Cursed F-15C Build
This build was cursed. That is all.
Problems were mostly caused by my own clumsiness, not the GWH kit, which in terms of fit and surface detail is fantastic.
Dropped the model, breaking a stabiliser and meaning I had to redo the first camo colour during the large-scale masking work… then a gear leg snapped and I had to drill the stumps out and brass rod repair job the thing, the AK colours I used for the first time on this kit didn’t react well to Mr Leveling Thinner, separating during spraying so that each cup sprayed different shades which meant my usual shading technique was impossible. The GWH Decals are almost completely useless due to being extremely thick and with a matt finish that makes them almost impossible to blend into paintwork, even with Agama Hypersol. As a result, I bought some aftermarket decals and made this colourful (for an F-15C anyway) US Air Force 1st Fighter Wing bird stationed at Langley AFB in 2004. This particular aircraft was the the personal mount of (then) Commander Frank Gorenc, who went on to become a four star general and commanded US Air Forces Europe and Africa.
When spraying a layer of varnish to protect the decals, however, the real disaster occurred. I refilled the airbrush cup and forgot to put the lid back on, meaning that I splashed a large dollop of Mr Super Clear III on the left wing, which immediately dissolved the existing varnish, decals and paint layers. Much cursing and fixing required before I could get back to weathering.
Even once nearly done the resin engine replacements kept falling off due to miniscule glueing area, the canopy was dirty and fogged inside when masks came off so I had to cut/lever it off to fix, and the pylons were a job and a half to get settled in place. All in all much more work than it needed to be but I think the result is ok.
Build video here as ever:
8 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Spiros Pendedekas said on May 7, 2020
This is a great result, Justin! For sure this lady tired you the mosts. The end result is super.That is a lovely Eagle. Excellent video presentation, which in reality is a tutorial high class!
all the best, my friend!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Thank you matey – really means a lot especially after a frustrating build! 🙂
Pedro L. Rocha said on May 7, 2020
Your F-15 is the best cursed model I’ve seen around…you should see mines, they are forever unfinished.
Great looking model Justin
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Cheers Pedro! I did have to give it a day to cool off before continuing after the varnish moment…
Tom Bebout said on May 7, 2020
OMG you actually finished her. That’s what I call perseverance Justin, I would have trashed it and moved on. She actually looks good, well done.
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Haha, I was honestly *THIS* close to hurling it at the wall at one point… but turned out acceptable in the end I guess. Thanks for the kind words Tom!
Dan DeSilva said on May 7, 2020
Dude! I have been there. I for one don’t understand people that throw the kit in the bin- too much time and money invested (the kit alone!) at that point to give up! You did an awesome job! Congrats!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Honestly I’d spent so much on the kit (GWH isn’t cheap), Ares nozzles and decal sheet from the States by that point that I couldn’t just abandon it but the temptation to do so was real! Cheers Dan! 🙂
Erik Gjørup said on May 7, 2020
Uphill Eagle? Came out great though!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Haha! Would have made a good alternate title Erik… glad you like her!
Michel Verschuere said on May 7, 2020
Great Eagle, I’m sure she’s happy now all the cursing is over 😉
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
She may be happy… I am less so 😉
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 7, 2020
Great looking jet. I had no idea it flew in this greenish kind of camouflage. Love the comparative photo of the F-4, F-15 and F-35: great study of aircraft design through last 50 years or so. F-35 looks huge!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Cheers Stellan! It’s actually an F-22 though, not an F-35. The F-35 is significantly smaller than the Raptor.
Stellan Schroeder Englund said on May 8, 2020
Oh dear, I never seem to be able to tell them apart.
Rob Anderson said on May 7, 2020
The result is more than ok that looks great! I think we have all had those kits, ones that were supposed to be easy that just fought us. Mine was the Tamiya 1/48 F-14A. Not as many struggles as you had here, but the whole thing just seemed to not work as well for me as others! Ah well, this Eagle of yours looks really good and is a testament to you modeling skills that you didn’t toss it!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Glad you think so Rob! Have been wondering about trying the Tamiya F-14 series but might give big jets a wider berth for a bit after this un. Thanks for the kind words!
Rob Anderson said on May 7, 2020
Apparently for everyone but me it literally falls together!
Robert Royes said on May 7, 2020
Excellent results! Looks great and nice collection! I guess we’ve all had troublesome builds, One of mine was the Airfix FG.1 Phantom, I couldn’t get out of on my way with that one.
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Thanks Robert! Would love to do a Phantom in British FAA colours some time… great looking bird.
Rick Schad said on May 7, 2020
Well the end product sure is great!!
Justin Bronk said on May 7, 2020
Cheers Rick! 😀
Greg Kittinger said on May 7, 2020
The end results looks like it was worth the elbow grease! Nicely done.
Justin Bronk said on May 8, 2020
Thanks Greg!
Robert Paschall said on May 8, 2020
Looks great, cursed she may be. But you kept at it. Nice job.
Justin Bronk said on May 8, 2020
Cheers Robert!
John Healy said on May 8, 2020
Turned out great after all that! Have you ever used the AK colors with their proprietary thinner? If so, do you like them? I like that Israeli Eagle too. What paints did you use on that one?
Justin Bronk said on May 8, 2020
Thanks John! I wasn’t a fan of the AK colours as a whole to be honest. Wasn’t just the spray issues with leveling thinner (which would probably have been fine with their proprietary thinner) but also it brush-paints a totally different shade again. I normally use Mr Color and Tamiya paints (used both for the Israeli F-15i build.
Clark Cook said on May 9, 2020
Nice recoveries Justin. The end result of your work looks great. You could call this a “Heartbreak Ridge” Recovery…you improvised, you adapted, and overcame!