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GWH 1/48 scale F-15C


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JA

Nice work on the front office and the part fit looks excellent with superb detailing. Not sure why on the nose wheel bay you indercoated the gloss white with NATO Black.

Keep 'em coming

Bro

Pete,

It's like pre-shading. It just helps to add some depth to the recesses and nooks & crannies.

Joel

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Well, I reached my 1st decision issue of the build, and I really can't decide which way to go. The nose cone is a separate piece with a hinge assembly for having it opened, so that the radar can be seen. The basic parts look pretty good but some additional details will be needed. Then there are the two electronic bays right behind the nose cone. Same deal. Nicely detailed, but needs a lot of wiring to make them or one of them look like the real deal.

My issue is that with all areas opened up, the over all look of the Eagle isn't what I envisioned. Just can't decide which way to go.

Joel

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mmmm....delicious! how does the door over the avionics bays fit?

Janne,

I'm only able to test fit the bottom and part of the lower sides because there are molded on hinges. From what I cant tell, the fit is pretty good. Right now I'm inclined to close up both electronic bays. Leaning as well to closing the radar cone as well. Just doesn't look like an eagle with it open.

Joel

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I've been thinking of buying this kit. How much better than the Hasegawa kit is it? The price difference can be put into aftermarket stuff, and which one would be the better choice then? What about the Eduard/Academy offerings? Are they even close?

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I've been thinking of buying this kit. How much better than the Hasegawa kit is it? The price difference can be put into aftermarket stuff, and which one would be the better choice then? What about the Eduard/Academy offerings? Are they even close?

Denstore,

I've never built either the Hasegawa nor Academy kits so I have no 1st hand knowledge of those kits. I did follow Aigore's Hasegawa build, and there were some fit issues, and the cockpit wasn't the greatest, hence, he used the Aires cockpit. The GWH kit has a fantastic cockpit, the Aces 11 seat needed work or you can get a AM seat. So far the fit has been perfect. The molded detail looks to be outstanding. Even the missiles come in their own hard plastic containers.

If anything, I'll be using AM decals, and the Aires cans if I don't like how the kit cans look once assembled.

I'll grant you that it's a rather expensive kit at a MSRP of $80. but I think it's worth it. I've build their P-61A, and their TBD-1 Devastator, both kits had their issues, but neither kit comes close to this release.

Joel

Edited by Joel_W
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Denstore,

I've never built either the Hasegawa nor Academy kits so I have no 1st hand knowledge of those kits. I did follow Aigore's Hasegawa build, and there were some fit issues, and the cockpit wasn't the greatest, hence, he used the Aires cockpit. The GWH kit has a fantastic cockpit, the Aces 11 seat needed work or you can get a AM seat. So far the fit has been perfect. The molded detail looks to be outstanding. Even the missiles come in their own hard plastic containers.

If anything, I'll be using AM decals, and the Aires cans if I don't like how the kit cans look once assembled.

I'll grant you that it's a rather expensive kit at a MSRP of $80. but I think it's worth it. I've build their P-61A, and their TBD-1 Devastator, both kits had their issues, but neither kit comes close to this release.

Joel

Sounds like a great kit. Must order one as soon as the wallet allows. Thanks for your input!

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Denstore,

I've never built either the Hasegawa nor Academy kits so I have no 1st hand knowledge of those kits. I did follow Aigore's Hasegawa build, and there were some fit issues, and the cockpit wasn't the greatest, hence, he used the Aires cockpit. The GWH kit has a fantastic cockpit, the Aces 11 seat needed work or you can get a AM seat. So far the fit has been perfect. The molded detail looks to be outstanding. Even the missiles come in their own hard plastic containers.

If anything, I'll be using AM decals, and the Aires cans if I don't like how the kit cans look once assembled.

I'll grant you that it's a rather expensive kit at a MSRP of $80. but I think it's worth it. I've build their P-61A, and their TBD-1 Devastator, both kits had their issues, but neither kit comes close to this release.

Joel

Joel,

I am watching this build closelyl. You are doing excellent work. I probably will get this kit at some point. I have a few AM decals that I'd like to use which are for the Hasegawa Eagle. I am curious as to to the sizing of the unique squadron band that is applied at the top of the vertical stab fits the GW Kit.

As for price. I think you can get them for around $70 on Ebay, which in my opinion is a bargain compared to the alternative. I am working on a Has F-15C right now which I got for $25, not including shipping. The Aires cockpit was another $30. I have the Hasegawa featherless exhaust from from spares box. But will need to purchase LAU-128 missile adapters and updated ECM/Com antennas. That's another $30 if I go the Wolfpack Design route.

You also get better detail and fit with the GW Kit. I'm glad they decided to fix the nose shape issue. I can't wait to get one.

Edited by B2Blain
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Joel,

I am watching this build closelyl. You are doing excellent work. I probably will get this kit at some point. I have a few AM decals that I'd like to use which are for the Hasegawa Eagle. I am curious as to to the sizing of the unique squadron band that is applied at the top of the vertical stab fits the GW Kit.

As for price. I think you can get them for around $70 on Ebay, which in my opinion is a bargain compared to the alternative. I am working on a Has F-15C right now which I got for $25, not including shipping. The Aires cockpit was another $30. I have the Hasegawa featherless exhaust from from spares box. But will need to purchase LAU-128 missile adapters and updated ECM/Com antennas. That's another $30 if I go the Wolfpack Design route.

You also get better detail and fit with the GW Kit. I'm glad they decided to fix the nose shape issue. I can't wait to get one.

B2Blain,

Welcome to the party. Any and all input is greatly appreciated. My forte and comfort zone has always been WW11 props since I was a small boy back in the late 50s-60s.

For what you paid for the Hasegawa kit, you can get all the upgrades and still break even. Checkout Airgore's Hasegawa build, it's really an excellent tutorial on the kit and build. Like I said, I'm hoping that the kit cans are acceptable. The issue from their earlier release is the control rods for the turkey feathers. This time they molded them as a separate piece. Hopefully I can thin them down enough to make them look good.

Joel

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With the cockpit now complete minus the Hud Shroud, Hud, Aces 11 ejection seat, and the control stick, I turned my attention to the lower fuselage assembly. For some strange reason GWH calls this sub assemby the upper fuselage assembly. Go figure.

There are just 3 main parts to the assembly, the lower fuselage, and both lower halves of the wings.

F-15C12_17_14_054_1.jpg

Each wing assembly attaches to the fuselage by 3 locating pins. The fit is absolutely perfect. It's that good.

F-15C12_17_14_055.jpg

F-15C12_17_14_056.jpg

The joint line is in fact a real seam, but on one side the forward part had a recessed line a little wider then I wanted, which results in a small gap. Since I didn't want to use any glue on the outside surfaces, I worked some Extra thin from the inside of the joint to seal the gap. To decrease the recessed panel line I'll apply a bead of Vallejo White Acrylic putty during the final stages before priming. Apply, set up for 30 seconds, then wipe the excess off with a damp Qtip.

The front cockpit sub assemly is firmly secured to the main fuselage not only by a large matting surface, but there is a box type receptical to hold it in the exact position.

F-15C12_17_14_053.jpg

I test fitted the two sections, which is a perfect flush fit, and it's rock solid. The result does leave a deep joint line that needs to be addressed, that I'll also use Vallejo White Acrylic putty on, so it's really another non-issue.

Now comes those dreaded intake trumpets. All injected molded ones are two piece units resulting with two seams. The fit is once again perfect, and even with careful gluing from the outside, you end up with seams. In the past I've just left it as is, since one has to really look directly

into the trumpets to see them. I decided before the build to use a technique that Janne (Aigore), a modeling friend has used with great results; White Gloss Latex paint.

I carefully taped the engine end of the trumpets closed with Blue painters tape:

F-15C12_17_14_052.jpg

Using Satin White Latex paint, as I have gallons of the stuff for home painting projects, I carefully filled each trumpet to the top, then let the paint cure for 5 min. Pouring the paint out takes a lot longer then filling them up. I slowly rotated the trumpets so that the paint continued to evenly coat the 4 inside walls. One coat really looked good to me, even though Janne suggested 2 or 3 coats. So I let them dry for a few hours, then removed the tape. I was really suprised at how much paint flowed out and over my fingers!. Cleanup is just was with just warm water.

I test fitted one mocked up engine, and I needed to remove the latex paint from the joint. Took about 2 min each with my Dremel and a sanding drum. Then I test fitted both intake trumpets on the lower fuselage. They really looked good.

F-15C12_18_14_058_1.jpg

Edited by Joel_W
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Cont. part 2 of previous post.

The next step was the construction of the air intake ramps. The kit gives you the option of two different positions: Horizontal for on the ground, or a down position for supersonic flight. I opted for the Horizontal position.

Each air intake is comprised of 4 main pieces, that fit like a glove.

F-15C12_18_14_063.jpg

With careful gluing, there is absolutely no gaps. The resulting joint lines are at 90%, the intake fronts edges are literally razor sharp. Some very careful sanding with #320, #600, 4,000, & 6,000 produces a finished air intake that looks like it was a one piece molding.

F-15C12_19_14_071.jpg

F-15C12_18_14_064.jpg

F-15C12_19_14_074.jpg

Finally, I test fitted one air in take to see the full effect:

F-15C12_18_14_062_1.jpg

Again, thanks to Janne for supplying me with the correct color FS number, and how far into the trumpets to paint the gray paint. The air intakes will be painted fS36375 Light Gray as well as the scale 1st few feet of the trumpets.

Well, that's how far I've gotten on my build. Thanks to all for stopping by and reading through this rather long post.

Joel

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Sacred grass muncher! That kit's pure plastic porn, I got to get one!

Looking good there, joel :D/>

Janne,

Thanks.

This is without a doubt the best engineered kit I've ever built. Every fit issue that's associated with the Hasegawa kit, they've seemed to address, and come up with a better way.

Joel

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Wow! I need to get me some of that white putty...and nice work on the intakes!!!

Nicholassagan,

Thanks for stopping by and liking the intakes. The Vallejo White Putty is amazing stuff used properly.

Joel

Looks great!

Any word on a E version from GWH?

Jorgen "Troll" Toll

Jorgen,

There has been some talk about an E, but nothing from GWH as yet.

Joel

Great job Joel, will definitely be following this! This kit seems to be a very nice one, maybee i should buy me one...

Jakob

Jakob,

Thanks for stopping by. Your more then welcome to join the party. As for the kit, like I said, so far it's the best fitting kit I've ever built. It's that good.

Joel

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Janne,

I'm only able to test fit the bottom and part of the lower sides because there are molded on hinges. From what I cant tell, the fit is pretty good. Right now I'm inclined to close up both electronic bays. Leaning as well to closing the radar cone as well. Just doesn't look like an eagle with it open.

Joel

I agree, close all the doors. The eagle looks much better buttoned up.

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