Frank Wouts Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Hi everyone, The Tamiya 1:32 F-15C kit 60304 comes with only one drop/fuel tank. I'm planning to build a 32nd 'Wolfhounds' Eagle from AFB Soesterberg in the Netherlands of the early eighties. Almost all pictures I have at my disposal show the extra drop tanks. Are there any aftermarket drop tanks available. I cannot find any, onther than the Cutting Edge which are OOP, as Meteorprod does not even exist anymore. Also I read about the Revell 1:32 F-4E/F/G tanks? Could the two Tamiya 1:32 F-15E drop tanks (newly tooling (as I understand) be used for these? Are they the same? If yes, is there anyone out here willing to sell their F-15E parts because they're only hanging weapons under their F-15E wings? Thanks, Frank. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Could the two Tamiya 1:32 F-15E drop tanks (newly tooling (as I understand) be used for these? Are they the same? Yes. And if I'm not mistaken, they are more accurately shaped compared to the older ones included in the F-15C/J kit. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 The new ones in the Bunker Buster boxing are a bit more accurate than the single tank in the other F-15 kits, but are different. You should make sure all the tanks you use on your bird are the same (ie. all original Tamiya or all corrected Tamiya, or all Revell F-4/CE) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bernie mckenna Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I worked on the flight line at Soesterberg from 84-91 and we always flew with only the c/l tank. When going tdy maybe 3 but on a daily basis they carried just the c/l tank so you just need to find one. Bernie McKenna Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Devilleader501 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 What about the academy Hornet tanks. I have some I can donate if they are the same. I am only going to use 2 of them and I think the kit comes with 4. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Are there any aftermarket drop tanks available. I cannot find any, onther than the Cutting Edge which are OOP, There are no other aftermarket tanks available AFAIK, because Cutting Edge sent a cease and desist letter to most aftermarket producers at the time, threatening to sue anyone who released a 1/32 tank. You can use the Revell F-4 kit parts, though - Cutting Edge's tanks are just direct copies of the plastic tanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Considering CE just recast the Revell tank (modified slightly by making the rear attachment a separate part), I find it difficult to believe that anyone would take a C&D letter from CE seriously, if it even existed. I also find it difficult to believe CE would think that they held a copyright on aftermarket 1/32 F-15 tanks or that they had a patent on then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsahling Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 you can order extra sprue direct from tamiya, call their customer service number, I think the sprues run around $20-25 (US dollars) with shipping Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Slightly tongue in cheek - as you said, I doubt anyone would pay any attention to a C&D letter from CE, so that's not the only reason why. But Dave *was* very belligerent, and known to bully competing companies, so it's not exactly shocking behaviour either - he may not have believed he had a copyright on the product, but I can totally imagine him thinking he was the only person who should be able to sell them. In a similar vein, I know one decal company who specialized in a niche genre, who decided to do an F-4 decal sheet. Soon after, they received a nastygram from Dave, claiming that was HIS turf, that if they ever touched a USAF subject again he'd destroy them, and then promptly released a few sheets in the un-named decal co's genre as 'revenge'. So, yeah, the C&D thing wouldn't surprise me in the least. Oh, and cite: http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1389909034/Back+in+the+90s+most+of+the+resin+AM+guys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Cutting Edge's tanks are just direct copies of the plastic tanks. Right down to the ejector pin marks on the inside of the fuselage halves! :D Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ol Crew Dog Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I worked on the flight line at Soesterberg from 84-91 and we always flew with only the c/l tank. When going tdy maybe 3 but on a daily basis they carried just the c/l tank so you just need to find one. Bernie McKenna Did you Still fly 3 bags on Zulu alert? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Wouts Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Thanks for all the replies! I'm must have been sleeping while you were awake ! @Bernie McKenna: I've found more pictures of exactly the 32nd Eagles of that period and indeed they carry only one centerline tank. On Zulu alert, perhaps not a big area has to be covered? I know that nowadays when a Russian Bear flies over, it's intercepted by Dutch, Norwegian or Danish F-16's, if they fly any further into the North Sea / Atlantic, the British with their Eurofighter take over and so on.... So one c/l might have been sufficient 30 years ago I guess. @All Checking references and perhaps altering/detailing the provided Tamiya c/l tank thus is probably the cheapest and wisest option for me. If not sufficent, I still can order the extra Tamiya F-15E “K” (part number 0606186) and “L” (part number 0606187) sprues. Perhaps I can spent the saved money better on super detailed sidewinder and sparrow missiles. Would the Flightpath AIM-7F/M/P Post-Vietnam Sparrow II and AIM-9L/M/R/S Post-Vietnam Sidewinder Missile Set be of the correct versions for that period /era? (http://www.djparkins.com/acatalog/Gunsmoke_Range_1_32nd_USAF_USN.html) Thanks all again for your help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bernie mckenna Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Did you Still fly 3 bags on Zulu alert? As far as I can remember we never carried 3 bags on Zulu only the c/l.They carried 3 bags if they went tdy say to the US or so but on Xcountry flights over the weekend etc. only the c\l.It was very uncommon for our F-15's to carry 3.And I know this as we had to arm up the tanks. Bernie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raptor01 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I was told by some Bitburg friends that Soesterberg never flew after 1700L, on the weekends, or US & Dutch holidays. LoL Varks rule! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ol Crew Dog Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 As far as I can remember we never carried 3 bags on Zulu only the c/l.They carried 3 bags if they went tdy say to the US or so but on Xcountry flights over the weekend etc. only the c\l.It was very uncommon for our F-15's to carry 3.And I know this as we had to arm up the tanks. Bernie We carried 3 bags at Langley, Elmendorf, King Salmon, and Osan(Kadena) . Kinda figured it was required for long escorts or loiters. Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bernie mckenna Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I was told by some Bitburg friends that Soesterberg never flew after 1700L, on the weekends, or US & Dutch holidays. LoL Varks rule! John very rarely did we fly then. If it was a Zulu launch that was whenever. They did fly at night but only on certain night in coordination with the Dutch. Weekend if going tdy or x/c again with coordination. It was a good place to work. I was lucky got stationed there twice 7 years each time. Bernie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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