GWH 1/48 Strike Eagle accuracy

[marcinko]

Hi all,

 

I have the Revell Strike Eagle which I got for pennies and for years this was the benchmark.

However, I want to build two mudhens with modern A2G ammo, the likes of which took part in OEF/OIF etc

Since the Revell bird is no longer available, is it worth in buying the much expensive QWH kit ?

 

Is it a real E or some B with parts ?

 

Cheers

[ElectroSoldier]

The GWH kit is much later that OEF or OIF... WIthout breaking open the box Im not even sure if it has the old LANTIRN pods in the kitm I think its the Sniper or Litening pod.

 

I do seem to remember the Revell kit only has 2 of the AMRAAM rails, which I think is more ODS than OEF/OIF

[marcinko]

6 minutes ago, ElectroSoldier said:

The GWH kit is much later that OEF or OIF... WIthout breaking open the box Im not even sure if it has the old LANTIRN pods in the kitm I think its the Sniper or Litening pod.

 

I do seem to remember the Revell kit only has 2 of the AMRAAM rails, which I think is more ODS than OEF/OIF

I have the necessary after market pods and A2G ammo, I want to know if it is a True E or some B/D, all so called Strike Eagles except Revell`s are B/D

[Solo]

That kit has Sniper, AN/AAQ-13 pod and set of GBU-39 bombs, so it is rather very modern version of the aircraft.

Edited November 30, 2020 by Solo

[Solo]

5 minutes ago, marcinko said:

I want to know if it is a True E

I think so. Practically it is the same kit as in F-15I one, with proper cockpit, CFT and all antennas and sensors suitable for E, I think. I don't know what about IP for second pilot - is it the same in E like in I?
I also can say, that this kit has new version of sprue D - bottom part of the hull, with big exhaust betwwen main wheel wells.
You can see all the parts and the instruction here:

F-15E Strike Eagle model do sklejania Lion Roar -L4822 (mojehobby.pl)

[ElectroSoldier]

Flory did a review on his youtube page.
I seem to remember the kit can be built as a B or D model. While the Hasegawa kit for instance is a CFT'd up D model it is only because the parts required to make it an E are not in the kit.

There is no reason you cant make a kit that can be built as an accurate D model and an accurate E model, none of the changes are so fundamental. For instance the main gear doors can simple be swapped for E model doors, the P229 engine intakes can be added, as can the LANTIRN pods and CFT with pylons.

 

Its at least a year since I looked over the GWH kit and I cant remember thinking anything was amiss with it other than I got some LANTIRN pods and a weapons set. But thats only because I like older ear jets.

 

I think the GWH kit is the only E model kit that beats the Revell kit into a cocked hat.

Edited November 30, 2020 by ElectroSoldier

[Falconxlvi]

Just be aware it doesn’t come with the pylon to mount the SNIPER pod and it doesn’t come with the centerline pylon (station 5) despite what the instructions show.   Also, the UFC is incorrect for a Strike Eagle post 2013-14.  They are all now the flat LCD style UFC.   Also, also, the wings have molded on structural reinforcements about halfway out the span on each side, which are not on every jet (check your references for the tail you are building)

 

PS- the exhausts...’meh

 

Steve 😅😜

[seawinder]

5 hours ago, ElectroSoldier said:

I think the GWH kit is the only E model kit that beats the Revell kit into a cocked hat.

I'm in the latter stages of a Revell E in Desert Storm markings. GWH may beat it into a cocked hat, but I think the Revell is a really well done kit with some ingenious engineering that makes it a pretty fun build. Case in point, the main gear doors which are foolproof and strong. I also liked the forward/aft fuselage joint, especially compared to the flimsy Hasegawa joint. If GWH is using the same exhaust nozzle parts as their F-15C kits, I'd say the Revell items are more accurate OOB. The only nit I can think of to pick, besides the lack of ordnance in the non-special boxing, is the windscreen, which is slightly thicker on one side making it a bit of a pain to center.

[Niels]

I'm building the GWH F-15E right now. Actually it is the F-15I "converted" to an F-15E - both kits are the same. It is excellent, great fit and no troubles at all. 

The F-15E comes with a Sniper pod, the F-15I the lightening pod. There are also different weapons. 

 

If you want to have a look, here is links to the instruction pages for both: 

F-15E: https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/9/2/7/1148927-15-instructions.pdf

F-15I: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/great-wall-hobby-l4816-f-15i-iaf--963391 

 

Beats Hasegawa, Revell and Academy in my opinion. 

And yes, the kit still contains the cockpit parts to do A/B/C/D versions if you so prefer. Your option, but why buy an F-15E when you can buy the dedicated B/D kit from them? 

[marcinko]

I have the Ra am, but taking in consideration the price, for example , the Revell (which almost all consider it to be the benchmark) cost me a few years ago around 32 USD, literally a steal, today I can get the GWH for 84USD, for this price hike I would expect this to be first flawless in terms of details, to mimic perfectly the Strike Eagle.

 

It is known that the E is quite different panels wise compared to all other Eagles, so for 84USD it better be amazing

 

As a side note, I have paid slightly less for Tamiya`s and AMK`s Tomcat`s and no discussion that is a more complex bird

[JEN722]

18 hours ago, ElectroSoldier said:

Flory did a review on his youtube page.
I seem to remember the kit can be built as a B or D model. While the Hasegawa kit for instance is a CFT'd up D model it is only because the parts required to make it an E are not in the kit.

There is no reason you cant make a kit that can be built as an accurate D model and an accurate E model, none of the changes are so fundamental. For instance the main gear doors can simple be swapped for E model doors, the P229 engine intakes can be added, as can the LANTIRN pods and CFT with pylons.

 

Its at least a year since I looked over the GWH kit and I cant remember thinking anything was amiss with it other than I got some LANTIRN pods and a weapons set. But thats only because I like older ear jets.

 

I think the GWH kit is the only E model kit that beats the Revell kit into a cocked hat.

You cannot build an accurate B or D OOB from the E/I kits. The lower fuselage parts have been changed from the B/D kit to correctly portray the E/I belly (I found out by actually comparing the parts from the kits).

That said, I'd go for the GWH kit any day. I have lost interest in the Revell F-15Es I have in my stash, and I have scrapped an Academy kit.

 

Jens

[Curt B]

I just got my KA Models Exhaust (open) and Afterburner set, the Eduard BigEd set and Quickboost seats, so my GWH F-15E is ready to go...  Scary as it is for me.  It’s a very expensive model plus the aftermarket stuff...I haven’t yet built any big 1/48 scale modern jets yet, and not sure I want to make this one my ‘test case’.  We will see...!

 

Oh, and just one more thing...the KA Models Exhaust...once again, BEYOND SPECTACULAR!  So, now, I have an F-15 (for C and E) Closed Exhaust plus Afterburner set, an F-15 (for C andE) Open Exhaust plus Afterburner set, and an F-16 Open and Closed Exhaust plus Afterburner set (perfect, as I have 2 Tamiya F-16C/N Aggressor/Adversary kits, and now I can do one open and one closed). 😊  Frankly, I'm not sure, other than scratch building, which would take me 5 years, an severe anxiety, hate and anger, could I come even CLOSE to what those KA Exhaust nozzles and Afterburner interior details look like.  So...whatever the cost, to me, it's worth it!  Yahoo!

Edited December 9, 2020 by Curt B

[Inquisitor]

It doesn't include pilot figures, so it's unbuildable!

[Curt B]

20 minutes ago, Inquisitor said:

It doesn't include pilot figures, so it's unbuildable!

Well, there's one man's opinion 😋😋

[Niels]

There is promisse in Readoak's latest offerings. Now only to get them to make one for the F-15..... 

[Lucio Martino]

The Revell F-15E is a "real" E and it is not a B/D with some additional parts.

 

The Hasegawa F-15E is a B/D with some additional parts.

 

In my opinion you should by the Revell F-15E both for accuracy and price. If you don't find it elsewhere else, just search eBay. Eventually, look for the Pro Modeler release because is giving some more weapons:

 

http://www.internetmodeler.com/2001/september/first-looks/rm_f-15e.htm

 

With the money you save buying the Revell F-15E instead of the GWH F-15E (about 60USD given that you can get the Revell F-15E for about 30USD, even less if you find one at Michaels), you can buy a lot of aftermarket items like pods, cockpit, decals, weapons, etc.

 

Just to give you an example of how good is the Revell F-15E jus follow this link:

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/633448746733188/permalink/3448511158560252/

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2020 by Lucio Martino

[Inquisitor]

19 hours ago, Curt B said:

Well, there's one man's opinion 😋😋

Not my opinion. That's an in-joke. If you want the story search the original GWH F-15 B/D thread.

[ytsejam87]

CurtB  trying to save you the search time: 

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/268241-great-wall-hobby-148-f-15

....truly a trip down memory lane......

 

but wait.....there's more:

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/273138-announcement-from-great-wall-hobby-on-their-148-f-15bd-kit/