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McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in 1/72 scale
For information about the real F-15 look at the 1/32 pages here....
photo made at an air show of a 32 TFS Soesterberg F-15D
modelling report
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Look for 1/32 scale F-15 models here...
More than 40 years ago I bought as teen ager the very old 1/72 Hasegawa F-15 kit #C7 .
This Hasegawa F-15 kit (also distributed by HALES in the U.K.) had raised panel lines as most models of those days. It was not even indicated what version it was. The details are adequate but off course simple as compared to newer kits.
This kit also appeared in various releases, I bought another a decade later seen here. It even had a coloured page inside the box.
BUILDING THE OLD HASEGAWA KIT
The model was made in 1981 as a USAFE 32TFS F-15C aircraft.
As an aviation enthusiast I had the opportunity to visit in the 1980s the American USAFE 32TFS "Wolfhounds" squadron at the airbase of Soesterberg, The Netherlands where this squadron was based. We got a briefing on the tasks of the squadron, saw a combat video and then could do a walk around of a real F-15C (but no photography permitted!). Those were the days of the Cold War with regularl Soviet intruder aircraft flying above the North Sea. Look for 32TFS info here on my F-102 page...
I had noticed another type of antenna fairing on the tail top for the F-15C, this was made from a piece of sprue. Later to find it was in the kit!
A lot of stenciling is on the airframe including panelling numbers, these were suggested with an inkpen. The markings were home made but also came from probably a F-4E Modeldecal set (nowadays Dutch Decal has decal sets).
I also tried to paint the complex stripes on the various Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles.
Home made were detailed exhausts for the Pratt and Whitney F100 engines without the "turkey feathers". Metal wire was used for the actuators.
The canopy got from scrap rear view mirrors.
I was happy with the result. I can not recall what enamels were used but probably Humbrol paints. On hind sight, I made the tail top fairing rather too big!
...in a scenery at Soesterberg AB...
Another old Hasegawa kit #E19 (also seen distributed by HALES) was made in 1982 of a F-15B/D two seater.
The kit had also raised panel lines and was very similar to the F-15A but with a new canopy and double seat cockpit tub. It has the old early production style short air brake on top.
I was impressed by the scheme of a TF-15B "USA Bicentennial" of 1976. The TF-15B was in fact redesignated F-15B and the kit could be used. In addition I wanted details into the model with open panels.
With a razor saw and X-acto knife I opened up the many panels using photo's seen in the weekly Flight Int. magazine in those days. It was a lot of work. Interiors were added from card, stretched sprue and bits from the spares box. Also the Pratt and Whitney F100 exhaust jet pipe actuators were made as no "turkey feathers" were installed.
I had to make my own markings with white decals, ink pen and very tiny brush painting. Many years later, the "Bicentennial" decals were provided as standard in a Hasegawa release of 2000 (kit #00069). But not in those days, homework needed! The red and blue markings were partly made from Microscale Trim film decals.
The model was completed after quite some detailing work such as on the avionics bays. Inside the canopy also the various hooks and wiring were added.
The now familiar tail marking is seen. Note also the old fashioned air brake.
... and a scenery at Las Vegas...
In those days it got a Golden IPMS NL Nationals Award. Now after over 35 years, still a nice good oldie in the collection!
McDonnell Douglas / Mitsubishi F-15J (license) JAPAN
The F-15J is a version of the famous F-15 Eagle single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter. The -J version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force was built under licence in Japan by Mitsubishi. It was based on the F-15C but lacked externally visible the ECM and radar warning equipment. Delivery started 1981 and 211 jets were built.
For more information about the real F-15 look at the 1/32 page here....
Hasegawa came in 1988 with newly tooled F-15 kits, much better a the older ones with also inscribed panel lines and more detail. The model presented here is of kit #00176 released in 2001 with a special scheme is for a JASDF 202 squadron plane anniversary.
The Hasegawa 1/72 kit has appeared in various boxes with different decals with kit numbers Hasegawa 00022, 00031, 00090, 00176, 00194, 00282, 00368, 00636, 00644, E12, K24 (04024), K111, K123, K126, K130, K132, K138, K146 !!!!!.
The later kits are rather nice, have recessed panel lines and can be build pretty straight from the box. The Pratt and Whitney F100 engine exhaust parts are without "turkey feathers" showing the actuator rods; these are a bit fragile to remove from the sprues, use a razor saw.
Unfortunately, no Japanese style missiles are in the kit! You are supposed to buy the separate Hasegawa Weapons set. I grabbed missiles from another kit like the Hasegawa 1/72 Mitsubishi F-2 kit #00545. These were also used on JASDF F-15J planes.
As on the real aircraft, the special scheme with black, yellow and red flames only appears on the upper and side surfaces. The lower areas have to usual F-15 grey appearance.
The special scheme is provided in the kit through decals, and you don't even have to paint the "black". I used the tail markings with the black in it to avoid colour differences.
The main undercarriage doors and large forward nose door should be set closed.
I made the kit in 2006 also shown earlier at the 1/72 Japan Modern Jet page...
The cockpit only got some extra details for the scale like an etched metal HUD from an Airwaves set and the seat some extra seat harnesses. Also, the outboard flaperons were drooped.
The overall and common F-15 colours
of both Federal Standard greys FS36320 and FS36375 were first applied through enamels with the airbrush.
The decals went on fine, but as always
you get some tiny air bubbles in the larger areas. Carefully rub the bubbles
to the decal edges when applying them. You get a full load of tiny F-15
markings and stencils; many of these were applied to the grey areas as
usual.
After the decals were applied, the model was finished by adding the gear, jet exhausts "without turkey feathers" and tiny details like pitots and antennas.
(I glued the main wheels at a bit angle, not sure if this is correct).
Inside the canopy tiny mirrors were added from scrap, a bit of etched metal can be used for this.
After drying, the overall model got a light coat of Johnson Future to protect the decals and to get an even overall result.
The end result is a very special neat F-15J model! Well done Hasegawa!-----------------------
F-15J Japan JASDF
... 
.... and visiting Yokota....
... at... Kadena base, Japan...
Some 150 F-15J Eagles are operated by the JASDF (as of 2019).
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References
- Japanese F-15J, Wings Mook, 50 anniversary of JASDF, ISBN 4-87149-627-9
- F-15, BunRin Do, 1978/3, Japan
- Wakend boven Nederland, van den Brink, Reconnaissance 1984 (about 32TFS)
- 32 TFS, by Loeber, Bataafsche Leeuw, 1984
- Modelbouw in Plastic, IPMS Nederland, MIP-1982/2
- see also my 1/32 pages here...
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Created this new set-up August 7, 2018