JASDF F-15EJ: Another FAR Mudhen

[John Howling Mouse]

yeah, you might want to make MANY copies of these and market them.   

[FAR148]

yeah, you might want to make MANY copies of these and market them.

I thought about that and I don't want to turn my hobby into work. You know what I mean? But I will cast up a few sets of two and see how that goes.
Here's a small progress report. Got her front office done and painted. Seats are put together and got a base coat but still needs alittle more loving before I put them in the tub.



When I glued the two front fuselage halves together, I found I had a seam problem. I could hide the seam on the top or on the bottom of the fuselage. I chose to hide it on the bottom, it's easier to hide there.



Here are those nasty seams. I just filled them with some gel super glue. Later I will sand it smooth and rescribe any lost panel lines.



My Mudhens are coming along nicely.



Until later,
Steven L 

[nev]

Nice work so far.  I think the fuselage fit thing is just a ubiquitous F-15 model problem due to its awkward shape.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Apart from the excellent modelling skills displayed, I tell you what I really like about Steve's projects..... the crystal clear annotated photo's. Really wish I could do that.



Ian

[ChernayaAkula]

^ Yeah, absolutely. Makes it a joy to follow! 

[FAR148]

Thanks guys! 

Well, my new batch of resin showed up yesterday and despite all my attempts, casting my ASM-4 is proving to be harder than I expected. Out of 12 tries, I got only 2 keepers. I will use them on something down the road. So, I'm going to stop pouring resin down the drain so to speak and move on with the build.

Until next time,
Steven L  

[Shasper]

Lookin good Steve!

[FAR148]

Since this past week at work has been retarded, I have not had much time after work to play with in two mudhens. But now it's the weekend...   I been trying to get her ready for preshading and paint. Also want my two mudhens to be the same but different. Clearly both both being Strike Eagles but clearly two different variants. Her Hellenic sister is an older Strike Eagle, more like the mudhens of the USAF. The JASDF F-15EJ's are the newer next gen Strike Eagles with AESA Radar(Active Electronically Scanned Array), newer engines as well as updated weapon systems. So this weekend I have been working on those little details to make her different from her sister.

Had to fix up some seam around the air brake. You can see the areas where I have shot spot primer. Here's one of many little different details. The newer Mudhens has a GPS dome beside the air brake. I used a the clear lense cover from an AGM-65 from revell A-10 kit.



Here you can see I added some home made resin goodies to the underwing stations. The LAU-128 launch rails are resin copies of Academy's F-15K. And the chaff/flare boxes are copies of True Details USAF Pylons for F-4 Phantom II(really great set, you get a whole set of resin hardpoints and chaff/flare boxes for under $4 buck Plus it's an Ex-KMC mold!)



Moving the build forward, I manage to get her CFT's in place along with the hardpoints. Another little different detail, I added the "Sugar scoop" intake. They are cooling scoops for the newer engine.



I wanted to put a Sniper pod on my JASDF mudhen but I'm cheap and not going to pay for something I can make. Not trying to make a Sniper pod just something different. Here's my AN/AAQ-48 targeting pod. It started life as a data pod like an AN/AXQ-14 for the AGM-148 on my Hellenic mudhen. The body is a AGM-62 Walleye from Hasagawa weapon set B. The side vent thingy is from a AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN pod(Hasagawa weapon set D). The rack is also from Hasagawa weapon set D. And to be different it is upside down. The head of the pod was a problem. It is from the targeting pod from Revell Rafale M, which I used on my IAF A-10I. Before I move to SoCal I bought another Rafale. So I went into my stash looking for the targeting pod. If I find it, I will make a mold of it so I can cast some resin copies. But the Rafale kit I have now is the B, the Air Force two seat without the pod. So, I stole the targeting head from my Sandhawg for 4 hours. Made a mold and cast a resin copy. Super glued the new head to the body, rescribe a few lines and TA-DA!



Until next time,
Steven L  

[nev]

Nice detail work

[FAR148]

Thanks Nev 
Preshading has started!




Until later,
Steven L 

[Taiidantomcat]

Nice job on the preshading, and those hard points look great with all your additions. That kitbashed targeting pod is excellent. 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Just luvvin' this build/thread

Ian

[Captain Canada]

Beauty ! Great work so far....love the pod and the rails, very well done !

[FAR148]

Well... Been up since 7am working on her....now she's BLUE!



In the photo, the darker blue looks darker than it actually is and close enough for me. Got some touch ups I got to do but now I'm beat.


Stilll....more to come,
Steven L  

[intruder67]