I tried to do my best to transform a 1/72 Hasegawa kit USAF F-15D Eagle in an Israeli Air Force F-15D improved Baz (Falcon) with
additional parts and decals from Sky's Decals SD-72016.
I decided to do the plane number 957 nicknamed Skyblazer from the Spearhead 106th squadron based at Tel-Nof base in 2009.
This specific jet had 4 1/2 aerial victories during the eighties against Syrian
MiGs over Lebanon.
This plane is also a veteran from the daring raid over the PLO HQ at Tunis October 1st 1985 carrying one GBU-15 laser guided bomb with masked
Israeli insignia.
I added two conformal fuel tanks CFTs from a F-15E kit because Israel improved this model to a fantastic long range bombers truckrs and it really became an impressive fighter/bomber.
This plane is from the Peace Fox II program 1981 block 28 aircraft ex USAF 80-0133. It was involved in a midair collision May 1st 1985 with an A-4 during dissimilar air-training (lost the right wing but the pilot managed to land).
For the history the aircraft was repaired and 2 1/2 months after the collision the same pilot conducted the flight test.
The 2 colors USAF upper camouflage is standard for the Israeli F-15C/D which is at the start a fighter plane : FS36375 Gunze acrylic Grey H308, FS36320 Gunze acrylic Grey H307. The lower camouflage is FS36375 Grey H308.
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I
used IDF weapons set from Skunkmodels Workshop to enhanced my model.
It carry two impressive RAFAEL Popeye AGM-142 long range air to surface
missiles under wings and the communication AN/AXQ-14 pod on the
centerline. I added two
AIM-120B AMRAAM air to air missiles under CFT's from my spare parts
box. I opened the canopy to show the cockpit interior. I also
weathered the camouflage but last pictures show that this plane has the
nose, radar cone and victory roundels repainted. It was seen at a meeting
in September 2011 at Ostrava Czech Republic with a new radome behind the
canopy (SATCOM antenna or additional system to monitor drone?).
It
was a pleasure for me to do this model. Decals from Sky are very
accurate. It is a great plane.....probably one with the biggest history for
the Israelis I try to put this ace in valor with my pictures and
some Photoshop effects. I used the web to find
pictures of the real plane to help me, and the excellent book from
Isradecal "McDonnel Douglas/Boeing F-15 Baz" to find
ideas. Now the F-15I are the best F-15 (see one my pic with one F-15I
model that I did) for Israeli but improved Baz F-15C/D remain a modern
polyvalent war platform.
Jean-Charles
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