1/48th Revell F-15E, 90-0257, 17th Weapons Squadron, circa 2007

[A-10 LOADER]

This will be my next build from the stash. Apparently I had started this kit way back in June of 2000 ! I have no recollection of doing this btw. 😆

I'm currently doing research and obtaining the necessary aftermarket items for the build. I probably won't be able to get a lot accomplished until after the first of the new year. Til then I'll post updates when I have something worth showing.

 

Steve

 

The load out. Notice no fuel tanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2025 by A-10 LOADER

[strikeeagle801]

I'll be watching this one closely. Can't wait to see your progress!

 

Aaron

[Thadeus]

Nice. Quite interesting to see somebody still building the Revell Mudhen.

[strikeeagle801]

23 hours ago, Thadeus said:

Nice. Quite interesting to see somebody still building the Revell Mudhen.

It still builds up to a good DS1 bird OOB. Steve is aware of the updates needed, and I'm excited to see progress. 

 

I'm starting on one soon, as Bullseye is releasing a Desert Storm sheet in the near future.  

 

Aaron

[Gator52]

It would have been brand new in June ‘00!

 

I’ve been looking forward to your next project ever since you completed the Viper, and have a 17 WPS jet on my to-do list as well. 
 

Chris

 

[A-10 LOADER]

Thanks everyone, hopefully I won't disappoint.

Steve

[ST0RM]

Time for a new coffee build. 
I drink the coffee, you build!!

[A-10 LOADER]

12 hours ago, ST0RM said:

Time for a new coffee build. 
I drink the coffee, you build!!

😆

[A-10 LOADER]

I managed some bench time to work on the cockpit. I'm not really sure if the MCC seats are slightly undersized ( they are pretty much the same as the kit ones ) or, the kit's tub is off but, I had to add .015" sheet plastic to the sidewalls to close up the space between them and the seats. The actual seats in the jet sit very close to the sides of the tub. I also had to cover the slots in the floor that were there for the kit seats. I had to make some blocks for the seats to sit on to bring them up to the proper height when placed in the tub. I know the seats are adjustable in the real jet but, straight off the trees the seats were way too low. I'll add some wiring to those boxes I added to the tub as well.

 

 

RES/KIT's GBU-24's are beautifully done and, I'm a huge fan of their stuff. I just feel they weren't really thinking of the painting aspect when creating these. Instead of having the tail fin assembly a separate piece, like Dave Roof of Flying Leatherneck Decals does his, they added part of the bomb body to it. Now you have a potential seam to deal with when this could have been eliminated. My GBU's will be INERT so, the bomb bodies will be blue with Olive Drab tail fins. This just creates a lot of extra masking which could have been eliminated.

 

 

Notice the small, raised "strip" molded onto the GCU ( Guidance Control Unit ) part of the bomb. I would have rather seen this "strip" part of the forward guidance fins, like the real ones are. The center section of the GCU gets painted brown. Now I'll have to mask off and spray the "strips" Olive Drab, doable just more work.

 

[HOLMES]

Looking good

[A-10 LOADER]

On 10/3/2025 at 8:43 AM, HOLMES said:

Looking good

Thanks.

Steve

[HOLMES]

Looking forward to seeing  more.

[A-10 LOADER]

Over the last week I managed to get some bench time in and get everything I'm hanging on the jet, weapons related, in place. I have to give a shout out to Mike Reeves of Phase Hanger Resin. Upon receiving my order there was a wing pylon that didn't print very well and, a deformed bomb rack. Mike sent me out a new set free of charge.

Steve

 

RES/KIT GBU-24's "pinned" to the middle CFT pylon stations.

 

Phase Hanger Resin's center line pylon "pinned" to the lower fuselage.

 

LAU-128 rails "pinned" to the wing pylons.

 

Holes drilled to accept the pylon jettisoning fitting and, the fuel vent pipe.

 

Pylon jettison fittings to be attached to the aft end of the wing pylons.

 

Fittings installed in the back of the pylons.

 

Added a small piece of Albion brass tube for the fuel vent pipe at the back of the pylon.

 

 

Phase Hanger Resin F-15E Weapons pylons / LAU-128A/D launch rails, Flight Line Resin's CATM-120's (finless) and CATM-9L/M and, AFV Club AN/ASQ-T50 TCTS pod. Nothing you see here is glued, everything is "pinned" to allow for separate painting of all the parts. Because of the pins at the end of the build I can just press fit everything together without glue.

  NOTE: CATM-120's do not have an exhaust, they are flat on the end so, I had to fill mine with some Tamiya putty and a quick sand with some 400 fixed them.

Edited October 15, 2025 by A-10 LOADER

[HOLMES]

WOW !!

Looking very NEAT and meticulously  done.

I think it is very good workmanship. 

Perfect !!

[A-10 LOADER]

19 hours ago, HOLMES said:

WOW !!

Looking very NEAT and meticulously  done.

I think it is very good workmanship. 

Perfect !!

Thank you.

Steve

[ST0RM]

Coffee in hand and enjoying your progress Steve. Great stuff. 
-Jeff

[A-10 LOADER]

10 minutes ago, ST0RM said:

Coffee in hand and enjoying your progress Steve. Great stuff. 
-Jeff

Thanks buddy, appreciate that.

Steve

[A-10 LOADER]

Still slowly chipping away at the ole' girl when I can find the time.

Steve

 

Brushed on some Mr. Hobby liquid mask so I can glue the Sniper pod to the hardback at the end of the build. Also added the GPS antenna from the Eduard one.

 

 

Added a splitter plate to the primary heat exchanger large fixed scoop. All F-15E's, 90-0233 and later, with the F100-PW-229 engines have these.

 

The CFT's are slowly taking shape. The swaybraces contact the bombs nicely. I still need to add the outboard stub pylons.

Edited December 18, 2025 by A-10 LOADER

[strikeeagle801]

Just an FYI for those following along and thinking about doing an F-15E in the future. Steve is correct when he states that 90-0233 and later came with the PW-229's (and thus the heat exchanger scoops) from the factory. For earlier jets, you need to check your references, as some (and it is not as clear-cut as a certain tail number cutoff) have been upgraded to the -229's as well. I saw two 389th FS jets with 87 tail numbers that both had -229's at Beale this summer. 

 

Aaron

[A-10 LOADER]

What the !?!?!?

Most of my post is missing from last night, not sure what happened there but, let's try again.

Still slowly chipping away at the ole' girl when I can find the time.

Steve

 

 

Hypersonic Models jet fuel starter exhaust installed.

 

Eduard AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN pod / pylon and Hasegawa SNIPER pod pylon / strongback "pinned" to the lower fuselage.

 

Seeker heads glued to the RES/KIT GBU-24's.

 

Antennas added to the bottom of the cooling scoop on the SNIPER pod.

 

Hasegawa AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER pod with the Eduard data link antenna added.

 

Added a splitter plate to the primary heat exchanger large fixed scoop. All F-15E's, 90-0233 and later, with the F100-PW-229 engines have these.

 

The CFT's are slowly taking shape. The swaybraces contact the bombs nicely. I still need to add the outboard stub pylons.

Edited October 22, 2025 by A-10 LOADER

[Eastern]

Hi Steve,

Nice progress so far.

BTW, what this means:  'Still slowly chipping away at the ole' girl when I can find the time.' I mean 'ole' girl'.

 

Cheers!

Alexander

[Mr.Happy]

Nice looking build A-10LOADER .

 

I’m looking forward to seeing your next updates.

 

Mr. Happy 

[A-10 LOADER]

On 10/29/2025 at 10:27 AM, Mr.Happy said:

Nice looking build A-10LOADER .

 

I’m looking forward to seeing your next updates.

 

Mr. Happy 

Thanks Mr. Happy, me too just not sure when that will be.

Steve

[A-10 LOADER]

Update on the build. I managed some spray booth time over the weekend and, today on a few things.

I got the pylons, bomb racks, bombs, missile rails, missiles, ACMI pod, Sniper pod pylon / hardback and, the LANTIRN pod / pylon primed and painted. I have my December model meeting here on the 6th and wanted to try and get something accomplished. Nothing earth shattering but, it's still progress.

Hoping everyone has a good Thanksgiving.

Steve

 

 

 

Like I said before in a previous post, this seam on the GBU-24 bomb bodies needs to be filled 😞.

[ST0RM]

Nice progress update Steve.
-Jeff