1/48 Monogram ProModeller 

F-15E Strike Eagle

by Vince Lucente

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Hello everyone.....my latest build is this ProModeller F-15E.  After many months of sporadic building sessions, it's finally complete.  As most of you know, this is a great kit right out of the box.  Finely engraved panel lines and beautiful surface details grace the exterior.  In the cockpit, instrument and side panels are well represented and there are even circuit breaker panels molded into the sidewalls.  The ACES II ejection seats, while not as intricate as resin replacements, are still nicely detailed.  The afterburner "turkey feather" assemblies with their individual actuators can be made to stand out with some careful washing and drybrushing.  Also, this kit comes with a large array of underwing stores.

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As with most kits of modern jet aircraft, much sanding and filling is needed to get a smooth, seamless intake trunk. On my kit, the outboard sections of the wings were slightly warped, leaving a large gap on the bottom where the wing halves join.  Also,the instructions require you to install the nose gear early on.  Extra caution must be exercised when handling the model during the remaining assembly and finishing.     

Finishing the model started with preshading the panel lines with flat black.  Then the overall coat of Gunship Gray was applied one panel at a time, just to break it up a bit.  The engine section was painted with a combination of Steel, Silver and Jet Exhaust.  Thinned black artists oils were run into the panel lines and various shades of pastels were used for weathering.  All paints were Model Master acrylics.  The kit decals were used, but silvered even after the application of setting and solvent solutions.  The weapons load and light gray drop tanks are per my reference photos.  This kit was a fun build...I hope you like it. 

Vince 

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Photos and text © by Vince Lucente