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
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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
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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
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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
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