F-15 Eagle Gallery

by David de Ryck
 

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Recently, along with two friends Cliff Armstrong and Stephen Thrum, I formulated an idea to build differing versions of the same aircraft. This was all for fun and as a side diversion to our usual club activities. We all build in 1/48th scale and our first choice was the F-15 Eagle. You can see below the finished products.

The first aircraft, mine, is the recently released Revell F-15E Strike Eagle. She was built, in the main, straight from the box. Additions included the replacement of the ejection seat with a Verlinden Aces II seat, with slight modifications; a replacement HUD from True Details; Ordnance from the Hasegawa Weapon Sets; and Bomb Graffiti from a Verlinden Dry Transfer set. The model is finished using Model Master paints in a standard all over Gunship Grey colour scheme, flying the markings of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron ‘Chiefs’, in Desert Storm February 1991.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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The second aircraft is Cliff’s and has been converted from the Academy F-15D kit to the MDD prototype F-15E, which was actually one of the original prototype F-15B’s. Conversions included scratchbuilding the main undercarriage bays; rebuilding the upper fuselage and air brakes to depict the earlier version; scratchbuilding the engine actuator arms; and replacing the pylons, designator pods and weapons from his spares box. The kit was finished in a European 1, or Lizard scheme, utilising decals, again from his spares box.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Now the third aircraft, obviously Stephen’s, has had major conversions done to it. It started life as the Academy F-15E Strike Eagle kit and has been extensively converted to have it represent the NASA F-15 ‘ACTIVE’ (Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles). Detailing included Ejection Seat detailing and modifications; Cockpit enhancement and changes; Plumbing and structural detail added to the nose wheel well; the addition of the extra engine intake ramp to the lower intake area; Flaps, Ailerons, and Elevons cut out, rebuilt and repositioned; Modifications to the upper and lower fuselage, including the airbrake assembly and removal of the rear fuselage between the exhausts; addition of a nose mounted GPS Navigation unit; scratchbuilt undercarriage bays, forward canard foreplanes, and Instrumentation boom; removal of the model’s cannon muzzle and associated area; corrections to the vertical stabilizers; and the scratchbuilding of the Axisymmetric Thrust-Vectoring Exhaust Nozzles (Each of these has over 325 parts per nozzle!). The model has been finished in the colourful markings from NASA utilising custom home made decals.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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We are already undertaking our next project a group or B-26 Marauder’s, so stay tuned for views of them in the future!

 

Copyright © 2002 by  David de Ryck
Page Created 08 January, 2002
Last Updated 08 January, 2002

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