F-15E --- 1/32 --- Tamiya

[F`s are my favs]

Omg, i realize now, that small round thing (3) should be the "dome"-style GPS antenna that sits on top of the upper fuselage like a small round half-sphere "thing", just next of the speed brake. And perhaps the other thing right next to it is a similar antenna only with four rivets or something... Yet i`m 99% sure. 

 

So what is (1) with the two similar parts? Are these also "dome"-style GPS antennas? I know that one of these things is fitted somewhere between the radome and the wind shield, but on the C version, any clues if this is the same thing on the E version also?

 

And (2) - i know exactly where it sits - adjacent to the leading edge of the centerline pylon on the lower fuselage, but what is it - a light or an antenna?

 

Thanks if someone could help me with these questions. I searched info as well as photos, and it still stays unclear. 

 

[ghatherly]

Omg, i realize now, that small round thing (3) should be the "dome"-style GPS antenna that sits on top of the upper fuselage like a small round half-sphere "thing", just next of the speed brake. And perhaps the other thing right next to it is a similar antenna only with four rivets or something... Yet i`m 99% sure. 

 

So what is (1) with the two similar parts? Are these also "dome"-style GPS antennas? I know that one of these things is fitted somewhere between the radome and the wind shield, but on the C version, any clues if this is the same thing on the E version also?

 

And (2) - i know exactly where it sits - adjacent to the leading edge of the centerline pylon on the lower fuselage, but what is it - a light or an antenna?

 

Thanks if someone could help me with these questions. I searched info as well as photos, and it still stays unclear. 

 

Thanks for the kind words,  you are pretty close with your explanation.   So much of the F-15 antenna config varied and changed that you must use your references and match them.  provide enough for any combo.

 

1 are ALQ-135 nodes that are on the top and bottom of the F-15C right behind the radome. Not used on F-15E

2 is a data link antenna used for a short time.  

3 are both GPS domes, just 2 of the several different styles used.

 

hope this helps.   F's set was sent out before the instructions were done.

 

thanks, Gary

Edited June 23, 2016 by ghatherly

[ShelbyGT500]

Speachlessss, the master of nozzles

[F`s are my favs]

I would like to share my "inbox" review of the GTR upgrades, and also a video review by Mitko (Eagle Driver here in the forum).

 

Awesome resin parts! I don`t know from where to start

 

[ghatherly]

I would like to share my "inbox" review of the GTR upgrades, and also a video review by Mitko (Eagle Driver here in the forum).

 

Awesome resin parts! I don`t know from where to start

 

Great stuff,   Thanks so much!    It looks like i forgot to send you a ALQ-128 fin cap.  Will ship one out to you.

 

thx,

 

Gary

[F`s are my favs]

...a ALQ-128 fin cap...

 

 

       

 

I`m very excited, really Thanks Gary!

Edited June 24, 2016 by F`s are my favs

[ghatherly]

Oh la la I have a surprise, i was thinking about jazzing-up the texture of the model with rivets and so on, but yesterday some surprises arrived, so the riveting should be postponed. I`m still quite excited... okey okey, here they are the gems from GT Resin:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Gary and the awesome GTR upgrades, and my irresistible will to improve the plane - i continue with these upgrades I plan to use all of them, just i have no clues with the right configuration of the antennas so far. But i will figure it out.

 

And a question about the 2 "things" on the right side of the antennas set - what are they? Are they some kind of antennas too? First i though that it is the shimmy dampener for the front wheel, but they are two almost the same exact pieces and look a little bit thicker than the shimmy dampener. Interesting. Thanks in advance.

 

Gary, Thanks again to you too! 

 

A Note  on the launch rails. The LAU-128/ rails and LAU-552 adapters are not meant to replace the kit parts because of a Tamiya Error. These are the original pylon missile mounts for the AIM-9 missiles up to the L/M. These new rails were necessary to use the AIM-120 and AIM-9X Missiles. Think as a replacement set for use int he modern Era post ODS/'92. The kit rails are actually not bad as a starting point for an ODS or earlier Light Gray or Mudhen build.

[jmel]

Thanks if someone could help me with these questions. I searched info as well as photos, and it still stays unclear. 

 

 

If you are looking for Eagle info, this F-15 book is designed for modelers and may be of help.

 

#3 are both GPS antennas, neither of which Desert Storm jets had.

 

#2 is nothing more than a cover for the cannon plug connection to the centerline pylon.  It is removed, obviously, when a centerline pylon is uploaded to the jet. 

[F`s are my favs]

Okey, then, ladies and gents, this F will be from the Afghanistan era: 2001+.      

 

Cuz i definitely want to include that radome-style antenna, as well as the modern rails, and i`m pretty much impatient to scratch a Sniper Pod (i already have it in 1/48, non-assembled, so although for th 1st time - it would be much easier i think).  I just searched a little bit of info for the Sniper pod - it turned out that it was used from 2005+. The thing is that i was a kid, but still i have real memories from the Afghanistan war era. However, i know pretty much nothing about it I could say that i`m very familiar with the "9/11 theme" and i know pretty much everything about it, but almost nothing about the revenge in Afghanistan. I remember that the first 3-4 years were more "active", the TV reports frequently mentioned Afghanistan, maybe everyday/every few days, while after the first few years it was much calmer, like piece keeping missions, some Tv reports from time to time... Yet i love Afghanistan-themed movies, such as, i just recall The Hurt Locker. So i will have to search more about the participation of the Chiefs squadron in Afghanistan after 2005 with the Sniper pod. I`m kinda happy, but also disappointed, bored, annoyed and sad to put off aside/change the ODS "movie".

[viperfixer]

I was at Kandahar in 2008 and saw 2 Strike eagles there that were visiting from an other base for a few days. Can't remember if they carried sniper pods though, but F-15E's were flying over Afghanistan after 2005 for sure.

[F`s are my favs]

The vents are mounted. Only the two big vents above/behind the intakes will be mounted later:

 

 

 

 

 

These vents are Gorgeous!

[Eagle Driver]

Eagle mania!

[F`s are my favs]

Here is another surprise... even for me... i`m starting to do something that i will do for the 1st time... at least i`ll try to. It`s even harder to explain, so here are a couple of photos of the real plane, with the blue highlights:

 

 

And in this photo is visible almost everywhere:

 

 

And this is everywhere thorughout the entire plane It is the footprint from the tear and wear, in terms of texture of the panel lines. Something like embossed or beveled areas alongside the rivet lines or near the panel lines... i don`t know, it is veeeeeery very subtle, but at a very sharp angle it is visible, and i think that in 1/32 scale should be present too. Beside from the riveting, this will be like another major editing of the surface/texture of the entire plane. So i`ll do it in the meantime, little by little, and the riveting will be after that. I`m starting with the pylons ))) i want to make the pylons with the awesome resin rails But the pylon itself is really bad - it needs a lot of improvements. First the texture... here it is oob - a huge flat smooth piece:

 

 

It`s just flat, like mirror flat. But it should become veeery beautiful

 

[F`s are my favs]

A quick updt: prepped for assembly:

 

 

 

The embossing of the pylon is done and is visible only at a very sharp angle:

 

 

 

***

And i want to share one of my strangest creations so far... It`s slightly offtopic, but i hope you`ll like it It`s something like a sci-fi/fairytale/fantazy diorama with dimensions like 20cm x 20cm. Here are a couple of closeups. The second photo is totally photoshoped; the first one is with real colors  .

 

 

 

 

 

[RichieB]

Great job on the pilots, nozzles, vents.... well pretty much everything really! Very impressive.

The panel beating look is a result of many hours of flying, rapid pressure changes, pulling G etc and is particularly noticable near fuel tanks which are often pressurised. The Hawk T1 and the B52 have it quite pronounced on the fuselage sides and it certainly is worth trying to capture the look on these aircraft. I think if done discretely and in the right places this could work quite well. Look forward to seeing the results!

 

PS I usually make enough errors and corrective action to 'add' surface variation without intending to.