McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle by CDW - FINISHED - Pro Modeler - 1:48 - PLASTIC

[CDW]

I've had this 1:48 Pro Modeler F-15E Strike Eagle stashed away in my garage for almost 20 years now. Decided it's about time I get this one built, so here it goes.

As typical with most aircraft models, the work begins in the office, the cockpit area.

 

  

[CDW]

Seeing the F-15E along side of the Rafale gives a striking visual of the size of this aircraft...enormous.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

super model the F 15.....enjoyed building mine     curious as to what you have in mind for decals...the Rafale came out wonderfully!

[CDW]

1 hour ago, popeye the sailor said:

super model the F 15.....enjoyed building mine     curious as to what you have in mind for decals...the Rafale came out wonderfully!

Denis

I have a number of decal options for the Mud Hen, including IDF markings, Mountain Home markings (the ones that carry the "remember 9-11 twin towers graphics), plus the ones that came with the kit are a 1998 Tiger Meet set and quite nice. 

Don't know which version you built, but this is the Pro Modeler version vs: the Revell version that's a more contemporary release. The Pro Modeler version came with the 1998 Tiger Meet decal set by Cartograf in Italy. Only problem is, the decals are suspect because of their age. I tested a small decal portion from the sheet and it worked okay, but there are extensive tiger markings that will need to stay intact if I can use this set. Keeping my fingers crossed, but ready with a backup plan if need be. Backup plan is the Mountain Home set.

For guys that don't know, the Revell F-15E, which is fairly easy to find and budget priced, is an excellent kit. Modern tooling and very well molded. An exceptional value.

[popeye the sailor]

is this the Testor's pro modeler?  

[CDW]

Just now, popeye the sailor said:

is this the Testor's pro modeler?  

No, it's the Monogram Pro Modeler kit from 2000. It's now released under the Revell label, but I'm not sure it contains the same ordnance options and for sure, not the Cartograf decals.  

[Old Collingwood]

Great subject   seen a few over the years  at airshows  and over head  a few times  - how about  finding the  decs  to do one of the three  special DDay  markings  48th  Fighter  sqn  over here, they  look rather nice.

 

(Internet photo)

 

OC.

[CDW]

If you get tired of working on your model, build a mini-rocket. 😎

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

that is so cool!   something to show my grand sons perhaps???  my son Brandon has mentioned to me that he'd like to get the boys involved in model rocketing....they have a huge field as a back yard......   might be worth a shot  

[lmagna]

I used to make a smaller simpler version of these using paper matches. They worked pretty well also but didn't fly as far.

[CDW]

It's time to put some paint on this bad boy.

 

[CDW]

This beast has no less than 19 hard points for ordnance. If you recall, I mentioned in my F-16XL thread the F-15E competed with the F-16XL to win the contract with the USAF, but both planes could carry an impressive array of weapons. More than a WW2 B-17 or B-24 bomber could carry actually.

 

This kit has a high rank in the list of next aircraft models to build. It's an amazing kit.

 

[CDW]

Primer is on.

This is Mr Surfacer 1500 primer with Mr Color Leveling Thinner, mixed in a ratio of 1 part paint to 4 parts reducer.

 

[CDW]

For a kit of it's age (20 years), this one is particularly well detailed.

Here are the kit afterburners. These are typically an item modelers will replace with an aftermarket set to enhance the kit ones. In this case, the kit afterburners are as well detailed as aftermarket sets.

 

[CDW]

For the longest time, years and years, Mr. Color lacquer paints have not been available in the USA. Just recently, my local supplier has been able to reacquire the line, so today I stocked up on grays, some greens, and tans. The color used here is Mr. Color 305, FS 36118, the correct color for F-15E's. While gray is rather dull to look at, it really pumps me up to be using Mr. Color lacquer paints again. If you look closely at the photos, you'll see these paints go down without a flaw. They're very fast drying, cover extremely well, and come in practically all the correct colors for various aircraft.

It's exciting to me to get a near flawless paint coverage, which is something I can rarely achieve with acrylics. Mixed/reduced with the Mr. Color Leveling thinner, the paint produces amazing results and will be a perfect base to lay down the detail paint/washes/shading that will go on later.

 

[Old Collingwood]

Thought you might like to see this  - was one of mine from one of the  airshows  I have attended over the years   48th  LN   Lakenheath Air base UK, displaying at  RIAT  airshow.

[CapnMac82]

Yeah, those are big birds.  Mind, that Tomcat will be bigger still.  The more fair comparison a/c would be an Su-27 (also a big bird).

 

Luckily, these a/c are not often seen with "drooped" surfaces, which makes for a simpler build.  About the only thing seen drooped are the intakes, but, that's not consistent.

 

One of the better am items to get for Eagles are the FOD inserts for intakes and exhausts--they are a prominent part of the experience of seeing them on the ground.   You are best placed to decide on RBF flags (heavy duty foil--the restaurant supply house stuff, not grocery store--is your friend if you select the decals rather than PE.

 

These are more fun with a weapons load, even though they are most often parked with nothing but tanks on the stores points.

[CDW]

52 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Thought you might like to see this  - was one of mine from one of the  airshows  I have attended over the years   48th  LN   Lakenheath Air base UK, displaying at  RIAT  airshow.

 

How close were you to this aircraft when you took the photo? I'll bet that sucker was loud. Nice photo, very nice.

[CDW]

37 minutes ago, CapnMac82 said:

Yeah, those are big birds.  Mind, that Tomcat will be bigger still.  The more fair comparison a/c would be an Su-27 (also a big bird).

 

Luckily, these a/c are not often seen with "drooped" surfaces, which makes for a simpler build.  About the only thing seen drooped are the intakes, but, that's not consistent.

 

One of the better am items to get for Eagles are the FOD inserts for intakes and exhausts--they are a prominent part of the experience of seeing them on the ground.   You are best placed to decide on RBF flags (heavy duty foil--the restaurant supply house stuff, not grocery store--is your friend if you select the decals rather than PE.

 

These are more fun with a weapons load, even though they are most often parked with nothing but tanks on the stores points.

Indeed, those are all large aircraft. Yes, I often see photos of the F-15E with drooped intakes. The model comes with FOD covers for the intakes, but none for the afterburners. I'll be using prepainted photo etch RBF tags.

Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.

[Old Collingwood]

17 minutes ago, CDW said:

How close were you to this aircraft when you took the photo? I'll bet that sucker was loud. Nice photo, very nice.

I was about  3/4  of a  mile away   i was staying on a  caravan park  fairly close to the airshow, I had a good view of the aircraft as they ran in  for thier display  - yep   it was loud  - but loudest medal has to go to a  German AF  F4 Phantom   in the the 90s at the same airshow  that did a  very low  long  fast  fly by  and clipped the sound barrier   - amazing experience   even after all these years,

 

I know  Ken will know about this  - 

 

OC.

Edited January 12, 2020 by Old Collingwood

[Old Collingwood]

Had a nice fly by   with  two  E's   and  a C   model    - I will  pop that pic up  if you want  me to.

 

OC.

[CDW]

A good friend was an F-16 pilot. He told me how in joint exercises, British Buccaneers would go supersonic on the deck. That's an aircraft I really love. I once built the Airfix 1:48 scale one and it came out great. Sold it for a couple hundred bucks on Ebay years ago. I had no place to display it and was going to throw it away. My wife scolded me and said to sell it on Ebay. I did not believe I would get anything for it and it came as quite a shock it bid up like it did. From that time on, I sell built models on Ebay. I enjoy the build, then sell them to buy some more. Get lots of practice that way. 🙂 

[Papa]

I have a friend whose twin sons named their cat “F-16 Strike Eagle”. This was some 40 years ago. 

[popeye the sailor]

nice paint job Craig  

[Javlin]

One -to- One -to- One you are a factory CD going to be another Nice Build!You need to show that cabinet one day Kevin

[CDW]

My dear cousin passed away this week. Today was his wake and tomorrow he will be laid to rest.

Wallace was a wounded veteran of WW2 and one of the few such veterans remaining. He was severely wounded in action during the allied invasion of Italy when a German aerial bomb practically cut him in half at his torso. He pushed his own guts back into his abdominal cavity and waited until medics could carry him off to a mash hospital. When the medics arrived at his side, they covered him with a sheet thinking he was certainly dead for his injuries were so drastic, but Wallace fought for his own life by pulling the sheet down and yelling at the medics, "hey I'm alive!". He endured dozens of surgeries over time to patch him back together then lived out his life on his family farm in Oxford Florida. He was married to one wife for 70 years who is now widowed after his passing. He was a great man and a cousin who I looked up to all my life. He was a quiet man who was put together with steel. He will be greatly missed but always appreciated for the sacrifices he made for his country and our freedom. He was truly, one from"the Greatest Generation".

Rest in peace my dear brother. The world is a better place because of men like you.

  

Edited January 13, 2020 by CDW

[JeffT]

Sorry to hear about the passing of your cousin.

[Javlin]

Sorry for the loss Craig that era made some great Men and Women alike. Kevin

[Ryland Craze]

Sorry to hear of the passing of your cousin.  What an honor it must have been to have known him. These veterans of his generation sacrificed a lot for us to have our freedoms today. 

[mtaylor]

Can't like that post about cousin, but I can like your memories of him.