F-15 C 482° FW RAF Lakenheath

This is my project's subject, an F-15 C MISP II based at RAF Lakenheat.Here it's got a darker nose cone, probably a sparefrom an E, but I'm going to represent it at a different time of its life, with its original one. 

Let's get started with a little dry test, to see the fitting ofthe front halves and the back fuselage. 

Being an MISP II version, there are a few modifications to be done, first of all the landing hook's frame to be removed. 

That was easy! better now! 

Here I've added a little detail to thhe dash board.  

Front view 

The kit's seat, on the right, and the one I used, from an F-16 Italeri, on the left. 

I'll represent the aircraft landing, thus a pilot is needed.An old Hasegawa should do the job, but the helmet will have to be modified.The guy fits well to the seat... 

...and to the "office"! 

The "office " fits well to the font fuselage halves. 

Once painted, the panel should be ok. 

Let's put it in! 

The junction between the front and rear fuselage is a bit tricky as there aren't any location pins.I had to stick some strips of plasticard at both sides,to help shapes pairing.Filler will be needed. 

I also added the P.E.parts to the nose wheel bay, but then I realized the door will be closed!!! 

Seems ok. 

Rear view. 

Let's check how the canopy fits. 

Now is time to fit the canopy frame, as it'll complete the front fuselage. I attached a piece of plasticard at its base, to improve and beef up the assembly. 

The front of the frame fits ok 

This gap can be easily filled. 

It's time to start giving it some colour! 

The canopy frame has been glued in position. 

The seat belts will be added later, for now the seat is done. 

Gray first, then a bit of masking and some black. 

I should be nearly there. 

Black dry brushing over the grey base brought some detail out. 

Let's see what it looks like once in place. 

mmh...seems ok! 

The panel isn't bad.I'm happy I saved some money on a resin pit. 

The oxigen hose must be extended, so I've tought top replace it with some made out of brass wire of different sizes: a thicker one as a core and a thinner one to replicate the corrugation. 

The canopy frame is ready to be glued. It's now time to check the pilot and the oxigen hose. 

Should be ok, time for some painting now! 

Painted pilot. 

Painted pilot and seat. 

Ready to be inserted in the front fuselage. 

Here the guy in his Office. 

Here the guy in his Office.(2) 

Here the guy in his Office.(3) 

Rear view of the the guy in his Office. 

The main wheel bays were detailed, There isn't much in the real ones and doors will be closed, so I kept it soft.  

I hate sanding, but I couldn't avoid it here!!!Once happy with the finish, white paint  

Once fitted into the fuselage,thefront was adapted, sanded and painted white. 

Time to concentrate on the engines ducts...what can I say...a bit of fantasy must be used if you want to depict the model without the FOD. 

The engine fans are painted and fitted at the ducts' back. 

This is how it looks like . 

Time now to glue the back fuselage halves and wings. 

Some tape and clamps will keep everything together. until the glue dries. 

Timre to glue the front section too. 

The right back section on the MISP II version differs from the left one, so I started some shaping work by using pieces of sprue, plasticard and cianoacrylate (superAttack super glue)to get the right shape. 

Here a step forward and dry fit for the tails,previousy cut and re-positioned with a alight angle. 

Nearly there! 

Falps were glued in the landing position and ailerons were positioned with an angle for a more dynamic look. 

Rear view of the beast. 

Having to fit the P.E. grills, I cut their perimeters off... 

and added some pieces of plasticard glued from the inside, to be slighty deeeper. 

Same thing under the belly. 

Once painted black they should give it some depth. 

Let's try and we'll see if it works. 

Added the grills and sanded the excess of color away, to see how it looks. 

Time to paint the weel bays interiors: black first to getsome shadows... 

...and then a very. diluted white, to keep some shadows 

Then the main wheel bays. 

Same procedure. 

And now a bit of good old scratch!The air brake interior's detail is a little bit poor.So I cut a plate from a plasticard sheet and detailed it with ROSIE the riveter 

With the addition of this, it looks far better! 

...and detailed, it looks far better! 

Now the same treatment as for the weel bays: blak first... 

...and then white, followed by a wash to highlight the detail.The only problem is...the airbrake interior...ISN'T WHITE!!! So, later in the project, i had to paint it the same grey of the top fuselage!!! 

Now the time has finally come for the airbrush to do its trade!A base of black , to start with, and then the two greys. 

I know it's a bit unortodox to proceed this way, but it was my first time to test this technique and I wasn't sure the black base wouldn't have darkened the colorss, so I started this way and...I just went on! 

I like this technique, as it allows you to have good control over the level of shades you want to achieve. 

my tidy work bench...the kitchen table!!! 

We're nearly there! 

Painting the tails was real fun.The left one had thecontrol panel replaced and thus the black and yellow stripes aren't complete. 

The right one. 

Once painted and with decals, I didn't glue them until the end of the project, as they could easily be removed. 

The camouflage was corrected a few times , to get the darker "clouds" right. 

The nose cone is slightly different, but it's a C cone at this stage of the aircraft's life. 

Then I masked the back area... 

...to spray it with Alclad aluminium. 

Once dried, I shadowed some areas, to give some volume, with Smoke Tamiya. 

It's now time for some wash to highlight the panel lines and some touches to represent leakings and dirt. 

Back view of the painted model. 

Back view of the bottom side. 

Bottom side, quite dirty, but this area is always the dirtiest one. 

Top side with washes and decals. 

It isn't resin, but, once painted , it shouldn't be bad! 

The kit exausts with the P.E. applied. 

Once painted, they aren't bad at all! 

In order to depict the aircraft while landing, I extended the front wheel leg. 

Back first... 

...and whire, as fo the wheel bays. 

The kit wheels have a very nice detail , highllighted by a good wash. 

The ventral tank is a reminder of the old camouflage worn by the Eagles.Here I've masked to paint some stencils. 

Bottom view wth the ventral tamk. 

Main gears legs are added and flares didpencer ( painted red ) 

The weapons set from a Kinetic F-16 came to help and supplied the missiles. 

The kit launchers were modified , as those from the kit are old style. 

the P.E.set gave a bit of detail. 

The full set is ready to be fitted to the model. 

Launchers and missiles painted and ready to be fittd. 

the landing gears dooes being painted. 

A bit of scratch was needed to detail the airbrake. 

airbrake and doors ready. 

at the front left side there are some exercise markings. 

All sub-assemblys are ready. 

Once detalied with some piping and fitted, the main gears were painted and washed. 

Front landing gear and door fitted. 

Main gears, doors, ventrall tank and missiles fitted. 

Now it's time to concentrate on the stand. 

Painted grey first , then masked and pained the white lines ,shaded at both ends. 

Added the frame. 

...and the Squadron badges, printed and laminated. 

Here it is, the finished model on its stand.