1/48 Academy F-15C Eagle

Gallery Article by Ken Middleton on Dec 21 2009

 

95th Fighter Squadron

This is the 1/48th Academy F-15C Eagle built in the markings of the 95th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB on Florida’s panhandle. They are tasked with training F-15 pilots. The mascot of the squadron is “Mr. Bones”, an infamous skeleton.  

I decided to do this model after making some briefing sticks for the unit, and not recalling ever seeing a 95th FS flagship F-15 built. The only modifications I made were to change the blade antennae under the forward fuselage to a swept style one, and make the bullet style fairing on the right, rear boom (by the tail and exhaust) from a 72nd scale Maverick missile. I added a few training missiles and a single fuel tank on the centerline.

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The markings were the most challenging part of the build. Seeing no decals existed of the tailband, I made it with blue Microscale decal and Microscale letters (typically used by railroad modelers.) It went fairly easily, but I forgot to seal the letters after they dried, and when I went to apply the tailband after soaking, all of the letters started scrambling around. It was quite the challenge to get all of the letters lined up again while on the tail, and I didn’t get it perfect.  

I used the “TY” code, badge at the top of the tail and wing badge on the right intake from the Superscale F-15 sheet for the 1st FS, and spare decals for the “95FS” and serial number. I needed the 95th FS badge for the left intake, and a fellow ARC member, “Hitch”, helped me track down the older Aeromaster F-15 sheet with this badge. This project could not have been completed without his help – thanks a ton Hitch!

I made a 2-foot display base using a cut stair step from Home Depot and curved acrylic rods. I made a large 8x10 inch graphic of the squadron badge, and a smaller dedication plaque. Both were inserted into plastic frames and glued to the base. I then added an Air Education and Training Command and a 325th Fighter Wing patches. You can see an article I did for ARC on doing display bases here.  

I sent the completed model and base to the 95th FS as a gift for them to display.

Thanks for looking,

Ken Middleton

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Photos and text © by Ken Middleton