This is the awesome 1/48^th Revel –Monogram F-15E (thanks Morton Grove). The kit is built out of the box. I’ve always loved the F-15, when I was in the USAF (C-130 Crew Chief) I was at Pope AFB, NC, and the guys at Seymour Johnson (about 40 miles away or so) would come by every now and then to buzz the field. It was very impressive seeing them go vertical at the end of the runway and climb clear out of site. A few seconds and all you had left was the rumble of the afterburners. Although I have great memories of the SJ birds I finished this aircraft in the Mountain Home markings. I’m saving the SJ for my 1/32 Tamiya F-15E.

The model is finished with Model Master Enamels Gunship Gray and Chrome Silver for the high temp areas. The exhausts were finished with Metalizer Burnt Iron and Exhaust and then a wash of Black it Out. I airbrushed in a little fade on the panels with Gunship Gray and a few drops of Light Ghost Gray, and then added some touch up spots with Light Ghost Gray. Then added a light chalk wash over the entire aircraft. And finally a mix of about 50/50 semi gloss to flat. This seems to represent the sheen about right.

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For the first time I finally got homemade decals to work. I made the Uncle Sam and 9-11 nose art design on my computer and printed them using the Super Cal system. 

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The pilots are from Hasegawa kits. I trimmed the helmets down to represent the newer HGU-55 helmets. Then I had my flight crew drawn and quartered. I wanted them to look like they were doing something to earn that flight pay. So I made them look as if they were straining against the belts trying to see what the hell that was that just went by at a closure rate of 1800 m.p.h., or maybe they’re waiting for that 2000 pounder to hit the deck. Oh no that couldn’t be it, they didn’t have any over at supply! I plan to add some as soon as I lay my hands on one of the aftermarket kits.

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The cockpit on this kit was also great. Even decals for the Aces II seats. I added a little masking tape over the chutes for the straps. And a little Tamiya clear green on the HUD.

I painted the drop tanks Light Ghost Gray cause when your deployed you never know when you might need to steel a couple of drop tanks from the F-15C guys.

Let me say again this is an awesome kit. Revell has really stepped it up. Everything fit just right. I used no filler. The decals went on great. The only thing I can think to complain about is the absence of any heavy ordnance. Oh well maybe my bird is on the way back from a good run in Tora Bora.

Jason