Just got back from the Old Dominion IPMS show here in Richmond…went looking for that 1/48 Stuka that Pix built (no luck…[banghead]) but I did pick up a 1/48 scale Hasegawa F-15 with the ASAT missile…this is the first time I ever saw this model.
I was wondering if any of the folks here in the forum have built this model, and would comment on it. It seems like a nice kit…but I wondered about the paint scheme and accuracy…
thanks!!
BTW…some amazing models displayed there…really inspirational to see! [bow][bow]
The ASAT F-15 was released twice. The first time with the turkey feathers molded on and the second time with the option to leave the turkey feathers off. The kit was nothing more than their F-15A released with the ASAT missile included in the kit.
The ASAT missile was only a test and never became operational. You had to be airborn and in the exact position to intercept an ICBM. Trying to scramble from the ground to intercept would not work. From what I have read the missile had a very poor POK rate.
As far as a satelite killer, it proved to be more successful. Though the POK was still lower than expected. More of our tax dollars going to empty space.
Thanks all for the information on the background of the model…
It actually comes with F-15C instructions, and photoetch in stainless steel for the turkey feathers. I picked it up because the ASAT seemd unusual…I believe it comes with some normal weapons loadouts, so I guess I could build it as an “A” (or “C”?) variant.
The markings in that kit are for the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron “Green Dragons”
The unit closed down in 1989, had F-15A’s and a few (2) B’s and never carried the ASAT. Really great tail flash though. The model builds up as good as any Hasegawa F-15 with the usual inacuracies. Looks good when finished though. The metal castings in the kit includes a 40 power rifle gunsight we mounted to the HUD. Air Defense Command required visual confirmation of targets and our pilots needed every edge they could get. A nice touch from Hasegawa.
Can’t help you out with tips for building the kit; I’ve had a few Hasegawa Eagles (including the first release with the ASM-135) but never did build any.
As to the actual ASAT birds, there were at least two aircraft involved in the testing; 76-0086 and 77-0084, both F-15A’s. I dunno if they were the only aircraft to be used, however. I believe both were aircraft of the 6512th Test Squadron from the AFFTC (Air Force Flight Test Center) at Edwards AFB.
Only one actual satellite was ever targeted during the test program, being successfully destroyed.
Here’s a couple links with more info, some of which is, unfortunately, contradictory. There’s several photos to be found on these sites, although some of the more tantalizing shots (especially those of the port side of both aircraft) are rather small. [:(!]
The 48th FIS at Langley AFB in Virginia and the 318th FIS at McChord AFB in Washington each had several airframes which were wired for the ASM-135. None of these aircraft ever carried, much less fired, an ASM-135. (Despite what Tom Clancy says! [;)] )
I built that kit many years ago for our local club contest. The theme was “Tom Clancy” (which pretty much opened it up for ANYthing military.
I built the ASAT F-15 from Red Storm Rising, making my first-ever homemade decals for Amy “Buns” Nakamura’s plane.
Building this oob will get you a very good kit. The things wrong with the kit affect most F-15 models. The speed/air brake on a real F-15 doesn’t have a well on top the fuselage and the fairing at the end of the kit speed brake is for the C model. Bay 5 (behind the cockpit) is wrong, the Aces II seat should be repaced by an after market one but using the included PE set and some spare plastic you can make the kit seats look pretty good. The metal struts and wheels are for a ‘C’ but use them anyway because the A model wheels where eventually phased out and the beefer struts now one can tell in that scale anyway. Keeping the MLG main doors closed will cover up the bad wheel wells. Be careful when attaching the forward fuselage, it’s tricky to get a seemless attachment. A really good reference for the ‘A’ is the Monogram 1/48 kit. It has raised panel lines but they are correct as well as the wheels and the speed brake.
None of these details will make or brake the kit so fixing them isn’t that important. Good Luck!
F-15-Built to fight where others fear to fly.
Here’s a pic of the missile that I took at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Maybe it’ll help you when it comes time to paint it (Click to make it larger):
.
.
Here’s a link to the full-sized pic if the enlargement feature doesn’t work:
. http://www.users.fast.net/~jxa127/graphics/UHC_18.jpg
.
I’ve been fascinated by the thing since I read about it in Red Storm Rising. [:D]
You could do like I do with unused weapons, display them with the A/C. Some I made dollies for and some I mounted on a pain and base. Looks pretty good when I get it right. I once did a F-4D and decided to show it like it was at an airshow. It took awhile to gather up all of the weapons but it was worth it in the end. I even made one of those info placards for it.
BTW, whats a good way to make a missile look like its being fired. I’ve tried cotton with pastel powder coloring but I didn’t like the results.
Lufberry-
thanks for that shot! The model’s instructions show a red nose, but their striping is yellow…
something I never realized it until I read Wolf’s links, but there is no explosive payload- this thing kills with kinetic energy (the “INERT” should have been a clue [:)] ) I loved the Red Storm Rising scenario with “Buns” killing the russian bird- still one of Clancy’s (and Bond’s) best books IMHO…
roadkill-you mean all spread out in front of the aircraft? I like that idea…
As far as a missile fired- all I’ve got as a reference for that is what Shep Paine did with a missile being fired from a submerged sub…and I think it’s what you suggested…cotton streched and some color added…
thanks for all that have responded…I’m looking forward to building this kit…but the Panther V Night Fighter and Spitfire need to be finished first…
regards,
Sam
Yeah. RSR is a great novel. I’ve not been able to get into Clancy’s later stuff. I like Larry Bond’s books too, so in some ways RSR is the ultimate Cold War novel.
I think most of the missiles at the UHC had “Inert” printed on them, so I’m not sure if the operational missiles would have had that printed on them. I think not.
I think I’ve got some shots of the operational (test) missiles in a book, and I can check those. The striping may have been different missile to missile.
