Academy 1/48 F-15E

[T. van Vuuren]

I have been working on the cockpit and nose section of the F-15E and sofar it has gone Ok'ish. There is alot of detail to paint or make to have a little less of an empty look to the office!

The parts fit is not bad , will have to see lateron if this is so on other sectons.

The problem is that the eyes seem to be going downhill on these fine little things, just hope I pass my next flight medical LOL

Will post a pic later.

Theuns

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Here is the office sofar.

Just made extra safety harnasses and red ejecton safetypin straps aswell as O2 connector pipes on starbord consoll.

Theuns

View attachment 25234

View attachment 25235

 

[bikerbart]

Looking the business Thenus, some fab detailing in there, very nice, regards Martin

 

[Caledonia]

Hi Theuns, your off to a flying start there. Having built the Tamiya 1/48 F-15C I look forward to following your progress. I've never made an Academy kit so it will be doubly interesting. Cheers Derek

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Thanx

I have installed the office into the nose section ant will be making a HUD to go with it.

T

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Only saw the spot on the rear of the front ejection rail I missed with the paint (oops)

T

 

[Fenlander]

Coming on nicely Theuns. Great to see detail being painted in rather than the reliance of photo etch, sadly something I have relied on far too much.

 

[T. van Vuuren]

I am building it for a "no aftermarket" thread on an american forum, so no fancy things allowed LOL.

T

 

[T. van Vuuren]

I test fited the large fuselarge top and bottom ,the fit is rather poor and will be "interesting" to say the least.Pitty, I had high hopes for the plane.Usually Academy has good fit............

Theuns

 

[bikerbart]

Thats a shame when this happens mate, im sure you will make it good though bud, keep at it, regards Martin

 

[Ian M]

Bummer.

I have found that sometimes deep molded parts can close up making it hard to fit. I normally just glue the one side and let it cure, the do the other side later. Much easier than trying to get the whole lot to sit right in one go.

I hope it works out for you.

Ian M

 

[Caledonia]

I test fited the large fuselarge top and bottom ,the fit is rather poor and will be "interesting" to say the least.Pitty, I had high hopes for the plane.Usually Academy has good fit............Theuns

Hi Theuns, I know I keep promoting Plastic Weld (liquid cement) in a number of my postings (don't have any financial interest in it - honestly), but either this or Tamiya liquid cement is a god send for your problem. My Tamiya F-15C was very thin around the underside of the cockpit area, hence it flexed a lot. Liquid cement lets you line up say 1 to 3cm of one seam and cement it whilst holding it in position. It dries almost instantly. You then move onto the adjoining 1 to 3cm and do the same until you have worked your way around the whole seam. Since I used Plastic Weld I have never used a clamp on any of my models. Don't give up, Cheers Derek

P.s. the air intakes will be another area liquid cement will be a great help if its anything like my Tamiya.

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Yea, I will beat it into submition!

T

 

[T. van Vuuren]

Ok, to dat I have the nose section on,shaped and blended in.The Intakes are on and mostly blended, and the wing are on.They will require some seam filling but not to bad.

I must sat that this in my opinion os one of those Academy kits I don't like.Pitty I am a bit Academy fan and have enjoyed most ,if not all their kits I got.

Hopefully the 1/48 F-86f Saber and the P-40 (in SAAF desert collours !) will be better.

Theuns