Here is the model I am building in parallel with the Israeli Hardened Aircraft Shelter (using Noy's Miniatures kit).

It's and F-15I, of the Israeli Airforce that I am building using Revell's F-15E kit.

The kit parts look very nice, although I would prefer finer engraved panel lines.


What was disappointing was the canopy , as my kit had a considerable air bubble in the front canopy part. The parts were not scratched, I was already sanding it down, preparing it to be used as the template for the vac form part I will try to form.


And here is the template, almost ready (I still need to polish it a lot more).


I will try to post more soon.

Cheers
Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com

Marco, I've been watching your 1/144 works an they are absolutely amazing. Hats off, my friend.

Obrigado for sharing your masterpieces.

Wow Maro, that's nasty! Did you try contacting Revell for a replacement, or do you think it's just easier to go ahead and make a new one?

Michael

This last weekend I manage to work a bit on the Ra'am and completed its cockpit (I still need to make the canopy - by the way, I did not contact Revell about it, because I want to try my vac-forming again, as the resulting part is usually much thinner).

The only added detail was some seat harness made from thin masking tape. The turbine intakes were also painted (sorry for the picture quality of the last photo, but in order to lit the intakes, I had to use a flashlight as an extra light source).





So far this as been a trouble free kit, with excellent fit (and I really mean excellent).

Cheers
Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com

After a few weeks with little work done on this little model, here is a quick update!

I lost my vac-forming skills somewhere! I only do this once in a while and to be able to get a couple of usable (but far from perfect) canopies, I wastes enough plastic from 10 canopies!!!

I am still filing it so it fits nicely. On the plus side, the kit parts almost do not need any filler at all! the air intakes were thinned out and fit perfectly, as do the conformal tanks.





I need to address a number of small issues to convert it to the F-15I I want to depict.
I hope to post more soon.

Cheers

Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com

As much as I tried, I could not make my vac-formed canopy to properly fit!

I ended up buying a Bregun canopy and after carefully trimming it, it fits perfectly. I'm also adding some small bits to convert it to the F-15I standard.




I hope to post more soon.

Cheers
Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com

It is finally ready for some paint!
All the loose parts are fixed to wooden stirrers with double sided sticky tape. This is my preferred method to handle the small parts during the painting process.




I hope to start painting it in the next few days.
Cheers

Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com

Looking forward to the painting Marco!



Magnus

Here is a quick update!

The aircraft I am modeling was armed with 4 Aim-7 Sparrow missiles and I did not have any in my spare box. I modified 4 missiles with similar length and diameter, replacing their wings with wings cut from thin plastic card. I did a video of the process, showing the simple jig I use to glue the wings and I hope to post it in my blog soon. Here they are after being primed.


The first colors were applied and I hope to start the camouflage soon.


While it was drying, the tires were brush painted.


I hope to post more soon.

Cheers
Marco Preto
http://mpminiatures.wordpress.com