F-15C Eagle in 1/72 Scale

I then proceeded to paint the entire model. I painted the whole model first in a Model Master's Dark Ghost Gray, and then followed this with the camo pattern on the upper surfaces using Tester's Flat Gray.

I also painted the inner surfaces of the landing gear bays flat white, and then the areas around the jet exhaust in Model Master Steel, as shown.

Then it was time to do the landing gear. The kit has some nicely detailed wheels and tires, the tires being painted black and the wheels flat white per US Military standards. i then painted the landing gear bay doors (flat white interior and Model Master Dark Ghost Gray exterior).

Once these were painted and glued together, I added them to the model.

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Next came the pylons for each wing. These pylons have three attack point each, with two side pylons on each side, and then a place for an additional fuel tank down the middle. The attach points for other missiles are confronal to the sides of the aircraft and so there was nothing to add there. There is also a place for a center line fuel tank.

One the pylon assemblies were together, I added them to the aircraft.

Finally, I painted the canopy and dry fitted it to the aircraft. Later, after the finishing dull coats are added, I will glue this down permanently.


That is looking very fine. Clerly a U.S. Air Force F-15C air superiority fighter coming together here. That last pic shows where I am on the aircraft pretty well.

In my next session I will add the weapons, the additonal fuel tanks, and various antennae, sensors, and the tail hook. If time allows, I will also add the decals in that session

Okay I have to ask "how"? Did you paint the thin metal strip of the canopy with a thin paint brush or an ink pen? Either way you got some mad skills there my friend.

Equation said:

Okay I have to ask "how"? Did you paint the thin metal strip of the canopy with a thin paint brush or an ink pen? Either way you got some mad skills there my friend.

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I have a set of really nice brushes...a couple of them very fine.

Sometimes I will mask off the canopy with tape and paint it. In this case, However, I simply used one of my fine brushes and carefully painted it on by hand.

I am putting on the armament/stores fit right now.

This aircraft will have:

4 x AIM-9X Block II Sidewiders
4 x AIM-120C AMRAAMs
2 x Additonal Fuel Tanks

I was going to add the other pylon with four more missiles under each wing...but decided to forgo it. If the USAF elects to later upgrade its F-15Cs with that package they are proposing...I can always add that pylon then.

The kit has a really detailed set of markings/decals. I started putting those on this morning. she's looking very good I have to say.

I am going to try and finish the aircraft tonight. I would have finished last night and this morning except I watched the whole 3 HOUR LONG debate. Sheez, that was a long debate!

Jeff Head said:

4 x AIM-9X Sidewiders
4 x AIM-120 Block II AMRAAMs
2 x Additonal Fuel Tanks

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Just curious here, what are Block II AMRAAMS? I know the -9X having "Blocks", with the Block II being the current model since a few years now, I think.
For the AMRAAM there's the A, B, many Cs and in a few years the D.

Scratch said:

Just curious here, what are Block II AMRAAMS? I know the -9X having "Blocks", with the Block II being the current model since a few years now, I think..

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Hehehe...that's called, "my bad." LOL!

The Block II is meant for the Sidewinder. The AMRAAMs are AIM-120Cs.

I will fix.

Thanks!

The Build - Weapons, Decals, Complete - September 18, 2015

I started this secession by paining the weapons and additional fuel tanks. I determined that I would have the following load out:

4 x AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided air to air missiles
4 x AIM-120C AMRAAM radar-guided air to air missiles
2 x Wing-mounted Fuel tanks

Once I had painted these, I added the decals for the stripes on the missiles. I then placed the missiles and the fuel tanks on the aircraft, the sidewinders and the fuel tanks on the wing pylons, and the AMRAAMs conformal to the fuselage, two on each side.


Then it was time to add the decals. I decided to use the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing which was based in Alaska. There are a lot of them for this model. I ended up placing 94 decals altogether on the aircraft. They look pretty good...though the decals are old and a few of them are showing some mis-color. After all these years...I was pretty surprised they turned out as well as they did.