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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images below to see larger images
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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images below to see larger images
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