So here we go again, even when I haven't succeeded finalising anything in 2012 (yet) I plan a series of all different F-15 (A,B,C,D, E, F...) in 1/48 scale for next year.

So, which are the best kits around, and are there any aftermarket goodies that one simply MUST add?

Hello:

Everybody says Hase...!!!!

It's more expensive than the otters, which support the idea...

But, I'm not a jet expert... Sorry...

Thanks

Diego

hasegawa makes the best F-15A/B/C/D

The Revell F-15E is generally regarded as superior to the Hasegawa F-15E by many, but they only make the E for some reason

So one revell and a few Hasegawa's, my poor bank account will hate me again

After some research it appears that an A and a C are almost identical in appearance so maybe I limit myself to an A and a D, or C and a B

Now I have to find some aftermarket stuff to differentiate between the different models

You miss the japanese J/DJ, and the foreign variants of the E (I,K,S,...)

Or are you talking only of USAF birds?

boem, you've got me there

some more research apparently

so what are the best J/DJ and others, I presume the Revell can be adapted?

Basically you should use the Revel for all E variants, and hasegawa for the rest. the Israeli Eagles are the most different from the US versions, but even that is mostly just the retention of turkey feathers and the addition of extra antenna - but do watch out for the variations at the tips of the vertical tails as well for various sub-versions.

The japanese J/DJ are basically the same as their USAF "cousins" C/D, so Hase for them

The Israeli A/B/C/D had some mods in the cockpits with more "screens and less gauges", but they are basically A/B/C/D models, one interesting thing is that they use the conformal tanks (a good use for a Hase F-15E, at least the 1/72 model is a D with tanks)

For the rest of the E variants (I/K/S/...) Academy has a good offer, but I cannot tell you nothing about accuracy, I'm a 1/72 boy...

For an 1/72 boy you seem to be very aware of the 1/48 offerings.

Or are you simply and truly an F-15 addict?

Not a bigger adittion than to others F-16, F-14 and mainly F-4 "Phantomadict"

I use to check the 1/48 offering instruction sheet to update the 1/72 models as they use to have more details.

In my stash there are "only" two F-15C from Hase, one F-15D form Academy, one F-15I from HAS, and two F-15E (one Hase and one ACA) with a "new" F-15E from Hase travelling from HK, so only 7 F-15 to do (I´ve got more than 15 F-4s).

My planning is:

F-15C USAF Aggressor
F-15J Japanese Aggressor
F-15DJ Japanese Aggressor
F-15D Israel with conformal tanks (from one of the F-15E)
F-15I Israel camoed
F-15E USAF

and I don't know what to do with the other F-15E perhaps a Saudi bird

In 1/72 we have the same trouble, the Hase model is perfect for the A/B/C/D but is far from perfect refering to the E variants. The Academy kits are good too, and a good value for the money they cost.

Hase cheated all the modellers with their "state of the art" F-15I with resin parts, to produce a so-so limited model kit with a lot of missing and wrong parts, to came latter with the "new" F-15E with some new plastic sprues to substitute the resin parts and to include the missing parts (I hope that they had a complete model now).

PS. Perhaps for the last Israel F-15D batches you could also use the Revell F-15E, as they were manufactured in the same production line as the "plain" F-15 line was yet closed