jenshb

Try using Tamiya Smoke and mix in some Tamiya Flat Base to make a matt finish. Thin well, and you will be able to build up exhaust stains very subtly.

Never heard of a size difference, but aftermarket stabs for example may not match the curvature of the GWH kit in that area. Try sanding the stabs trailing edges thinner, although you may have to replace any raised detail.

I believe the F-5s were all painted silver from the factory, but white does make it easier to spot for leaks...

Great job John!

I can't recall where I found this photo (I have cropped it to make the file smaller), but this shows the prototype with white wheel wells.

All good info and easily overlooked.

If starting with the Hasegawa kit, you will need to get a set of F-15A/B wheels, but they are available in resin (or a spare set from the GWH kit) and an Escapac seat. Aires makes Escapac seats for both A-7Ds and A-4s, but I don't know how well they will fit the Hasegawa cockpit - they do look a little on the small side. GWH includes both Escapac and ACES II seats, but they are oversized in my opinion. However, they can be shortened. I used a pilot figure to determine a better looking height. The forward undercarriage doors were open with the main gear down on the early Eagles, and there is a brace that opens and shuts the doors (more visible on the larger door). As current kits reflect the later production, they are to be glued shut, so therefore that brace is not included in kits. The speedbrake and spine will need to be modified to a semicircular crossection as well as reduced in size, but that is doable with some Milliput and plasticard. Filling in the dogtooth is easy, and some curved and laminated plasticard will take care of the squared off wingtips. To make the thicker and shorter mass balances on the tailfin, plastic rod in a Dremel will shape those quite easily. Add the Master prototype pitot boom, and you're all set.

Looking at the root chord of therototype stab, I'd say they cut away material. It definitely looks larger to my eyes.

Just spotted that the F-15 logos for the fin has a filled in centre - the blue background was hiding that. As for filled in stabs and squared off wingtips, they shouldn't be too hard to modify. The only kit i Know had the original wingtips was the Monogram 1:72nd kit, but that had the dogtoothed stab (easy to fill with plasticard and putty). I suspect the original Hasegawa kit (with the prototype marking on the boxart) would also have the original wingtips. The airbrake area will need to be modified and a balde aerial on the turtledeck behind the cockpit added. Master do an F-16XL prototype boom (item no 48144) that may be adapted. Haven't checked if the lengths match, but it is a good starting point at least.

Yes, insignia blue would be a sensible choice which means you don't have to add another colour in the print. I found this photo somewhere on the web, and there's definitely an ASB border around the wing insignia.

The F-15 logo on the nose has a blue tint to it in this image, and the dark blue of the insignia is very dark here, not far off black so may need more sources... Interesting to note the wavy pattern under the LV formation lights - presumably the separation between the matt and gloss Air Superiority Blue. A close up, and I agree it looks almost black, but so does the national insignia... In this photo, the USAF and serial number appears black, whereas the F-15 logo appears blue. Although it may not prove anything, the Hasegawa kit in 1:72 from way back had these markings in dark blue...

In the pictures I have seen, the F-15 Eagle logo, McDonnel Douglas logo and USAF for the forward fuselage should be dark blue, not black. I don't know if you've included a blue background inside the "F-15" that goes on the tailfin of the prototype where the text overlaps the dayglo, but if not, would it be possible to add some masks for the text as well as the wing insignia to get the Air Superioty Blue outline. Even if they will have to be purchased separately?

The #1 F-16XL would have an F-16A cockpit, but the resin cockpits I see at Hannant's website are F-16AM standards (which are essentially F-16C - the main difference is the instrument panel). You may be able to combine the resin F-16AM cockpit with Eduard photoetch for the Hasegawa kit. As for the exhaust, Aires makes a nice one that should fit the Kinetic kit. The nozzle and afterburner are separate and can be added after the model is finished. The doughnut panel fixes to the fuselage and can befaired in with filler and some sanding.

The turkey feathered exhausts are parts C29 that are on the same sprue as the vertical tails and stabs, so should be with every kit. Unless Hasegawa decided to blank off those parts in the mould...

You will need to remove fewer features if using the Hasegawa kit for an early Eagle, but the GWH kit includes the early A/B style wheels (also available in resin for those with the Hasegawa kit) and the ESCAPAC seats that will need to be sourced for the Hasegawa kit. The Hasegawa kit on the other hand includes the turkey feathered exhaust nozzles. Personally, I prefer the Hasegawa kit.