Subject: Re: Gallery Article Template
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "David Porter" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2014 00:34:59 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Porter 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, January 13, 2014 5:27 AM
  Subject: Gallery Article Template

  Gallery Article Template

  "1/32 Tamiya F-15C Eagle MSIP II" 

  by "David Porter"

  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here

  The Eagle has to one of my favourite aircraft of all time. It sits high and proud on its legs looking like it's on a leash, like it just wants to leap into the air and take-off. Fast, pretty and lethal, it looks like a predator and acts as a predator - which I guess is part of its appeal. Its combat record speaks for itself.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg

  The Eagle is now over 40 years old however and has been updated pretty consistently in order to maintain its competitive advantage. For my model I wanted to use the fabulous Eagle logo on the tail of the 173d Fighter Wing, Klamath Falls, Oregon in what is called the 'Mod Eagle' grey scheme. To model this though as an MSIP II requires a number of changes to the default Tamiya kit. The biggest changes are to the cockpit, for which I dropped in an Aires cockpit set (late) however I used the Eduard photo-etched panel for the displays which requires the addition of an MFD for the PACS screen. For the PACS I adapted a display panel from spare parts which worked alright. 

  Most of the other changes to the MSIP II setup are covered by the excellent Wolfpack set, the big addition that is needed is the weapons. Part, if not most, of the rationale for the MSIP update was to utilise newer weapons and to move away from the classic AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow combination. For this I added four AIM-120C from the spares box (I believe from the Tamiya F-16CJ Kit) and two AIM-120B (from memory from the Academy Hornet kit), but I also added two AIM-9X which are excellent resin products from Zactomodels.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here

  The tough part of the F-15C is the 'Mod Eagle' paint scheme. For some reason getting the colour right on this scheme is difficult to achieve. The underneath colour isn't too difficult (I used the Xtracrylix Grey made especially for it with various subtle shading mixed in), but getting the right colour for the topside bluey-grey remains elusive. For this I ended up using 50% Lifecolor Air Superiority Blue and 50% Lifecolor Mod Eagle Grey which was layered on with subtle shades. In the end I think the result looks just about right. This is the toughest part of the build really because none of the colours supplied by the various paint manufacturers really do the job or even for that matter look the same. Even those that claim theirs is an FS colour match they are vastly different colours than those who claim the same thing. The Tamiya paint colour instructions have a callout that mixes sky blue with white and grey that gives a very blue finish which is actually not bad, but really it is a grey, that just looks really blue from certain angles an in certain lighting conditions. 

  In the end I am happy with the result, the problems with the colours aside, it looks to my eye like a Mod Eagle scheme though the digital photography seems to increase the contrast between the colours somewhat. The other big changes I added was a pair of Cutting Edge featherless nozzles, and I added a pair of metal AoA indicators to replace the kits oversized ones. So, I have what I was after, a modernised F-15C. This particular F-15 is a MiG killer as evidenced by the Iraqi kill marking on the port side, having downed a MiG-23 with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile on January 28th, 1991. Thanks for reading. 

  If you would like higher resolution pictures then feel free to visit my website at http://www.porterblemodels.com.

  Parts Used:

  Aires 2063 F-15C Eagle (Late) Cockpit set for the Tamiya kit

  Cutting Edge 32143 F-15C & F-15E Turkey Feather-less Nozzles 1/32

  Eduard BIG3232 1/32 F-15C Eagle Big Ed

  Hobby Boss MT32004V1 F-16 Pitot tube set (1/32)

  SuperScale Decal No. 32-237 F-15C 173rd FW

  Tamiya 60304 1/32 McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle

  Wolfpack WP32025 F-15C MSIP II Eagle Update Set 1/32

  Zactomodels 1/32 AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles

  Bibliography

  Davies, S. (2003). Boeing F-15 Eagle. (D. Donald, Ed.) International Air Power Review, 7, pp. 44-73.

  Davies, S., & Dildy, D. (2007). F-15 Eagle Engaged. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.

  Drendel, L. (2001). F-15 Eagle Walkaround (Vol. Walk Around Number 28). Carrollton: Squadron/Signal Publications.

  Jenkins, D. R. (1997). McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (Vol. WarbirdTech Series 9). North Branch: Specialty Press Publishers.

  "David Porter"

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg

  Photos and text © by "David Porter"