1/32 F-15C Bitburg Eagle

[ghatherly]

1/32 Tamiya F-15C Bitburg Eagle ODS Mig Killer 84-0027

The subject is MC Donnell Douglas F-15C 84-0027, a Mig 23/F-1 EQ killer in the hands of Cpt. Powell during Operation Desert Storm. The jet is depicted in 1992/93 after returning to Bitburg prior to repainting into the Mod. Eagle color scheme. MSIP II and HOTAS upgrades had been done at this time.

Base Kit: Tamiya F-15C 1/32 scale

Additional kits and major components used:

· Revell New tool F-4E kit - 600 Gallon Center Line Fuel tank

· Revell F-15 D/E Kit – Left fin ALQ-128 Antenna/Dampener, Tail Hook

· Academy F/A-18C – HOTAS Throttle, Misc landinggear parts, antennas, AIM-7M SparrowMissiles

· Tamiya F-16CG Thunderbird kit. Correct afterburners and exhaust tubes

Aftermarket kits:

· Aries : F-15C late Cockpit. Coamingmodified for MSIP II Update

· Wolfpack: MSIP II update set – Instrument panelstores jettison panel used

· Flightpath: F-15C Exhaust set

· Master: M61 20mm cannon

· Zacto Models: Aim-9L/M Sidewinder Missiles

· Rhino Models : Resin Intakes

· Eduard Photo etch: F-15C, F-15 Interior, F-15E Exterior, F-15ESeat, F-4C Seat, F-15 Placards, F-15 Formation Light

· Hobby decal: Metal AOA probes

Decals:

· Two Bobs Eifel Eagles

· Two Bobs Aim-7 M Sparrow

· Two Bobs Aim-9 L/M Sidewinder

· Misc. small decals from stash

· Sky Decals aircraft panel numbers and pylon/tank stencils

Major Changes and Corrections:

· Wings- thinned trailing edge, repositionedflaps, ailerons, and inboard marker light from the "E" to the "C" position

· Vertical fins- Replaced incorrect right fin balancer, left fin ALQ-128 antenna, “E"Rudder bulges removed, Rudder and finupdate bolts added, thinned leading and trailing edges, cut rudder free offin, Rescribed for "C" model of thatperiod

· Elevators – Removed all external detail "E"bracing, thinned upper and lower halves of elevator, removed plastic tab andinstalled a 1.5mm x 2.5 cm brass rod for the elevator pivot. A 2mm brass tubing is installed in thefuselage to allow smooth rotation of the elevator while providing excellentstrength and easy disassembly. Elevatorswere rescribed to restore "C" detail for the period.

· Tail hook – From the Revell F-15 kit, andreworked to match the actual parts as closely as possible

· Vent/Grills - Cockpit side vents and gun bay vents were opened up

· JFS – "E" intakes were removed and the "C"intake added. Louvered exhausts wereremoved along with the Sabre drains on the engine access panels

· Rescribing – Tamiya gives us an "E" topfuselage, so it needs to be reworked with some panel lines being filled in,moved and/or added to make a "C" top

· Reshaped the main rubber tires to "C"shape. The need to have the cornerstaken off and smoothed off without tearing the rubber or removing the side walldetails. The original idea was to usethe Revell main wheels and tires, but the tires are not tall enough.

· AIM-7 Missiles - detain was added and the fins were thinned down, as were the LAU-106fuselage mounting clamps

Scratch Built items:

· Main front landing gear - the Tamiya part is OK,but the fork is way to tall and the wrong profile. It also has that clump of metal at the topthat is what I don't know, but it is not part of a real F-15.

· Main landing gear was reworked and 90% builtfrom scratch, including the retract mechanism and the door detail andopen/close mechanism

· Front canopy frame underside detail offramework, closing and locking mechanism and corresponding side sill details

· Arched read canopy frame built with propermirrors, IFF status light, RAW lights, compass, release lever, and canopyseal.

· Front canopy frame added at the seal area,

· Cockpit controls, switches, canopy locks, etc,places in correct configuration for parked jet on alert.

· Fuel tank/ stores racks on pylons includingreworking of the pylons for correct panel lines and surface detail

· ACES II seat rails – the seat slides into therails like the real one.

· HUD glass cut to correct shape and size andmounted into a PE frame.

· Metal engine bay intake and exit cooling airducts instead of plastic

· P&W Exhausts –I us parts from 4 PE sets and3 different plastic model kits, plus brass and plastic stock and sheet foil.

Please visit the build for more pictures and details :

http://forum.largesc...showtopic=46150

My great thanks to those who posted and stopped in the watch this happen,

God Bless, Gary

Edited March 7, 2014 by ghatherly

[ghatherly]

Here are some detail shots:

[ghatherly]

And a few more:

Thanks for stopping by to see my work. Have a great day. Gary

Edited February 16, 2014 by ghatherly

[Parabat]

Holy smokes, what a beast! Impressive detailing work there, those afterburners are quite spectacular in their detail and look. B=

[Viper316]

Nice build, all those data decals must have been fun. Thanks for sharing.

Rod

[Falconxlvi]

Very impressive. I really like those AIM-7's! Well done!

Steve

[Crazy Snap Captain]

That's an AWESOME build dude. Love the detail work and the paint job is spot on. Well done.

[striker8241]

Incredible work! I was stationed near Bitburg 1975-78. They were just starting to change over from F-4s to F-15s at that time.

[chuck540z3]

Great looking Eagle there Gary. Those engines are still some of the best I've ever seen!

[ghatherly]

.

Edited February 18, 2014 by ghatherly

[ghatherly]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I have learned so much from watching you guys work here that saying thanks does not seem adequate.

Gary

[dsahling]

Really, really nice work on that Eagle. I tip my hat to you for making those exhausts look so nice, I did those on my eagle a ways back and they're nowhere near that nice looking!

[jmel]

Great work, Gary. It is far too rare to see a 1/32 Eagle built and yours looks amazing.

Jake

[ghatherly]

Really, really nice work on that Eagle. I tip my hat to you for making those exhausts look so nice, I did those on my eagle a ways back and they're nowhere near that nice looking!

Thanks for posting your kind comments. They are a real challenge and take 70 -80 hours to build one set. What I used on this build is actually the 4th generation of the Flight path exhausts I have player with. The stock kit is exceptional but is 2 dimensional in places the real thing is not, and it is to long like the Tamiya kit exhaust. My build is over on LSP: (forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=46150 ) and it gives you an idea of what parts I use from the F-15 kit, the FP kit, the Eduard F-15 E exterior kit, and the Tamiya F-16C T-Bird kit, and what is scratch built. The exhaust, cans, and fitting them like the rap PW engines are installed take up almost 20% oft he build time for the jet.

Have a great day, Gary

[ghatherly]

Great work, Gary. It is far too rare to see a 1/32 Eagle built and yours looks amazing.

Jake

Thanks for the kind words Jake. Getting ready to Start an F-15A . Maybe the lack of decals is the reason why the interest has tapered off for these big birds? Hint, Hint??????

Talk to you soon, Gary

[JesniF-16]

Great work Gary! the details are jaw dropping :thumbsup:/> Looking forward to your next big Eagle!

/Jesse

[Lyash Igor]

Very positive work! Looks great!

[jmel]

Thanks for the kind words Jake. Getting ready to Start an F-15A . Maybe the lack of decals is the reason why the interest has tapered off for these big birds? Hint, Hint??????

I fully plan to release some 1/32 Eagle sheets. I may give you the chance to build 84-0027 again, but as it appears now at Kadena.

[balls47]

Yessir, You sure nailed this one. My neighbor had a son that joined the USAF and was stationed at Bitburg in this time period. He brought back some photos of BT Eagles. Let me say again, you nailed it! The P&W exhausts and the decal work that you have done is over-the-top impressive enough, and the rest of the build is just as great. Again, great job and good luck on that "A" model you have coming up. I am 100% confident that Jake will come through for you.

Take care and be safe,

Tim

[ghatherly]

Great work Gary! the details are jaw dropping /> Looking forward to your next big Eagle!

/Jesse

Hey Jesse, thanks for the kind words. How is your Mudhen coming along?

Edited March 6, 2014 by ghatherly

[ghatherly]

Very positive work! Looks great!

Hi Igor, thanks for stopping by and for the big thumbs up. I love your tag line about the sound of choppers!

[ghatherly]

I fully plan to release some 1/32 Eagle sheets. I may give you the chance to build 84-0027 again, but as it appears now at Kadena.

Hi Jake - Sure, I will build another 0027 in Kadena colors. Is that the squadron commanders ride?

Edited March 6, 2014 by ghatherly

[ghatherly]

Yessir, You sure nailed this one. My neighbor had a son that joined the USAF and was stationed at Bitburg in this time period. He brought back some photos of BT Eagles. Let me say again, you nailed it! The P&W exhausts and the decal work that you have done is over-the-top impressive enough, and the rest of the build is just as great. Again, great job and good luck on that "A" model you have coming up. I am 100% confident that Jake will come through for you.

Take care and be safe,

Tim

Hi Tim - All I can say is that comments like yours make my heart feel good, and you really made my day that is for sure! Many thanks for them and thank your neighbor's son for his service next time you talk to him if you would. The "A" is going to be really old school with the Escapac seat, and I am trying to find a scheme in Air Superiority Blue. I was planing on an ADC bird from McChord with the blue compass on the tail, but that is in the Light gray like the one I just finished and I am not sure how the old Revell decals will turn out. They are the only decals with the compass art work ever made.

Edited March 6, 2014 by ghatherly

[balls47]

Hi Tim - All I can say is that comments like yours make my heart feel good, and you really made my day that is for sure! Many thanks for them and thank your neighbor's son for his service next time you talk to him if you would. The "A" is going to be really old school with the Escapac seat, and I am trying to find a scheme in Air Superiority Blue. I was planing on an ADC bird from McChord with the blue compass on the tail, but that is in the Light gray like the one I just finished and I am not sure how the old Revell decals will turn out. They are the only decals with the compass art work ever made.

Hey Gary, Of course, I meant every word of what I said! I will check my decal stash and see if I can come up with the decals that you are looking for. They might be on a kit sheet, but the more you have, the better off you will be. I really like those markings. I don't know if you are aware or not, but there is (or used to be, before our current administration) a group in the USAF called "The Christian Fighter Pilots Association." I saw your Scripture verses on your posts, so I thought you might like to know.