YF-15

[PA28Ace]

Final assembly: the canopy masks come off, the landing gear, doors, and engines are installed.  The very last step was to add a Master test boom for an F-16XL to the end of the brass tube already installed.  The F-16XL test boom was the closest thing I could find to simulate the prototype Eagle’s boom.  Not a perfect match, but close.  Assembly was tedious because there are three microscopic PE AOA and sideslip vanes to glue to it.  Once on, 10208, Eagle number one, is complete.

 

What I could have done better: As I already mentioned, I think I could have done something better to stop the old stencil decals from silvering.  The orange markings on the intakes and bottom of the fuselage are too big.  Caracal’s drawing (which I followed) in the decal set depict them this way, however, looking at old photos, they don’t extend so far back on the fuselage.  I ended-up with some white specks in the cockpit area which I’m sure are the result of filling gaps around the canopy and windscreen after they were glued on.  Lastly, I ended up with gaps on the bottom of the model between the engine tail feathers and the fuselage.  This was even after I had test fitted these things!  All of this is hindsight.

 

In general, I’m happy with the model and the general impression is really good.  Monogram’s 1970s model, though there are major fit problems, really nails the shape of the airplane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Geoff M]

Remarkable!  Very nice work on a classic kit.

 

 

[Paul Boyer]

Beauty!

[Dutch]

Simply gorgeous! 

[GreyGhost]

Very nice job ..! 

Hard to believe but the jet you depicted is over 50 years old ..!

 

-Gregg

 

[KursadA]

Awesome!

[Slartibartfast]

Great work!  It does look odd without stepped elevators and with the original wingtips.  I can still remember falling in love with that scheme when I first saw it in a mid-70’s issue of Airpower magazine.

[paulsbrown]

Inspiring, really nicely done. 

[PA28Ace]

I finally got round to taking some nice photos:

 

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by PA28Ace

[JohnEB]

The #7 aircraft still exits and after years in a variety of schemes, it has been returned to its original test colors.

https://www.combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/mcdonnell F-15 Eagle.html

 

From the photos, I can't tell if it has the original stabilizer and wing tip shapes.

 

I saw my first F-15s at Luke AFB, Arizona circa 1975-6. They had the early blue finish.

Some had the red/white high vis bands.

So yes, reading that they are 50 years old is depressing!

 

Edited January 1 by JohnEB
Add info.

[aircommando130]

That's an awesome build of the test F-15A! I remember seeing them at Edwards in the mid 70's when I was in. 

Now you need to build a test F-15EX that's in that same paint (kinda) to go with it. 

 

Cheers...Ron

[CraigSargent]

On 11/29/2016 at 12:46 PM, Ol Crew Dog said:

 

F-15 A to C, A type prior to MISIP and C model initial production. Nose to Tail
Early C Models and A models were almost indistinguishable. I was a Crew Chief on A models 80 – 84 in the 27th TFS, 1TFW, 76-0057 was my first hog. Got my first C model 82-0019 in 83 with 12.7 hours from Micky D’s.
Top
1.    Majority of the cockpit remained the same with only minor instrumentation upgrades through the years.
2.    HUD and HUD combing glass went through an upgrade in 82 to accept the EagleEye scope, home made to mount to the side of the combing glass to slide a rifle scope on for visual identification.
3.    The early C models had the same cockpit configuration as the A model until after MISIP in the late 80’s.
4.    ESCAPAC seats were initially installed but changed out before 1980 on active duty aircraft with the ACESII Seat. The ACESII seat was basic with no major mods till much later in the seats career.
5.    Bay 5 was Metallic Green Color, much to the disbelief of many this was not painted white later in the A models career. This metallic green can be found in the avionics bays of all F-15’s. This Color carried on into the initial batch of C models’ my C model at Kadena 78-0479 still had a Green Bay 5.
6.    There was no set up for the ICS boxes that go in Bay5 on the C models.
7.    A models did not go through MISIP till later in their career, after the C models went through except for certain intercept squadron aircraft.
8.    Aileron actuator panels do not have the pronounced bulges as this denotes a modification of the addition of a hydraulic reducing valve which did not happen till C model production.
9.    Both LVS and RVS (left vertical stab and right vertical stab) are missing the beef up plates for the top bullets torque boxes did not come about till the late 80’s.
10.    Pnl  128 or tail hook fairing was not removed till after Desert Storm.
11.    Turkey Feathers were removed on the Nozzles starting in 79 through 82, I have the scars to prove that from snapping off the finger seals while doing my BPO.
12.    Sabre drains (sharp as hell redundant fibreglass drains) on the aft Engine Bay panels were there till after Desert Storm.
13.    JSF Exhaust still had a metal Louver, this was not moved till after Desert Storm..
14.    Wheels and Brakes were modified to the type you see today on C model production, A models had the star pattern type wheel and most did not receive the new type after going through MISIP in the 90’s.
15.    The wheel wells were that funky metallic green Color as well, I remember this because hooking up the hydraulic test stand the connections were in the main wheel wells and the hydraulic fluid caused the paint to peel around the connections getting the metallic green paint all over my gloves...
16.    No chaff and flare mods installed under the intake on A models.
17.    COMM panel on the A model was further forward on the left intake bottom and square, the C model COMM panel was rectangular and further aft, both were hinged at the front of the panel.
18.    No ICS antennae’s behind the nose gear door and in between the blade or UHF antennae’s. 
19.    The rectangular blade antennae’s on the canopy hump aft of the canopy were the only half type used till the early 90’s when these were hard to replace so a suitable sub was found which turned into the shark ant you see today.
20.    There were panel changes over the years but this would not be noticeable in smaller scales and only to someone intamite with the F-15. Any questions or you want me to elaborate anything feel free to ask.

21. Preproduction and initial production batches had the short speedbrake (retrofitted to the longer speedbrake) .

22. Also on the NASA birds they had on the Both Vertical Stabs counterbalances, the ALQ ant was missing along with all other antenae's. 

23. Wheels could be painted black, silver or white on the mains and the nose, these could be an intermix on all wheels.

24. Wing tips were different shapes on the NASA and preproduction birds due to testing different configurations for efficiency, they were made out of plywood for easy and cheap changes. The NASA bird on the pedestal at Langley flew in with plywood wing tips, saw this with my own eyes.

as memories come back to me I will add to this list, if you notice anything I missed let me know.

Cheers
Dave

 

 

Having been through the conversion to the prototype using the Hasegawa F1/48 F-15C last year, here are a few I can add specific to the early jets

 

1. Small fillet at the rear of the tail fins

2. NACA intake ducts on the bottom of the fuselage behind the main gear wells (ask me how I know - had to retrofit to mine AFTER painting)

3. Tail hook faired over for flight testing

I ended up designing and printing a new instrument panel and test instrumentation to cover the cockpit differences.

 

[CraigSargent]

On 12/29/2023 at 11:33 AM, PA28Ace said:

 

Colours are spot on - nice work.

[GreyGhost]

Most Excellent ...! 

 

-Gregg

[Dutch]

Beautiful.  I don't ever get tired of looking at that scheme!