Revell F-15E Strike Eagle

History

Who doesn’t know about the F-15, or it’s E version?  It replaced the F-111 in low-level all weather strike role. The Strike Eagle is one of the most powerful weapons platform, it can sport up to 11 tons of hardware, is LANTIRN capable and can carry most of the weapons in USAF inventory, including the newest,  such as AMRAAMs. Also F-15's can carry CFTs (which were to be FASTs, but now only fuel tanks) with tangential attachments for various stores.

What’s in the box?

As usual, 10 sprues, one of them clear. All packed in bags, clear separately - at least mine was. How many parts? 212!! That’s a lot of parts for 1/72 scale. 5 parts are clear, 10 are not to be used (these are probably for D model, like older dashboards, older wheels, etc). All panel lines are finely engraved and look just perfect. I still say that there are some major flaws in the model, nothing unfixable, but still. 

Instructions

16 pages in A4 format, build-up is usual for Revell, first history in English and German, then colours labelled by letters (note, some colours are to be mixed up). Then 49 steps of building this thing, 2 pages of markings and decal positioning. The Decal sheet is quite a serious one, having an estimate of several hundred decals, most of them are smaller stencilling ones, like 'No Step' etc.

Ok, on to the model.

As usual, I take it step by step.

• Ejection seats, 2 of them, each made up from 4 parts, not very nicely done, I'd recommend getting better ones (ACES II as I remember). 
• Bath tub is nicely done and should be painted, no decals. Then 2 control sticks , 2 dashboards which could be painted or decaled, 2 back walls, one for pilot, one for “the guy in the back seat” or WSO.
• Front wheel well should be more detailed, but with main nose door closed there won’t be much to see anyway.
• Cockpit area is still quite a nice one.
• Fuselage is divided into 5 parts, nose having 2 sides (left-right), rear also 2 parts (upper-lower), 5th is part of upper fuselage from cockpit to air brake. No wings and tails attached. Also you have to add intakes later.
• Fuselage fits well, no major gaps.
• Engine faces and intake trunks are included, which are nicely done.
• Wings are made up of 2 halves. Lower going inside the upper, cannon muzzle has to be included. When fitting the wings, one should be careful to ensure the right angle, some gaps may occur. 
• Then there are the jet pipes, guess how many parts? 1, I’m kidding, actually there are 21 parts for each pipe, that is 5 plates which make up the pipe, then 3 rods for each plate (that makes 15 actuator rods for 1 pipe) and a ring where the plates are attached. Revell has taken it seriously this time, as the pipes take 42 parts, as much as some other model all together.
• Next step is putting the fuselage together, the main wings and tailplanes, plus tail pipes and fins.
• Here comes the major flaw in this model - CFTs. They’re exactly the right size and fit pretty well perfectly (one side took a little more force than other). But the flaw are the hardpoints attached to the CFTs. They’re prototype’s or D model’s. The E version has one continuous and 3 smaller ones attached to each CFT. If you want you can build them on your own, at least I did it so. Otherwise this model is a very good one.
• Nose gear is made up of 5 parts, 2 clear.  Doors are single piece, if you depict the landing gear down then there is a cutting line provided to separate doors.
• Main gear is also 4 parts for each leg. Doors are supplied in 2 pieces, one consisting 2 doors, but these are to be closed anyway in both versions.
• Conformal Fuel tanks are one of the best in 1/72 scale F-15, as there’s 2 parts for joining fuel tank and laser guided bomb hardpoints as in real plane. 
• Then there’s ordnance. I’d say WOW, I haven’t seen so many bombs in one kit, there’s 22 Mk 7 cluster dispenser (pick what you like, Mk 20 Rockeye, CBU-59 APAM or CBU-78 Gator). And that’s it. No AAMs. So there are 22 bombs, 6 racks (5 of which to be used) - each rack made for carrying 6 bombs. Then there are LANTIRN pods which are a bit toyish. I would recommend buying a guided weapons set to get LANTIRNS and any other guided weapon options. 
• Weapons options?
  • CAS with as many bombs as you like,
  • AA role, where bombs are replaced by AAMs, Sparrows, AMRAAMs or Sidewinders. E can carry 4 Sparrows and 4 Sidewinders or you could replace any or all of those with AMRAAMs as the E can carry those on both sides of wing hardpoints. Usual practise is AMRAAMs inboard and Sidewinders outboard leaving other hardpoints for AG weaponry.
  • Or your own customized version

• In the final steps you’d have to attach canopy and air brake, both could be depicted in open or closed positions. Canopy is a nice one for 1/72 but if one’s after perfection then consider getting aftermarket products.

What are the versions?

The versions are nice ones.

• Squadron Commander 391st. Fighter Squadron, 366th WG (USAF power-projection group with B-52s, B-1Bs, F-15Es and F-16Cs) Mountain Home (MO) AB. 
• Squadron Commander 90th. Fighter Squadron, 3rd WG Elmendorf (AK) AB on Alaska.

Both models are in same colour scheme, overall dust gray and gray noses.

Fitting and accuracy?

As usual, hard to tell until the model is built. Model’s length is 26,8 cm and span is 18 cm. Real one should be 27cm and 18,1 respectively. So this model is smaller scale, like 1/73 or so.

Recommended model?

Sure, if you don’t mind scratchbuilding. Except that mishap with CFT’s hardpoints this model is very good and is recommended to all modellers who want to add some serious hardware to their cabinets.