1/32 Tamiya F-15I Ra'am using 

Converted from the F-15E kit

by John Wolstenholme

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

 

The IAF F-15I, as displayed in the static at RAF Waddington in 2001 and featured in ARC Walkarounds, has been on my list for some time.
Aftermarket items used were:  

(1) F15E Black Box cockpit set. Requires a lot of sanding/test fitting/packing, but does eventually fit well.  Need to check/correct for canopy frame closure over RIO's instrument panel shroud.
ACES seat is not correct at port side headrest. 

(2) C.E. Ra'am set.  A few components are not accurate to casual observation. Some I could fix, others were beyond my skills.  

(3) IsraDecals. This has got to be the mother of all decal sheets, with over 550 decals.  It took me 5 days to apply them. With only a few very minor errors, these are excellent.  (4) Eduard P.E. Set 

Paints.  Hu127 for underside (Xtracolor has a purple cast) and Xtracolors X102(with 20% Hu110), X105, X166 for upper surfaces.  Finished with Future: Tamiya flat base (5:1).  It has taken me 12 months to complete this model, with some real frustration
at times.  At one point I had a month break after reading an ARC posting about the tanks being too 'thin and pointy', having already finished them (see below).  A little knowledge is dangerous, too much drives you round the bend.

Click on images below to see larger images

The titanium rear end was simulated via the Alclad stainless steel route, using different acrylic colours and chalk pastels to simulate heat/staining effects.  For the carbon fibre petals, I first sprayed an enamel dark brown, then over sprayed matt black through a very fine metal mesh. My efforts are not visible in the photo!

 My solution (which no doubt is not an original one) to the tanks problem was to build up the extra 4-5mm diameter with four layers of plastic card.  Card 'ribs' were added to the nose to aid the shaping process of the abundant filler required.  In years gone by I used to build a model completely and then try painting the gear. Now they are one of the last things to go on the model, after detailing with hydraulic lines etc.

Click on images below to see larger images

Some people prefer heavy weathering, I tend to go the other way.  Each to his own!  I had considered using the Geedubelyer method for tyre bulging.  However, having read about vinyl tyres cracking after a few years, I decided against it.  They seem to be high pressure anyway.  Certainly, a good idea I saw on GDB's Su-27 build was to add some wear to tyres, by mounting in a drill chuck and using sandpaper.  Also, some brushed on brown pastel helps age them.

Click on images below to see larger images

Thanks to David Fry for additional photos and Ol Crew Dog's list of corrections, I have been able to detail/correct the model, to the best of my ability.  Thanks also to Ra'anan Weiss for the cockpit photos, provided many months before publication of his book.
John

Photos and text © by J B Wolstenholme