Rhodie78

In before the wire for the build. I think this is as far as I am taking this one because it is so finicky and delicate, and it's in danger of flying out the window. Kit decals are pretty terrible, the instructions are a tad hard to understand and a maniac did the part numbering but I am ok with how it looks all in all. No prizes for skill here today. Last pic is with my Hunter build from 5 years ago showing some skill in painting progression. Thanks for following me on the journey - off to put some time in on the JASDF F15 now.

Getting ever closer as the end of the month is nigh. We will either fly in just in time or fly it out the window. If there weren't people watching my 3 year old would be playing with it by now Tied to go with a sun baked look that matched up with paint colors I saw on Vampires and Hunters at the War Museum in Gwelo/Gweru, and i can live with it. Pushing through to the end now, wheels, props, dull coat, shading, golf bombs, f-bombs and we might sneak it in under the wire for Feb28 2024

Hi Rockie, I just finished primer on my O-2 and was looking at the brown / green paint options for the body. Curious what colors you will be using on the Hunter? Looks like a dark earth and dark green from pics. I'm going to do a few sprays outs this evening to see which looks best.

Sky blue splinter effect, think it will look pretty sharp I just joined the the GB. Race you to the finish!

Booms on and wing supports attached. I am thinking about gifting this back to my twin brother so he can feel the pain of getting everything aligned. This damn thing is a 1 step forward, 3 steps sideways, dulce doh to get it looking right. The plus about doing a RhAF bird is that after 10 years of bush war these things looked like they had been rode hard and hung up wet, so I'll be able to hide some of the issues under a lot of faded brown paint. Primer coming soon.

Ebay, Saturday night and some good whiskey had me putting bids on many things and I wandered into this Tamiya 1/32 F-15E for $50 delivered to my door. I didn't love the F-15E paint options, and was looking at the Japanese birds wondering what the difference was between a D and a DJ, and then fate conspired for the Turning Japanese forum and Stokey Pete. Per suggestion from the the forums, I emailed Tamiya USA and hats off to amazing service and kindness, and one week later I have an F-15C fuselage to replace the 15E widebody and I am off to the races. I have the Quinta interior decal set to try out for the first time, and the DXM decals, which arrived in super quick time over xmas. I'll do my best on matching up the cockpit to the DJ, but the paint scheme will be the main part of the build. I still have some soviet Sukhoi blue lying around from an SU-27 build so will likely be going with the light blue splinter paint job and a few other odds and ends. Thanks to all for the info I have gleaned so far (and StokeyPete), these should make a fun pair.

After I read this I emailed the US Tamiya team and they sent me the C lower half as well. I fell into a Tamiya F15E for a steal and I wasn't wild about the paint options for the E, so had been kicking around the JASDF DJ schemes, but didn't have the solution to the bottom fuselage. Thanks for the tip - I will jumping in on this one seen too, waiting on decals.

We are finally moving again, and I have the wings on, glass in, and booms set ready for install. I put in an additional butt joint as it was a little weak when I test fitted. Primer coming soon, we are back to the races! Merry xmas all!

This is great thanks! Looks like no radio boxes bu plenty of ammo boxes hanging in there. Might have let it be on this one and I'll know :/ Nice color call out for the seats as well. The close up of the wing will be useful going forward as well, and how they have the rocket pods set up with the double hanger. Finally found some time to get a few things going on the 0-2 over xmas.

Finally got some time to work on this mess and will get it moving over the break. Jaysus - blown up it looks like I need some more work on it Once it dry I'll throw on a bit of a wash, and still need to get some seatbelts fashioned and some dirt in the cockpit. Settled on grey walls with black floor after looking at lots of birds from Vietnam and asking my dad if he remembered. His words - whatever was cheap was likely used for paint. Pretty impressed with the Roden side glass install, they have a nice bevel which made popping them in real easy. Back to work! Happy Thanksgiving all

Marc! I got the controls fixed - thanks for the heads up. Been looking at some pics in my resources and haven't found too many pics of the odd looking golf bombs, so probably going to go with a dumb bomb and rocket pod with the over wing machine gun pair. Inching closer to paint, got lots of styrene drying right now.

DOH! Where were you 15 minutes ago Marc It sure it obvious once you see it...must have been looking at the interior pics upside down. I'll get them righted before paint.

I have been faffing about with this for a week now in between projects. It would have been quicker but there is more flash on these parts than in the MCU. Such a soft plastic as well, can easily carve with a knife. Been looking at some pics and may be tossing the rear seats out as they were removed for additional space and to save weight. Going to the Pride of Eagles for confirmation. Couple more test fittings and I'll have it inside the fuselage and ready for paint.

Thanks Marc, Hoping to get some more pics up soon. Just got the masks in from Montex and now have all the bits. Now I just need 3 more hours per day