1:72 F-15E

Photo-Etched Set for the F-15E in 1:72 Scale

In 1:72 scale injection-molded plastic runs into its limit: a part as thin as sheet metal could not be produced in a mold, and so it is thickened. Photo-etch gets around that problem, because it is made from metal sheet and has the thickness the real subject should have once scaled down. The set brings photo-etched metal parts as a replacement for the corresponding plastic features of a kit. The extent of the set, that is which assemblies of the model it covers, is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

The real subject

The F-15E Strike Eagle is the two-seat strike version of the American twin-engine F-15 fighter. Even a layman can tell it from the older fighter versions: it has a tandem cockpit for the pilot and the weapon systems officer, and conformal fuel tanks with pylons along the sides of the fuselage, thanks to which it can carry a large supply of fuel and weapons without taking up the underwing stations. It is precisely these features that make the F-15E a favorite subject.

How to work with photo-etch

• cut the parts out of the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface, do not tear them away
• level the remains of the cut with a fine file, so that the edge stays straight
• make the bends in a bending tool or over a straight blade, following the score lines on the part
• glue with cyanoacrylate applied in drops, not over the whole area
• degrease the metal before painting and use a primer, otherwise the finish will rub off

Terms of supply

The photo-etched set alone is supplied. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.