The prototype Strike Eagle, a modified F-15B, 71-0291, July 1980

[Daniel Leduc]

 

In July 1983 was the first flight of McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, Multi-Role Fighter Bomber 71-0291, F-15B-4-MC, 

 

 

Converted from the second two-seat F-15B Eagle trainer,

 

 

My starting point, a 1993 kit that was collecting dust for almost about the same period..

and left over Mk20 Rockeye from Tamiya

 

 

 

 

 

Bought that magazine in '86, and always had a crush on that article but never find the time nor the guts to start the build..

 

 

 

Don't know yet if I'll go down with all the trouble to converte the cockpit to a  B version or just use what's in the box,

but one thing for sure is there are some real most needed modification that I'll do...

 

There was no gun on the that demo version,

and the seat used was the Escapac version...

 

 

And going to use those early Corsair version with pilot from Aerobonus.

 

 

See you soon with some progress, have fun and thanks for watching.

Dan.

Edited March 12, 2024 by Daniel Leduc

[geedubelyer]

Excellent. I've been looking forward to this build. 

 

You have some work ahead Dan and that's for sure but she'll be amazing when you're done. 

 

Does the Revell kit include the conformal pallets? I think the pylons differ from those on the -E?

 

Good call on the Corsair's Escapac seats. 

 

Hopefully you have all the references you need.

 

Good luck.

[Azgaron]

Looks nice! Good luck with the build!

 

Håkan

 

[Lee White]

Great choice of models, I actually built, and finished(!) this kit back in the 1990s. One weak area of this kit is the nose gear fork, it will snap/collapse in an instant if you look at it wrong. Just wanted you to be aware of this!

[Daniel Leduc]

At first, I was planning for the pit to use what was in the kit...

 

 

Found some parts for a real B, but they where modified, will continue with new replacement from Bruce for the Revell..

Hey, why not..

 

 

And until I hear from Bruce, I'll jump on something else, lots of Rockeye to paint...

 

 

Stripes ready...

 

 

Tadammm... 

 

 

Next, intake, pylons and MER...gonna use those from Tamiya, better detailed.

 

 

Stiffening the ducts and puttying...

 

 

More next week and thanks for watching..

 

Have fun,

Dan.

 

 

[geedubelyer]

So much ordnance 

 

Any of us who have built the Tamiya kit are fully aware of all those CBUs. 

Mine are cluttering up the spares box waiting to be put to use somewhere or for something.

 

-291 just has to be fully loaded in this scheme and she will look amazing when built. 

 

Neat job Dan. 

Edited March 23, 2024 by geedubelyer

[Azgaron]

Very nice work so far!

 

Håkan

 

[Daniel Leduc]

On 3/12/2024 at 3:17 AM, geedubelyer said:

Does the Revell kit include the conformal pallets? I think the pylons differ from those on the -E?

 

Yes Geedubelyer, they do and a lot easier to use the Revell kit instead of the Tamiya for that project, 

there's too many modification to end up to a close B, with the Tamiya F-15E 

 

 

And a perfect fit with the Tamiya F-15C...

 

 

An option  I was thinking for a BAZ project, using Revell CFT on a Tamiya C... 

 

 

For dry fit purposes....really gonna look meen...

 

 

Oh boy, that Revell mold had better days...

 

 

Intakes all done and in place.

 

 

I Did used that little trick a learned from Zacto who did this on his F-16 intake.

with household semi gloss latex  paint, always a quick and an easy winner...

 

 

The 0291 had no gun, I had to hide it along with all the vent.

 

 

Wow, that was quick, should have news for those IP replacement from Bruce soon,

Other wise will have to put that project on hold..

 

That's what I like about that Revell kit, no fancy and quick.

 

Thanks for watching and have fun.

Dan.

Edited March 26, 2024 by Daniel Leduc

[geedubelyer]

Jeepers! Look at the size of that recce pod under the Baz 

 

That would be a neat model 

 

You're speeding right along. Hope the IP stuff arrives quickly. 

[Daniel Leduc]

Yeap, I wish too

 

And yes he's big, almost 8 inch. It took me almost 2 years to get my hand on that Ophir pod, long oop for my BAZ project..

 

Dan.

Edited March 27, 2024 by Daniel Leduc

[Daniel Leduc]

On 3/26/2024 at 5:01 PM, geedubelyer said:

You're speeding right along. Hope the IP stuff arrives quickly. 

 

Yeah, maybe I'll start another project, I'm ordering some goodies from Big Tim / BB for a Greek T-33...

why not....

Edited March 29, 2024 by Daniel Leduc

[Azgaron]

Very nice progress, Dan! Looks great!

 

Håkan

 

 

 

[Daniel Leduc]

Hi everyone,

 

Did put a post in Aviation Discussion & Research about the MER used apparently for that demo,

don't know if what Revell provide in this kit is a real representation of it..

 

https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/99869-a-particular-multiple-ejector-rack-info-needed/

 

I'd love to ad more deatail to it..

Dan.

[Daniel Leduc]

Hi everyone, a very small and quick update...

 

Bruce Radebaugh did confirmed me that the 291 can be build from what's in the box,  the cockpit need none to very little  modification,

so I decide to resume my work.

 

My two Aerobonus pilots for a dry fit purposes...

 

 

A very basic cockpit, simple and efficiant

 

 

My twin pilots.. 

 

 

 

Since my questionning for the cockpit is fixed, the rest should fall in line pretty quickly...

 

That wasn't much but hope you liked it, thanks for watching and have fun.

Dan.

[Azgaron]

Nice work! Nice looking pilots!

 

Håkan