Need to delve into the experience of the assembled masses here. In your opinion, which is the better F-15C model?
Hasegawa makes probably the best, but it’s also the most expensive. What about the middle range versions from Academy or Tamiya? Anyone put one of these together?
Revell’s F-15C is the cheapest, and we all know Revell can be hit or miss. What’s the story with Revell’s version?
Would appreciate any and all comments and opinions.
P.S. I’ve looked through most of the reviews at Hyperscale, Cybermodeler, etc. Just looking for the end user opinion.
Revell’s F-15E is the best in 1/48th. I know dragonfly built one, and i think Montana Cowboy built one as well. From what I remember, they had a blast building the kit, and they both looked fantastic. I’ve seen dragonfly’s personally. If the C is anything like the E, you should go for Revell!
I have built the F-15E from Revell also and it was a very nice kit and a joy to build. Detail inside and out was pretty good and showes well withouth aftermarket items. I have not built the other manufactors offerings but have expierence in their quality and the Revell compares nicely. The final deal breaker is the price, the Revell is worth the buck.
Ok, I may be completely off-base here, but If I recall correctly, I believe Revell’s F-15C is a rebox of the old (mid?) 1980’s vintage Monogram kit.
Typical of the Monogram kits of that period, it had raised panel lines, and a radome which could be built in the open position to display the planar radar scanner. Also typical Monogram is the “minimum number of parts required to produce the finished item” approach.
Phil_H is correct, the current Revell -C Eagle is the Monogram tooling, with a new sprue tree containing the updated engine exhaust nozzles which is the most immediately noticable external difference between the -A and -C versions.
It has a parts count of 89 pieces, and does have a position option for open or closed nose, showing the radar dish when open. While the example I have has a little flash, it’s not excessive, and all detail is as crisp as the very first Monogram release I built several years ago.
In my humble opinion, for the price you cant beat it. To put the icing on the cake, several folks here have told me that Verlinden’s photoetch and resin detail set, while aimed at the Hasegawa kit, will work fine on the Revell kit with a little extra work. I fully intend to use the Verlinden set when I build it.
If there were anything else I would add, it would be the stencil decal sheet from modelingmadness.com. The current decal sheet in the Revell kit has about half the stenciling of the original Monogram -A kit, which was nothing less than extraordinary for a kit supplied decal sheet… I wish it still did have them.
I’m sure you wont be dissapointed with the Revell kit, even straight out of the box.[:)]
The main differences between the C and the E are CFP’s (conformal fuel packs) Both can carry them but they are standard on the E and not normally carried on the C.
The Revell 1/48 F-15C is likely the best of the 1/48 scale F-15’s and with some patience and work, it can be turned into one outstanding model. Now, Revell also had a 1/32 scale F-15C at one time as well as a 1/32 F-15E. I built both back in the late 80’s.
I am currently working on 5 revell c’s and they are typical revell quality. poor fit, seams in the wrong places. I have rescribed 4 so far and I am currently putting the first 3 together and boy does it take a lot of putty. It will definately take a lot of work. I think it has the “A” wheels also.
Thanks willuride, kustommodeler1 and phil_h for your assessments of the Revell F-15C. It appears that it is quite good for the value but is typical Revell fit, or atypical depending on which side of the Revell fence you sit on.
Has anyone built the Academy or Tamiya versions? Fit, detail, etc?
I have built the Tamiya F-15C. I personally think the kit built up pretty good. There is a question about the shape of the canopy. I’m sure it is wrong when compared to the Revell E model which is a very fine kit. If you can overlook the canopy problem, it’s worth building.
I would disagree some about the Revell kit when placed next to the Tamiya and the Hasegawa kits. Having built the Tamiya kit twice, and the Hasegawa and the Revell kits once each; my preference is the Tamiya kit. My personal opinion [2c] the Tamiya kit is one of their best 1/48 scale kits that I have built. The Hasegawa kit’s main problem (at least with the one I built) was that the typical soft plastic that Hasegawa is known for, my F-15C was the softest that I have run into. The Revell kit has all of the 80’s Monogram issues; though not as bad as their F-14. The Revell kit can be made into a decent aircraft, but you will need to stock up on patience, putty, sanding sticks, and some more patience.
Remembering that the F-15C is a single seater and the F-15E is a two-seater, I wouldn’t use the shape of the canopy as a point of comparison between the two. The “C” Canopy is shallower and the "E’ is, by necessity, deeper to accommodate the second cockpit.
I can say the Academy offereing is very high quality even in the cockpit. It builds into either the C or D F-15 and comes wiht turkey feathers or the updated nozzles. Its got plenty of ordanance too. Just a thought if you arent up to shelling out the extra cash for the Tamiya kit. Tamiya probably doesnt have any missiles either. The only issue wiht the Acedemy kit other than minor seams that need to be filled is the decals. Those are typical Academy quality and either need lots of solvent or just to be replaced.