twhite80 Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 (edited) I've been sitting on this one for a while. I originally had an F-117 on the bench but the Mudhen just seemed like the right choice. So what do we have? Revell F-15E Wolfpack Update Shull GBU-38s Eduard Photo Etch Legend seats Steel Beach intake covers Eduard Mask Afterburner Lakenheath (I will be doing then Capt.) Malachowski's jet. Looking forward to getting started. I got some holographic film for the HUD which is what I am excited about. Edited December 9, 2014 by twhite80 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 Good choice. Looking forward to watching it all happen! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jester292 Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 (edited) I'm building this too. But straight from the box. Can't wait to see your progress! Aaron Edited December 5, 2014 by jester292 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Will be following your build with great interest, as I just started the GWH 1/48 F-15C, but haven't done enough for a 1st post as yet. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jminer Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Looking forward to seeing what you do with this one! J Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Good luck whitey. I'm building this kit as we speak. Only aftermarket is decals from Twobobs. Hopefully you won't find too much flash on the 30 little arms on the exhaust. So far, the fit of pieces hasn't been too bad. Having said that, I have yet to glue the assembled nose piece onto the fuselage / wing assembly. I hope it doesn't present any problems like I have heard about the same build style of the Hasegawa F-14's. I'll be following along to see how you fare with your efforts. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
metroman Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 I'm currently working on this same kit, two words of advice on construction: (1) leave the intakes off til after you mate the fuselage to the wings section, this way you can attack the seam without those parts interfering. And (2) when installing the FAST packs you will need more hands than a human has... what worked well for me was to carefully dry-fit the part with the fuselage, seeing exactly where the piece will go. This can be tricky because Revell gives no mounting points or clues - start at the top and use some fairly aggressive glue like Gunze to lock in this edge first, then once secure you can come in with ProWeld to secure the remaining edges. If all goes well you will have minimal glue spots to clean up. Good luck in your efforts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) Big thanks for the pointers. We might need a mud hen support group. I hope to get this under way as soon as I have graded my last final! Quick question: Does anyone make the plastic probe covers that we see on the jet when its on the ground? I thought I could do RBF flags but I see that they also have AOA covers etc. Like these: Edited December 9, 2014 by twhite80 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Big thanks for the pointers. We might need a mud hen support group. I hope to get this under way as soon as I have graded my last final! Quick question: Does anyone make the plastic probe covers that we see on the jet when its on the ground? I thought I could do RBF flags but I see that they also have AOA covers etc. Like these: TwoMikes resin makes a very nice set with these covers, but I believe you will have to look on eBay as it is no longer in production. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
metroman Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 One addition to my previous two tips... if you are of the mind to use FOD covers, you can safely leave out the inner intake pieces without fear of compromising your build - their absence does not affect the attachment of the exhaust area nor the outer intake pieces. Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 I think I might do FOD covers so leaving those trunks out would be welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Okay, all of my finals are graded, all my paperwork turned in early and so I got some bench time and this Mudhen has come a long way pretty quickly. The cockpit was easy and straightforward. My big error was using the Eduard photo etch screens that are in the 'on' position instead of going with just the clear green treatment. The jet will be unmanned and parked so I know its not accurate but I felt that the extra layer of metal would build it up a little more and also the 'on' screen option is the only way to get all of the detail on the back screens. I hope you are willing to overlook this. Someone just turned them on to see if they can get the game on them. The body construction just flew. This is a well engineered kit. I assembled the intakes but did not take much time to do it as the intakes will be covered. I still don't understand why they ejection pin marks can't be on the outside as opposed to the inside. The thing that I was most looking forward to was using some polarized finish on the HUD. I originally went with the Eduard replacement but looking at photos the wider, rounder hud that Revell provides has better shape. And then I have started attaching all of the upgraded antenna with the Wolfpack upgrade. Now I just gotta find some AAMRAMs. Thanks for looking. Holler if you have any suggestions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ENS. "Bones" Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Very nice... looking forward o the rest of the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Definitely looking good. Looking forward to seeing some paint on your Eagle. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted December 20, 2014 Author Share Posted December 20, 2014 So I have run into a dilemma. Originally I wanted to do AF01-2003 but on the Afterburner decal sheet the jet profile has the older antannae. I upgraded with the wolfpack kit. The upgrades were circa 2006-2007 and the jet profile is from 2006. Should I pick a different line jet or just press ahead and make the assumption that this jet had the antenna upgrades? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 (edited) Plasticard is your friend....especially if you're talking about the blade antennae ;) . Very nice work looking fwd to le grande finale. Edited December 20, 2014 by #1 Greywolf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Adding scratch build blade antennas can be an issue if you're leaving those types of detail for the end of the build, or at least till you get the landing gear on. I've found that even with fairly thin parts that I make, I add when ever possible a small piece of steel wire that I've drilled the corresponding hole for in the fuselage. Then just a small drop of CA glue will securely hold it in place, and there is little chance of misalignment and getting glue where you don't want it. Paul Budzik has an excellent video on how to make blade antennas out of Brass @: Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted December 27, 2014 Author Share Posted December 27, 2014 (edited) The way I have decided to deal with the wrong antenna on the wrong aircraft is to make this a DOUBLE BUILD! So I will complete the first F-15E as built and then build the second one to the 2005 specs for the original one I was going for. I didn't have any extra aftermarket cockpit parts except for some ejection seats but the Revell Kit has a pretty good cockpit as is. In fact I am really impressed with this kit. So the cockpit went together well and I am even up on the progress on both jets. Edited December 27, 2014 by twhite80 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Wow, twins!! Both Eagles look great. The cockpit looks really quite nice as is. I'm at a point in my modeling since I build strictly display type models that are kept in display cases, that it's the overall visual finish that's most important. No one ever looks into the cockpit, but they do see the seats, and anything on the exterior. That's not to say that I don't try my best to busy up the cockpit, but I rather spend my time on the external details. That's another reason why loads have become a major issue with me Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aurora Mark Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 If you're ever building a Canadian bird and need answers to load outs, there are many of us here that can help. For example, the typical load out for a CP-140 involves about 14-20 box lunches, same number of hot meals, loaf of bread for the toaster, peanut butter, loads of coffee and concentrated milk. Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have been able to work a little on my strike eagles. Most of my attention has been focused on building the ordinance. I looked at various loadouts and found some CAS packages that will be appropriate for each bird given the timeframe for each. \ I updated the bomb racks in the front of the newer jet so I should be good there. I have also found some walk around photos I took several years ago which have been helping. And here is my very favorite model. A 1/1 boy! He was helping me put together a new display case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Nice loads out for both Eagles. Your 1:1 boy came out perfectly. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 I am making some progress here. I have most of the ordinance done with the exception of a JDAM. They are all painted but I will hold off on pics until I have the decals applied. I still need to do the landing gear and missiles. I started out on the jets themselves with preshading. Not sure it will make a big difference with such a dark color. On at least one of the jets I want to go for a more faded appearance. I am thinking the one with all of the bomb markings. Should I use the salt wash technique? Not sure yet. Here is the fading I am looking for: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Looks great! What's the crew figures? Want to know more about those B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 The figures are cool. They are Plus Model which is a Czech company, maybe. Anyway I am looking forward to putting them together. Here is where I found them on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plus-Model-1-48-Crew-F-15-Model-Kit-AL4013-/121518765552?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item1c4b1535f0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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