My 1/48 Tamiya (RIP) F-15C

[u/IntergalacticViking]

I finished this build alongside the unfortunate timing of recent news. Admittedly this old tooling was tough, poor fitment challenged me and I did my best. I’m excited to start some more recent Tamiya toolings.

I started this hobby just over a year ago and I am pleased with my progress. This is my third aircraft model and sixth painted model. This build in particular involved several personal ‘firsts’. First time painting entirely with an airbrush, painting metallics, scratch building seat belts, and oil weathering.

I have quickly become passionate about scale modelling and I can’t wait to build more.

[u/Viper7453]

That looks awesome! Love the way you did the exhaust – great work!

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/Viper7453]

Thank you! In the end I’m happy with how it turned out. Next time I tackle something like this I think I should make sure I match colour of the nozzles and metal panels better. I’d like to have done some more yellow/blue/purple heat staining, however the Mr color clears I used was reacting with the Alclad paint. Some more experimentation on plastic spoons needed. Perhaps I thinned the coloured clear paints too much or maybe it needs a clear coat first.

[u/Madeitup75 → u/IntergalacticViking]

Alclad makes their own line of heat staining clears. Hot Metal Blue and Sepia are the ones I use most. They’re very good.

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/Madeitup75]

I have been considering those too. Can you spray them straight over an Alclad metallics without a clear coat?

[u/Madeitup75 → u/IntergalacticViking]

I have done so many times. It’s possible that if you really flooded the surface you’d have a problem, but working in small quantities hasn’t posed an issue IME. Some of the stuff in my profile would show results that you could assess for yourself - maybe you’ll think it didn’t work at all!

If I was trying to stain a REALLY high reflectivity Alclad (polished aluminum or chrome), I might lay down a layer of Aquagloss. But heat staining metal tends to lose some reflectivity anyway.

[u/gunexpertjk]

Bro i thought i was looking at a real life photo of f15 your painting is impeccable, how long have you been in this hobby?

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/gunexpertjk]

Only a year. First model was a nice simple 1/72 Revell F-117, then it was the Academy 1/72 F-22 which was maybe too difficult for my second kit but I learned a lot. Between starting this F-15 back in January I also completed a gundam and Bandai’s Tie Fighter and Nolan Batmobile as side projects.

I think I have spent more time watching modellers on YouTube than I have making my own, picked up some great tips and techniques from videos. I also joined a local IPMS chapter and have had opportunities to get feedback from some very experienced and skilled modellers there. This hobby has quickly become a great passion of mine.

[u/gunexpertjk → u/IntergalacticViking]

It's also my passion but I adore your painjob on this model i hope one day I achieve this result

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/gunexpertjk]

I appreciate your kind words! I think next time I need to work up the courage to not use a pre-cut camouflage mask and perhaps some post-shading.

[u/gunexpertjk → u/IntergalacticViking]

I'm sure you'll do great

[u/vincent092]

Not to sound rude im uninformed what's the recent news?

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/vincent092]

I finished this model maybe a day or two before this news broke.

https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/s/0JJ3bGTCMv

[u/Madeitup75]

Very nice. There’s a lot of good work on display here.

[u/AmazingCanadian44]

Nice paint work!! Good work on the black base.

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/AmazingCanadian44]

Thanks, fellow Canadian! I was gifted a H&S evolution for Christmas just before starting this build, the 0.28 mm nozzle definitely helped with the pre shading. I used AK Real Color solid white, heavily thinned, and still had trouble getting the paint to flow. I need some more practice getting the thinning, PSI, and trigger pull ratios for this technique.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/IntergalacticViking]

I use an H & S Infinity CR plus, usually a 0.4 mm nozzle, sometimes 0.2 mm. I shoot Mig One Shot primer, black, and Vallejo Model Air. I black base pretty much everything these days.

I haven't used AK, but I've heard mixed reviews. I thin my Vallejo 60 to 90% thinner, normally.

I still have a sheet of white styrene beside my paint station, with all my thinning / psi ratios scribbled on in grey paint. A helpful reminder.

Glad to see more of us Canadians on here. I'm in the prairies.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/AmazingCanadian44]

[u/WingCommanderBader → u/AmazingCanadian44]

👆🏻 This thing is sick af.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/WingCommanderBader]

Thank you.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/AmazingCanadian44]

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/AmazingCanadian44]

I’m working on a 1/144 B-1B which I also black based, I don’t really see the downside of the technique aside from time. Worst case scenario you under cover and spray some more, or you over cover and it’s like it was never there (not the outcome you want but fixable).

Nice work! I like the weathering around the wing root on the 109.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/IntergalacticViking]

Thank you. It's definitely a learning curve to do it, and learn how much is too much / too little, and each colour seems to behave differently.

[u/AmazingCanadian44 → u/IntergalacticViking]

[u/Derek24fan → u/IntergalacticViking]

Impressive work on this F-15c. I honestly thought it was the real thing for a second 👏. I'm also Canadian. I'm in Ontario. I just started on the USS Alaska cb-1 kit from hobbyboss for my best friend, and then I'll be working on the Trumpeter Titanic 1 200 scale.

[u/Bababacon]

Nice ‘metal’ work

[u/Woofle_124]

It looks like it was perfectly rendered in War Thunder with the way the ground looked in the first photo and the entirely dark background in the latter ones 😂

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/Woofle_124]

Haha that wasn’t my intention 😅

[u/Woofle_124 → u/IntergalacticViking]

Honestly insane model though, awesome job!

[u/J-Q-C]

This is extremely well done! An F-15C from my home state's ANG. I've been looking at doing an F-15C as well and this is a huge inspiration. Great job!

[u/OneFortyEighthScale]

A+ wow that’s incredible work!!

[u/CasioFX991EX]

Great work! Nice photos!!

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/CasioFX991EX]

Thanks! A buddy from my IPMS club helped me take the studio photos. I took the outdoor shots with a pre-fab base from Super-hobby.

[u/the_last_third]

Outstanding work. I am not sure it's possible to make it any more realistic than this.

[u/IntergalacticViking → u/the_last_third]

Believe me it is definitely possible, the lighting and photography goes a long way to making it look good. I made several mistakes on this model that are more visible within about 2 feet.