Subject: Re: (no subject)
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:59:25 -0700

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

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.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: [email-masked] 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 8:27 PM
  Subject: (no subject)

  "1/48 Italeri F-15C" 

  "Shiro Ruyu"

  by "Gonzalo D. Mendoza"
  --------------------

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

     Hello everyone and how are you? Hello from Japan! Well I am back in Japan and I got inspired yet again to build another Japanese fighter. The last model I built here was a F-4EJ Phantom.This time I decided to build and F-15J. The kit is actually a F-15C from Italeri. It did not take much to change it over to a "J" model to be honest with you. Well I should say at least it I think I properly converted it. All I did really was replace the big Antennas on the rudders with pins and painted the little antennas at the bottom black to represent a "J" model, that's it. I decided to build the "Shiro Ruyu" because lets faced it, it looks cool! I used the Two Bobs decal sheet and man it's great to work with. I had a lot of fun building this beast, and a beast to build it is. Anyway, I wasn't going for 100% accuracy. I just wanted something to do and have fun. 

  Click on images below to see larger images

        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 
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  The Italeri model is certainly not a shake and bake Hasegawa or Tamiya kit. However, the price is right. As with the F-4EJ I knew that this model was making a one way trip to Japan. I did not want to pay $50.00 plus for a model that was not going to make a return trip. I could have used the Monogram but I think that one is worse and has raised panels lines as well. The fit of the kit was horrible. I used a lot of putty and elbow grease to make it look ok. Their is no cockpit detail to speak of, just decals. That is one of the reasons I also chose the "Shiru" decals. I knew that the canopy was going to be closed and I wanted the airplane displayed in flight. The F-15 sure looks great going ballistic, the perfect way to highlight the decals. So with the  decals and kit selected I started building. Some panel lines are way off from the decal sheet instructions so I had to "improvise" the location of most of the decals. I used guestimation for about 90% of those tiny little make you blind were did it go stencils that come on the sheet! WOW there sure are a lot of them. But, it sure adds to the kit. The only out of the box items I used were two drop tanks from Hasegawa F-4 kits and one pilot figure to place in the canopy. I think the finished airplane would have looked silly without a pilot at the controls. Besides, the figure helps hide the fact that there is no detail to speak of inside the cockpit. Everything else is stock. Even though it was a tough kit to build I had fun doing it because I got to practice new tricks, gathered from this web site, to improve my skills. I am learning to really appreciate the "Wunderkits" that Tamiya and Hasegawa distribute. Anyway, I also went cheap to keep the cost down so no aftermarket anything besides the decals. (side note) Ever wonder how we in always say "This model is completely out of the box except for...." just like when we buy a new car and we say "It's fully loaded except for...." I always catch myself doing that I find it humorous.

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

  As far as painting goes I used some Model master acrylics and Mr. color paints. I do not like the acrylics. Maybe I am doing something wrong but it takes a lot of coats to get decent coverage. I had problems with and airbrush and standard brush. However, the Mr. Color paints were just fine. I went a little heavy on the weathering. Here in Japan the aircraft are kept immaculate. But, I like dirty airplanes so I Americanized it! Also, I put a full load out. The "Shiru Ruyu" aircraft was used for air shows so I doubt that it was armed with missiles. I decided to add them for the "coolness" factor. The display stand is from Hasegawa. I have not seen it sold in the States but they have them here in Japan. actually Hasegawa has a whole line of tools and templates that I have not seen sold back home. That's a bonus for being here in Japan. I hope you guys like my airplane. I certainly had fun building it. Happy modeling everyone.

  Click on images below to see larger images

        07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg 
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