F-15C Tamiya 1:32 My first big plane. Help needed.

[mikkod]

Hi folks!!!

 

So i bought my first 1:32 plane. It's Tamiya's F-15C

 

I bought it from my friends son so it's started (30€). He has painted some of avionics bay and cockpit with Tamiays X-13 (metallic blue), and i think that's not the right color ? Or am i totally wrong? I think its more greenish or in late version its white?

I really wanna make this build count on my building "story" so i really need some help about those colors. Should i just mix colors like Tamiya wants....

 

My plan was build my first 1:32 OOB but previous owner had bought some PE for the plane, so I'm gonna use those, and i was thinking to by Aires cockpit set for this. But whats the difference between EARLY - LATE models?

Edited November 5, 2012 by mikkod

[Scotsman]

Hi there ,

 

there are real Eagle expets her on the forum ,and , well since i've built 3 of the Tamiya models, with a 4th on the horizon , perhaps I can help, a little . When you say avionics bay, I presume you mean the bay behind the cockpit, if it is, then the colours varied, but what i was told is that from 80 year on , the bay was white , to begin with , and the funny metallic Green prior to that , so if the aircraft you're modelling has the serial no 80-XXXX, then white , 79-xxxx or earlier , green .

 

However since all the surviving Eagles have been re-worked to a greater or lesser extent over the last 20 years or so , i'd put money on them all being white on current line aicraft.

 

Are you building a current aircraft , or an earlier version , Gulf war etc, if its later then look at the update sets from Wolfpack designs, in particular the current model updates, and the newer LAU launch rails. The kit only supplies Aim-7s and AiM-9's , which on current aircraft is unlikley , with aim-9m's being replaced with AiM-9Xs and Sparrows replaced by Aim-120s , which need replacement launch rails for the wing pylons.

 

As to building the it , DO NOT follow the assembly order as regads wing fusalage joins , glue the upper wing halves to the upper fusalage part , ignore the screws etc , and glue the upper and lower fusalage pieces together when ready , and modify the lower wing holves to fit , after the fusalage is complete , otherwise there will be gaps ! - trust me !

 

Oh have you might want to check out Two mikes resin , they do replacement jet pipes of the correct size, the ones in the kit are too long

 

anyone one want to help out here ...!

[Guest Nigelr32]

Hey Scotsman

 

Thanks for replying to this thread. You are a mine of information!!

 

I love the tips on how to fit the wings.

[mikkod]

Thanks Scotsman....i'm all ears even these tips very welcome....

[Scotsman]

With a little more time ..

 

Wolfpack design page

 

http://www.wolfpack-d.com/

 

You'll need to go to Resin set and then

 

32021 - LAU28 Launchers - these are the AiM- 120 launch rails for any F-15's after the mid 90's

 

32025 - MSIP update for modern "Golden Eagles" - (the 150 or so F-15's to be kept in service for at least 10 more years)

 

Two mikes resin

 

http://www.twomikesresin.com/index1.html

 

32nd resin

 

320014 Corrected exhausts

 

I hesitate to mention this , especially since Mike Reeves of Two mikes is working on Seamless intakes , but there is a Vendor on Ebay , Rhino who produce a seamless intake set for the Eagle that resembles a previously available set .. but it is worth hunting out ...saves a lot of filling and sanding

[SR10user]

I bought the Two Mikes Nozzles to use on my Revell F-15B kit, but since you have the Tamiya kit, you could mod the nozzle yourself. Doesn't look particularly hard.

http://partsrparts.h...5tailcones.html

 

As for the color of the bay behind the cockpit, if you're doing a current F-15C, it's a pretty good bet it is white (like everyone else here has said). I would also suggest you find a copy of Jake Melampy's "Modern Eagle Guide". I believe a re-release is coming out soon too. Trust me, whatever you pay for it, it's worth every penny.

 

Dave

Edited November 5, 2012 by SR10user

[eaglekeeper]

Hi folks!!!

 

So i bought my first 1:32 plane. It's Tamiya's F-15C

 

I bought it from my friends son so it's started (30€). He has painted some of avionics bay and cockpit with Tamiays X-13 (metallic blue), and i think that's not the right color ? Or am i totally wrong? I think its more greenish or in late version its white?

I really wanna make this build count on my building "story" so i really need some help about those colors. Should i just mix colors like Tamiya wants....

 

My plan was build my first 1:32 OOB but previous owner had bought some PE for the plane, so I'm gonna use those, and i was thinking to by Aires cockpit set for this. But whats the difference between EARLY - LATE models?

 

79-0081 is the dividing line but it is a myth that the earlier C and A models had their Bay 5's repainted, I have yet to see any proof of this happening in my 20 years as a Crew Chief, Enigine, Hydraulics, Crash Recovery on the F-15A, B, C, D, E, I, J, and S model. It would just be too much work to remove or mask all the lines, wire bundles, relay panels and C/B panels, think of the ops checks on every piece of equipment and man power needed on a jet that needs to be flyable even when it was a Cann Bird..

Check Jake's book for the people who had input on the book.

I would avoid the Aires Cockpit set as from what I here it is 3mm short in Bay5, can't verify as I bought the Avionics BlackBox sets and will modify for each F-15 I have had the pleasure of working to include Eduard Istrument Panels Early and late, MISIPed and Not.

 

I have a listing of all the mistakes on the Tamiya C model (they used the E model molds), from the minor to the major.. Would you like me to post it here?

Cheers

Dave Whalen

[mikkod]

79-0081 is the dividing line but it is a myth that the earlier C and A models had their Bay 5's repainted, I have yet to see any proof of this happening in my 20 years as a Crew Chief, Enigine, Hydraulics, Crash Recovery on the F-15A, B, C, D, E, I, J, and S model. It would just be too much work to remove or mask all the lines, wire bundles, relay panels and C/B panels, think of the ops checks on every piece of equipment and man power needed on a jet that needs to be flyable even when it was a Cann Bird..

Check Jake's book for the people who had input on the book.

I would avoid the Aires Cockpit set as from what I here it is 3mm short in Bay5, can't verify as I bought the Avionics BlackBox sets and will modify for each F-15 I have had the pleasure of working to include Eduard Istrument Panels Early and late, MISIPed and Not.

 

I have a listing of all the mistakes on the Tamiya C model (they used the E model molds), from the minor to the major.. Would you like me to post it here?

Cheers

Dave Whalen

 

Hi Eaglekeeper,

 

Thanks for info! Please post that list. I think it would be very helpful....

Edited November 7, 2012 by mikkod

[eaglekeeper]

I had worked on F-15A,B,C,D,E,I,J and S models as Crew Chief, Engine Mechanic and Hydraulic Mechanic,Flight Control and Crash Recovery over my 20 year career in the USAF.

I and S models as enroute maintenance as they were delivered to the customer and the J when I was on exchange with the JASDF.

I have also had the pleasure(?) of working on Su-27s, Mig-29s, F-4Fs, F-4Es, Mirage 2000, Etendards, F-1s, Tornados, Alpha Jets, etc......

I have flown C-152s, C-150s, C-172s, Piper Cherokees, T tailed Lance, Lear Jet, Martin 404s, DC-3s, King Air, Queen Air, DH-6, Dash-7.

 

Enough about me and on with the list.

 

First E to a C model differances

 

Here is the list you requested. Some of it might be hard to fix or change, some might be nit picky, but all is helpful when discussing the differances between the differant model F-15s. Remeber the Mudhen was a completly differnat animal from the C and more so from the A, not just the seating arrangments.

 

1)Radome on the E does not have the Urethane boot on the tip (glossy portion

on the C model)

2)ICS Antennas from the C, in between the blade Ant and aft of nose gear

aft door on the underside of the nose replaced with flush mounted Ant.

3)HUD combining glass and fwd cockpit instrumentation and CRT differences

from C to E.

4) the E Canopy framing has ECS ducting installed due too the increased

need for more cooling air for the backseater and avionics.

5)Wing root anti-collision lights are smaller and set closer to the wing

root on the E then the C.

6)Speedbrake is beefed-u[p and has a small indentation on the aft leading

edge for a handhold for manual raising of the speedbrake, also there should

be no well for the speedbrake as on the real aircraft it lays flush on the

skin of the airframe on all F-15's.

7) Just aft of the speedbrake there are 6 screens (three par side of the

rectangular panel on the center line) this is the JFS (Jet Fuel Starter/

APU) chimney on the E, on the C there is one screen offset to the left for

the JFS chimney, the panel in the middle is for additional avionics on the

E.

8) The engine humps have additional doors to facilitate engine maintenance

on the E as the C only has one for the engine forward mount and two for the

aft mounts.

9) Rudders have an additional beef-up for the center hinge point on the E,

this was being done to the C but through attrition.

10) A logo lite was installed at the base of the Vertical stab on the E not

on the C.

11) the E model horizontal stab has a reinforcing strip ( sealant) raised

line running along the leading edge dogtooth fairing mount, C models do not

have this.

12) Stinger Ant or what we called nipples are of a different configuration

from the C model to the E, references should be checked for the specific

aircraft to be modeled.

13) All E models came from the factory with panel 128 removed, depending on

time frame the A/C models these were not removed till 1991 after a mod was

done.

Nose to tail on the belly of the aircraft

14) Gun door has a bulge on the E referred to as the ext clip door, this was

were we put our forms for the aircraft also access to the gundrum which the

interior was modified from the D to E in having more avionics stuffed up

inside of there as well.

15) Main forward Gear doors are bulged on the E for the beefed-up landing

gear and increased height and width of the E model tires.

16) JFS exhaust no longer has the louver just a hollow pipe (aft of

centerline pylon on the centerline of the aircraft) on the E model, C models

were all modified with new JFS exhaust by 1994.

17) Engine bay panels modified so they could be drooped for engine

maintenance without dropping the CFTs, the CFT's covered some of the engine

bay panels on the C and we had to drop the CFT's anytime we had Engine

maintenance.

18) there are two Engine Oil servicing doors on the forward engine bay panel

on the E, one inboard and one outboard, the C had one.

19) Tail hook was extended down 2" from the bottom of the fuselage on the E

to give more room for more avionics, the C models was flush to the fuselage.

20) Stab actuator panels reconfigured so limited stab maintenance could be

done with CFT's installed including a small access panel for doing flight

control trimming was installed, C model had unmodified panel as CFT's were

hardly ever installed.

And of course more to add.

1)Nose and mains truts are beefed up, thinker then the A/C struts.

2)Draglinks on both nose and mains are thicker with the drag springs larger

in circumference(round spring looking things at hinge point on drag link

used to help strut retract)

3) The bungee on the C model strut replaced with a rigid link on the E

(thing that comes down and attaches to the draglink from the trunnion on the

mains) this is what makes the strut rotate into the wheelwell when

retracting.

4) Wheels (rims) on the E have a spacer on the mains for height and

different internal for width, different rim overall.

5) The nose strut has a shimmer damper installed on the front to keep the

heavily laden E model nose tire from oscillating on hi-speed taxies or

take-off and landing (looks like a thick tube coming out of the strut).

6) The oleo is square I frame on the E in comparison to the rounded oleo on

the C.

7) Nose tire is thicker on the E then the C.

There are numerous other changes not noticeable on a model of 1/48 or 1/32,

but you get the point.

 

This is a pretty basic list but gives you some idea as to some of the

changes to the Emodel, there are more panel differences but I would be

typing all day with panel lists in front of me. I also have a list on the 1/32 Tamiya F-15Cdiscrepencies if interested.

 

 

 

Tweak list for the Tamiya C model 1/32

Tamiya C modeldiscrepancies

 

 

 

1) Forward Door onengine hump is not on a C model, C model only has one door for the Engineforward mount.

2) JFS Chimneyvents aft of the speedbrake, E model has 6 (3 per side) split on the centerlineby additional avionics carried by the E model (panel in the centerline is werethis avionics goes). C models only have one vent, which is offset of thecenterline, and the panel is not present.

3) Fuel dump notpresent on panel 113l/r and oil cooler vent not present on panel 95 l/r.

4) Saber Drains onpanel 117l/r removed off all F-15’s due to their redundancy (would of saved mea nasty scar on my back if they had done this earlier)

5) Airframe patcheson side of the intakes is not present on all aircraft, probably just the 78model they used at Kadena.

6) AMAD bay coolingscoops (access panel aft of main gear well) was repositioned to inboard side ofpanel when the chafe/flare mods were installed on the aircraft (MISIP) toprevent the chafe from clogging the vent a causing an overheat condition.

7) Left engine bayaccess door should only have two latches on the trailing edge, kit has four,two extra’s on the leading edge of the door.

8) Ribbing? On theforward LAU-106 fuselage stations access doors should not be there.

9) Panel linesaround the pitot probes should not be there ( this is from dirt on the pitotcovers).

10) Under the leftcanopy hinge point is Panel 12, this should not have a beef-up patch, probablyon the aircraft Tamiya used.

11) Beef-up on therudder center hinge point should not be there or as pronounced as they have onthe kit.

12) LVS bulletshould be longer and larger in diameter then is in the kit.

13) Wing-rootanti-collision lights should be larger and a bit more outboard, the ones in thekit are from the E model kit and reflect the E model.

14) C modelHorizontal stabs do not have the reinforcement strips as on the E model’s ,plus the hinge point just does not look correct, seems a little beefed-up thereas well.

15) Struts providedare E model struts, most noticeable would be the oleo on the E which is squareand the C which is round. Thus the wheels are E model though not as noticeablewith the nose tire and wheel.

16) Main gear dragbrace hinge springs are the larger type found on the E model although the strutdiameter is larger then a C model strut not as noticeable on the model. Themain wheels and tire are the E models as well.

17) Engine compressorface is from an E model with a –229 installed.

18) There should beno Circuit Breaker panels on the wall of the fuselage section in Bay 5 (leftover from using the E model forward fuselage barrel), Both wall need to bescrapped and sanded smooth and ribbing added in its place..

19) Screw post holeon the floor in bay 5 should be eliminated and smoothed over with a new wiringconduit in its place.

20) The Augmentornozzles (Divergent seals should be 21” ) as pointed out by Bruce Radebaugh,

21) The Tailstinger antennae (“nipples”) are of the wrong shape, but different antennaswere installed on different aircraft at one time or another so check reverenceson this one.

22) They even gotthe chalk ropes incorrect, they should be laced, one rope per chalk and lacedinto the other in a slot cut into one end. The way they show you is for EOR(End of Runway or Quick check)

23) There are somemore dealing with panel set up but would take allot more time for that.

 

Hi Eaglekeeper,

 

Thanks for info! Please post that list. I think it would be very helpful....

[LSP_Matt]

Wow...great list Dave. Thanks :-)

 

Matty

[mikkod]

Damn that's quite a list. Thanks!!!

[eaglekeeper]

And all by memory, believe it or not.....