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Hasegawa
1/72nd scale F15 series certainly is the best available on the
market. It is well engineered, with good petite engraved panel lines and well
detailed. It is one of the rare Hasegawa kits in this scale with a detailed
cockpit, and it is accurate in shape.
Hasegawa
first released F15C, J, and D versions of the aircraft which were very complete.
Their next move was to release a F15E Strike Eagle boxing which included some
new sprues mainly with weapons, new pylons, bigger wheels and altered instrument
panels. The aircraft was pretty close to depicting the prototype, pre-production
aircraft or the earlier operational machines but truth is that current F15Es,
although very similar to the previous versions is a completely different
machine. As I wanted to depict a current machine I had to correct the kit.
CONSTRUCTION
As
usual, construction began with the
cockpit. I used offered parts but replaced seats with Neomega ACES 2 ejection
seats which are nicer than the Hasegawa offering. Seats were painted black
overall, cushions being and extra dark matt grey (nearly black). Main cockpit
parts are painted medium grey to depict FS36321 (or FS36270 as I understand USAF
cockpits are now painted that lighter grey). One joystick was added on each
console in the rear cockpit to depict weapon system controls. HUD is built with
acetate. It is larger on F15Es and is a single glass device as opposed to the
smaller two glass unit on other versions.
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Overall
construction is quite straightforward. I completed jet intakes walls with some
plasticard cut to shape. The most important part is to alter aspects of this kit
which are not up to F15E standard :
-cut
tailhook fairing between jet intakes. Fairing is cut on real aircraft but hook
is retained. I therefore added a simple kook from my spare box
-add
hexagonal gunload system fairing fore of main wheel wells.
-Fill
and file round holes on upper aft engine fairing. These are big holes for air
exchange and have been redesigned on Es. They now appear as two series of 3
small holes in the same position
-CFTs
(Conformal Fuel Tanks) are added when main frame parts have been assembled. They
are not and easy fit and super glue had to be used. At these stage comes another
important alteration. Weapon pylons arrangement as provided in Hasegawa and
Revell kits has long been abandoned on operational machines. I had to rob pylons
from an Airfix kit. Other option is to scratch build them. As I planned to build
an aircraft from Lakenheath (UK) I also robbed engine air scoops from the Airfix
kit. They are located on the CFTs just over main wheel wells. It's because
Lakenheath (LN) and Elmendorf (AK) aircraft have more powerful engines.
Ailerons
were cut and repositioned with a slight deflection down as they are on parked
F15s.
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I
then bulged main wheel doors with plasticard and putty. I finally made some
detail alterations (some structure lines were modified, reinforcing plates
added, antennas were added or deleted according to documentation…).
Landing
gear then were fixed. Remember to use bigger wheels on main gear. Another
difference is that although landing gears are canted on all F15s (they are not
strictly vertical), wheels are vertical on F15Es when they come at an angle on
F15Cs (Ds, Js etc…)
PAINTING
This
stage was straightforward : FS 36118 overall – except around rear of aircraft
which is left unpainted. Testors paint was used and I lightened with a good 20%
of white because of "scale effect". Some panels were painted in
variation of the same color. Nose cone was painted a markedly lighter version of
FS36118 (I'd say 30% of white added). This is to depict weathering. Note that a
darker shade also is an option.
My
LN livery comes from an ASTRA decal sheet. They are extremely well designed and
printed.
That's
my operational F15E in 1/72nd scale. Now I'd love to see Hasegawa
update this kit (as they recently did on their F16 series). If not maybe Aires,
CMK or another of the resin wizards could give us a good set with bulged wheel
doors, pylons, gun load hexagonal fairing, additional air scoops, joysticks for
rear cockpits, tailhook. Just 10 or so parts that would make a difference.
Eric
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