F-15A Canopy Frame Color Question

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Can someone post a picture showing the canopy frame color of an F15A from the 318th FIS, 25 AD (Green Dragons) particularly AF 76 008 that appears to have a partial dark red or red brown frame color?

2

When the F-15 first came out, the canopy frames looked like they had a red anodized finish. Perhaps it started out as a nice red, but weathered to a darker color. Sorry I don’t have any photos.

3

The only close-up pic I could find is this photo of the paint-stripped “Streak Eagle”. The subsequent repaint seems to have the canopy bows in grey or a medium metallic colour.

https://static.thisdayinaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/tdia//2013/01/F-15-Streak-Eagle-pilots-from-left-Majors-W.R.-MacFarlane-Roger-Smith-and-Dave-Peterson.jpg

4

Thanks G and Phil. I appreciate your help.

5

I took this photo at the Edwards AFB Open House, I think in Oct 83. The color was a darker reddish brown, perhaps close to FS30117. Compare it to the pilots bright red helmet or the Insignia Red on the national insignia.

6

I found this photo of 008 with that unit… also found one of her at Bitburg before then…

7

8

Great pictures stick, thanks a bunch!!

Would you know why that color was used? G suspects early ones has this red/brown color. It wraps around on the bottom of the frames but still has a grey lip. Very interesting.

9

Oh the early Eagles definitely used a Red Brown color, but as to the exact shade, I wish I could say. I remember we had a few Eagle ground crew types on here at one time, perhaps one of them will see this thread and chime in with the answer.

10

I always found Tamiya Hull Red a decent representation. If memory serves, I painted the grey first so there was a lighter color under it. Been a while and it may have been just the closest color that I had on hand but it seems to look the part in 48 scale anyhow.

11

Here’s a photo of the prototype Eagle roll out in 1972 (47 years old now, and still in front line service!)

12

Wow that is incredible how long the Eagle has been serving. Great picture!

13

Thanks for the tip!

14

You sir are a wealth of information! Thanks again for your input.

15

Hey Ernie. Bobby (Eagle90) was an Eagle fixer he might know the answer

16

Thanks TJ. I personally know Bobby so I’ll give him a holler. Thanks.

17

Hopefully Eagle 90 was around before the changeover to gray framing…