Subject: Re: F-15J 304th Sq Submission
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:37:02 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: [email-masked] 
  To: Aircraft Resource Center 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 1:26 AM
  Subject: F-15J 304th Sq Submission

  "1/72 Scale Hasegawa F-15J 304th Sq 30th Anniversary" 

  by "Burt Gustafson"
  --------------------

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  For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of my 1/72 scale F-15J. The Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather interceptor fighter based on the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle, in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). The F-15J was produced under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and is identical to the F-15C except for some avionics changes. The JASDF acquired 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs. Note that Japan is the largest customer of the F-15 Eagle outside the United States. 

  Armament for the F-15J includes a variety of air-to-air weapons i.e.: four AIM-9J/L Sidewinders and four AIM-7E/F Sparrows. Like the F-15C, the F-15J sports a 20 mm M61A1 six-barrel gun with 940 rounds of ammunition. Three air-to-surface weapon stations allow the F-15J to carry up to 10,705 kg (23,600 lb) of bombs, rockets, or additional ECM equipment.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Construction
  This was an out of the box build and was part of a Hasegawa F-15J 30th/50th Anniversary special (two F-15J kits in one box). The model here depicts an F-15J of 304th SQ, 8th AW, JSADF, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 304th Squadron.

  Construction began with the cockpit that included the ejection seat and the cockpit floor assembly, all of which went together nicely. For the instrument panels you could sand off the raised detail and use the kit provided decals, or you could carefully paint the raised detail. I chose to paint the raised detail.

  Overall, the parts fit of the kit was pretty decent, allowing the kit to go together without a lot of difficulty. There was some seam filling and sanding, but not a lot. Building the two engine nozzles (Turkey Feathers) was a bit tricky, and the windshield and canopy posed some minor fit problems.

  Painting
  All paints used for this model were Model Masters and Floquil enamel paints. To begin, I airbrushed the entire model and the centerline fuel tank with MM Light Ghost Gray. The camouflage patterns were airbrushed with MM Dark Ghost Gray. To get a contrast between the Light and Dark Ghost Grays I added a couple of drops of Floquil Grimy Black to the Dark Ghost Gray. This provided a nice contrast between the Ghost Grays.

  The engine compartment was airbrushed with Floquil Bright Silver, and the exhaust nozzles were painted MM Burnt Metal. Landing gears, wheel wells, and the inside of the wheel well doors were painted with Floquil Reefer White. Once the paint dried and cured, I applied two coats of Future to the model in preparation for decals.

          
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  Decals
  This F-15J kit is a decal intense kit, but the decals were flawless. They are well printed, easily placed on the model, and snuggled down nicely to the model. Once the decaling was complete, I wiped down the model with a damp cloth and applied a light coat of Future to the model. To finish off the model, I airbrushed it with a coat of MM Gloss Lacquer Finnish.

  Comments
  This kit was a pleasure to build. The parts fit was good, cockpit and external detail is quite good, and the decals were super. The overall quality of this kit is excellent, typical of a Hasegawa kit. I was pleased with the finished model.

  Note the Hasegawa F-15J 30th/50th Anniversary Special kit contained two F-15J model kits. Photos 18,19, and 20 show the two finished models. Enjoy the photos.

  "Burt Gustafson"

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  Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.

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  Photos and text © by "Burt Gustafson"