Israeli F-15D "Baz"
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August 7, 20232
August 7, 2023After 7 years on the shelf of doom, she sees the light of day!3
August 7, 2023Cockpit ready for gloss and pin wash.4
August 7, 2023Weapons are ready for gloss and pin wash5
August 7, 2023Scratch-building a set of the rigid plastic intake covers. Still rough, but they’re getting there6
August 7, 2023Modeling one wing drop tank as a bobtail WRM (War Reserve Materials) tank, just to be a little different.7
August 7, 2023Test fitting the forward fuselage and testing CG for nose weight.8
October 19, 2023I originally started this kit as a USAF F-15E Strike Eagle, yet I have decided to convert it to an Israeli F-15D "Baz" which is current with their "Baz 2000" upgrade / re-fit program. So, OFF with the left vert antenna "bullet". I'll have to add a counterweight spear that matches the other side.9
October 19, 2023The CFT weapons pylons also need to be removed. Apparently, Tamiya cement is much stronger than I'd expected, as it left deep scars and a few holes in the CFTs. No problem; I can fix them.10
October 19, 2023The holes were widened to fit some .060" styrene strips in them. I glued them in with "Sprue Goo" and let them cure for 2 days before cutting them down and shaving them flush.11
October 19, 202312
October 19, 2023Riffler Files definitely helped shave down the thick styrene fillers...13
October 19, 2023A heavy coat of Mr. Surfacer primer was laid-down after filling in any remaining pinholes and defects with Tamiya Putty.14
October 19, 2023The Israelis use a SATCOM Antenna on the backbone of the fuselage. I decided to scratch-build one from the nose of a 1k lb bomb and some .020" styrene sheet.15
October 19, 2023Here's the first "draft". It underwent more shaping after this to get the correct profile.16
October 19, 2023Some leftover Kinetic "Kfir" weapons pylons (cut down) will serve as the forward stub pylons on the CFTs. Like everything else, these underwent more shaping and sculpting to get them just right.17
October 19, 2023The Israelis use an indigenous "Self-Protection Pod" called the ELTA made by IAI. I decided to scratch build it too, and it's adapter fairing.18
October 19, 2023Test fitting the pylon and ELTA pod19
October 19, 2023This is not the final product. More shaping to do. When it's all done, it'll be a convincing replica.20
October 19, 2023.010” Lead solder brake lines and EZ Line wire bundles for the landing lights. Thin strips of self-adhesive Lead foil tape are now the bands that secure everything to the struts.21
October 19, 202322
October 19, 2023Test-fitting the Eduard resin wheels (Israeli-specific).23
October 19, 2023Small bits of steel wire serve as the pylon-to-tank lines24
October 19, 2023The tanks, pylons and missile rails are ready for primer.25
October 19, 202326
October 19, 2023The kit came with a very unsightly seam down the middle of the windscreen and canopy. No worries!27
October 19, 2023The seam was scraped and then the entire canopy wet sanded with 1,000 grit and soapy water. A genuine F-15 canopy polishing "Micro-Mesh" kit was used to wet sand it in stages. I've actually used this kit to polish scratches from real F-15 canopies (years ago).28
October 19, 2023After the 1,000 grit, I moved on to wet sanding with the 2,400 grit, 3,600 grit, 6,000 and then 8,000 grit and the soapy water.29
October 19, 2023Here's the difference between the 3,600 grit stage (left) and the 1,000 grit stage (right).30
October 19, 2023The canopies got polished with a dremel tool and felt polishing pad loaded with Mr. Hobby Super Fine polishing compound. THIS STUFF WORKS!!!31
October 19, 2023This is after low-speed polishing, followed by hand-polishing with the compound. Already a huge improvement!32
October 19, 2023Future was applied to deepen the gloss.33
October 19, 2023Since I decided to model this jet with the canopy closed, I needed to glue-on the canopy skirt. After filling and fairing it, I need to apply more primer. The cockpit tubs were first filled with soft, open-cell foam.34
October 19, 2023White Tack putty was used to finish masking-off the cockpit area. I like to use putty shaping tools to compress it into every nook and cranny. It sticks just enough to be useful, yet is pretty easy to remove. From here, the nose section was primed.35
October 19, 2023As usual for me, the entire model is “scuff sanded” with #0000 steel wool. This creates billions of tiny surface scratches for the primer to soak into. This REALLY promotes adhesion!36
October 19, 2023All traces of mold release, fingerprints, etc are now removed with an alcohol wipe-down. It's all about SURFACE PREPARATION!37
October 19, 2023Everything is blown clean with canned compressed air38
October 19, 2023The entire model was pre-shaded with gunship grey.39
October 19, 202340
October 19, 2023The Testors Model Master Enamel FS36375 base coat was laid down in thin layers so that the pre/shading will slightly show through.41
October 19, 202342
October 19, 202343
October 19, 2023Tanks, gear doors, etc. were also painted.44
October 19, 2023Light coats sometimes + overspray. It is removed by rubbing the model down (again) with fine steel wool to smooth-out any overspray or orange peel, in preparation for painting the camouflage pattern45
October 19, 2023With the instructions as a guide, I casually draw-out the camo pattern with a #2 pencil. I did not mask-off the camo, as I intend to free-hand it using my Grex Tritium airbrush turned down to about 4 PSI. Having painted REAL F-15s and other camo aircraft before, I know the pattern is a suggestion, and every jet differs from the next. It's all done by hand with a spray gun.46
October 19, 2023The base coat was FS36375, but the instructions called for 36320 camo; which I felt was too close to the base color. I grabbed a jar of 36271 and darkened it to match 36300 on my FS color chart.47
October 19, 2023It needs a few touch-ups, but overall I'm very happy. As I expected, the 36300 came out a bit dark, but I intend to mottle it and lighten it up a bit for realism.48
October 19, 2023FS36375 is mottled onto the surface, sprayed through a fiberglass furnace filter in order to tone down the contrast between the two colors49
October 19, 202350
October 19, 2023That's much better now...51
October 19, 202352
October 19, 202353
October 19, 202354
October 19, 202355
October 19, 2023The weathering begins with the drop tanks. This is only the second time I've used these AK weathering pencils, and Israeli birds are notoriously filthy, so I've got my work cut out for me!56
October 19, 2023Several colors are applied in splotches, and then I lick the paint brush and move the color around. So far so good. I'm making her dirty, but not filthy. I find that most people way overdo it, when it comes to weathering.57
October 19, 2023Masked off to paint the Titanium engine areas.58
October 19, 2023Pre-shaded with "Exhaust" Metallizer Lacquer59
October 19, 2023Heat-scorched areas pre-shaded with Burnt Iron Metallizer.60
October 19, 2023It's a bit "Silver" but I'll tone it down later with Tamiya Smoke acryic and weathering wash / pencils.61
October 19, 202362
October 19, 2023She's nearly ready for decals!63
October 24, 202364
October 24, 2023The last of the initial weathering is complete. I’ll add a little more once the final flat clearcoat goes on.65
October 21, 2023The initial weathering is complete. I noalso re-painted the titanium engine areas a slightly darkerTime for gloss clear coat and decals.66
October 21, 2023Radome is now painted and weathered.67
October 24, 2023Two thin coats of Tamiya rattle can gloss clear seals in the weathering pencils and gives a smooth surface for decaling.68
October 24, 2023I’ve decided to apply ALL of the airframe stencils on this bird, and I NEVER do that! It’s a ton of decals!69
October 24, 2023Some beautiful tail markings!70
October 24, 2023I decided to use the engine nozzles from my Revell F-15E kit. They are of nicer quality and detail; especially the actuator connector rods.71
October 24, 2023The top and sides are done. Now to flip it over and add about 20 more airframe stencils on the wings and belly…72
October 30, 2023Testers metallizer burnt metal was dry brushed on top of the burnt iron color I’d already airbrushed on. A K metallic weathering pencils are now being used to highlight various features and surfaces. Lots more work to do on the right nozzle.73
October 30, 2023The entire model was slathered in Flory wash. This color is a mixture of their gray and their grime colors. Again, I don’t like Stark contrast, so I don’t use Black. I find it extremely unrealistic.74
October 30, 2023Once the wash was dry, I couldn’t help but wipe some away with a damp cloth to reveal the effect on one wing before going to bed75
October 30, 2023Citadel Gaming Figure wash was added to all the ECS and gun bay louvers. The color is called “Nuln Oil”.76
October 30, 2023When it’s dry, this product dries to a really dark gray, nearly black, but not quite black. I think Black is just too stark of a contrast.77
November 13, 2023The Flat (Matte) Vallejo Mecha Varnish clear coat is on. This is the FLATTEST flat clear known to man.78
November 13, 2023The seats are done, as are the scratch-built oxygen hoses with comm cables, made from Bass guitar string and EZ line. They got a detail was and flat clear after this..79
November 13, 2023Bits of wire for the PIP Pin handles, and bits of Uschi rigging line for the cables that attach to them.80
November 13, 2023Bits of wire for handles on the rigid (Revell) intake covers. Everything is now painted red, awaiting the wash and Hebrew RBF tags81
November 13, 2023I achieved the bluish hue on the scorched Titanium engine cans by coloring the bands with blue and red AK pencils and blending them together with a wet brush.82
November 13, 2023After blending… I think it looks the part, without being overdone83
November 13, 2023Test fit of the engine nozzles after the flat clear sealed in (and deepened) the colors84
November 13, 2023Test fit of the windscreen and canopy. She’s coming together!85
November 13, 2023She’s got landing gear and missiles, and about 95% complete..86
January 30, 2024Bass guitar strings for oxygen hoses, Hebrew RBF tags, and even a map in the rear cockpit87
January 30, 2024Eduard resin wheels and SAC metal landing gear with scratch built brake lines (.010” Lead solder)88
January 30, 202489
January 30, 2024Scratch built IAI ELTA ECM pod90
January 30, 2024Scratch built backbone SATCOM antenna dome91
January 30, 2024Top view—my favorite shot!92
January 30, 2024Scratch built exhaust plugs (foam and lead foil tape)
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Album info
Eduard kit, resin extras and a lot of scratch-building. Started the kit 7 years ago, now it's being resurrected as an Israeli bird for a club contest.
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