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 Welcome sir … that Cutting edge sheet looks nice, looking forward to this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 Not forgotten the GB, but progress has been very slow due to finishing off other models ahead of the F15 from earlier GBs and the heat has made painting, except at about 3 o'clock in the morning. Our house is a bit like a storage heater, it takes a while to heat up from the outside in, but for the same reason, it takes time to cool down once it has warmed up. Not usually a problem until you get an extended spell of hot weather. Started on the cockpit and worked out how to build the revised launch rails for the Python, and so more substantial process soon when something solid to photograph. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 14, 2022 Share Posted August 14, 2022 4 hours ago, Mr T said: Not forgotten the GB, but progress has been very slow due to finishing off other models ahead of the F15 from earlier GBs and the heat has made painting, except at about 3 o'clock in the morning. Our house is a bit like a storage heater, it takes a while to heat up from the outside in, but for the same reason, it takes time to cool down once it has warmed up. Not usually a problem until you get an extended spell of hot weather. Started on the cockpit and worked out how to build the revised launch rails for the Python, and so more substantial process soon when something solid to photograph. Thats ok Im in the same situation myself. Ive got so many on the go Im in danger of not actually building a kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 19, 2022 Author Share Posted August 19, 2022 Now that I only one Pre existing GB to finish, and that is well on its way, I can give time to the F15. I have started doing odds and ends like painting undercarriage legs etc. The first bit of actual assembly have been the drop tanks, the wings and the intakes. The kit is designed with a separate front fuselage, which means that the intakes can be added, and the real fuselage section built whilst working on the cockpit. The first stages of the Python3 missile racks are also shown. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ballman Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 I have built the Hasegawa kit before, the fit was a little on the fiddly side as I remember. I really didn't care for the intake design too much, but it looks like you are on the right track. Getting the forward fuselage connected without a step will be your next challenge after getting the cockpit sorted out as well. My advice is test fit, test fit shim where necessary, remember to keep nose level. I will be following this. JB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Thanks for your very helpful comments. Yes the intakes are quit fiddly and despite my best efforts when I added the lower fuselage, I could not get a level surface with the intake parts. The whole area around the intake is quiet flexible and looking at the fit before I stuck them together, there seemed to be a bit of a warp. I have test fitted the forward fuselage, and I cannot for the life of me understand why Hasegawa did not make a more positive joint. It all seems to rely on butt joints that are going to be a challenge to clean up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ballman Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Take plastic sheet sprue .010 or .015 cut into small squares or rectangles and create your own mating service. JB 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 That's what I have done. As I have built a fair number of vacforms and short run kits over the years, not an issue for me, but might be for less experienced modellers. Anyway, forward and rest of the fuselage are ready to be joined with tabs firmly set. Interior is finished, and ejector seat detailed and painted up. The Dream Model PE for the ejector seat was nice, but I am not sure the stuff for the instrument panel etc. was worth it. One of the pylons for the Python 3 AAM has been built and looks OK to me. My original plan to do four has been changed after I came across a photo that shoes my intended build subject with four Sparrows, two AIM9L Sidewinders and two Python 3s. The Resikit missiles are fiddly, with some very small PE parts to be bent. The canopy will be closed on this model, which is why the equipment bay is not painted. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ballman Posted August 27, 2022 Share Posted August 27, 2022 Thats getting it! JB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted September 3, 2022 Author Share Posted September 3, 2022 Fuselage and wings together and odd bits done. There will now be a short intermission* as MrsT and I are going away for the next week. Currently sat in Departure bit of T2 at Manchester Airport. *While awaiting our return, why not visit our foyer where a 'tasty' selection of snacks, drinks and ice creams are available. Anyone remember Kia-Ora orange drinks, Walls ice cream tubs with the wooden spoons, and popcorn that was probably leftover packaging? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted September 15, 2022 Author Share Posted September 15, 2022 Back from my holidays in a sunny and very hot Northern Italy. Mrs T even managed to find an aircraft museum near where we stayed at the end of the holiday. It was next door to Milan Malpensa airport and had been the Caproni works at one time. Some interesting stuff that I had never seen before, although photography was a non-starter. There was a massive collection of models, a mix of display, scratchbuilt and kits. Back to the F15. The photos show progress to just before we went away. Since I have got back, some slow work done to finish painting the missiles, adding the canopy and sorting the exhausts out. Still, it is coming together with a view to paint on early next week 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Looks in good shape! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 More progress and nearly ready to start on the decals. The airframe has been painted in the compass Grey scheme, with the metal areas on the rear fuselage. The greys were from Xtracrylix and the metal areas various shades from Vallejo, brush applied. I have an old Microscale sheet for F15 stencils. My, there are a lot of them and not all may be used, it depends on how bored Io get 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted October 10, 2022 Author Share Posted October 10, 2022 Back from our long weekend and a marathon decalling exercise, the F15C is now having its last bits and pieces added. The Aircraft is marked as '840' and named 'Commando' It has six kill marks, this was later reduced to three and a half. The old Microscale sheet performed well, although the placement instructions did not bear a totally direct match with what was provided on the decal sheet. I was impressed by the cutting Edge sheet from 1995, as the decals went on better than some from more modern sheets I have used. There are a lot of stencils on an F15! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 10, 2022 Share Posted October 10, 2022 Ive had decal sheets I bought in the 1980’s work better than some Ive bought in the last few years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted October 18, 2022 Author Share Posted October 18, 2022 This will be the last update before the F15 appears in the gallery. All the remaining external parts have been added, and after the photo was taken, it received the final varnish coat. Once this has been left to harden for a day or two, I will remove the masking and do any last bits and pieces that might be necessary. My plan is to have this in the gallery by Friday. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 Looking forward to seeing this in the gallery as that’s a really fine result. The F-15 really does look good in IDF markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted October 19, 2022 Author Share Posted October 19, 2022 Thanks, I have aways thought the F15 suits Israeli markings. It seems to have taken ages to get this far. I think it is a combination of other builds to finish, holidays, and the decalling taking forever. At least the scratch built pylons for the Pythons have worked in keeping the missiles away from the drop tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 2 hours ago, Mr T said: markings. It seems to have taken ages to get this far. They’re complicated beasts, F-15s! I’m feeling the same, hopefully I don’t run out time to get all the stencilling done before the end of the GB! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 10 hours ago, Wings unlevel said: They’re complicated beasts, F-15s! I’m feeling the same, hopefully I don’t run out time to get all the stencilling done before the end of the GB! Yes I know the feeling but its all about fun and enjoying the hobby. If that will make it more stressful please remember it is not a requirement to finish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 13 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Yes I know the feeling but its all about fun and enjoying the hobby. If that will make it more stressful please remember it is not a requirement to finish. Sound advice Dennis, thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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