The Details
Kit: Revell 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle
Aftermarket: None
Finishing: Gunze Aqueous for the main color. Assorted acrylics for the details
Kit at a glance:
This kit is an older build. It predates my foray into aftermarket, and it was the first build that I used my blending/post-shading process on. The build also predates my move to using enamels and lacquers. After this build I decided to move into those specifically to take advantage of Alclad. While I think I did as good a job as can be done with acrylic metallics on the heat panels, I feel like this kit deserves a revisit with Alclad.
The kit itself is a real gem in my book. Having binned the much pricier Hasegawa offering years ago I was really apprehensive about the fit of the conformal tanks, but these fell into place. There is one fit issue with the kit at the join for the forward fuselage assembly to the body of the airframe. There is no way to avoid a step at this location, but it’s easy enough to rectify with some filler.
This kit has been re-boxed a few time. Unfortunately, the current boxing that can be had for a steal with a Hobby Lobby of Michael’s gift card is one that lacks weapons beyond sidewinders. This is the big weakness of the kit. You aren’t going to find many Eagles not sporting a full bomb loadout.
Upon completion I found that the nose-gear strut is a bit weak for the weight of the aircraft with the added lead to keep in nose heavy. The strut bent immediately upon being put under load. The model is displayed with relief to prevent it from breaking, but pictures clearly show the problem
These are fresh pictures that were taken after a move and after being repaired from the damage suffered as a result. A couple pieces have apparently disappeared forever…notably the actuator for the canopy is distinctly missing.
On the Flight Line:
Shark Tank Plastic Works 