Small Scale Military Headquarters

I collect 1/72 aircraft and always try to find the best example of each aircraft in that scale to add to my collection. I presently have a Witty "Weapons School" F-15 but would like to add a F-15E Strike Eagle that, (A) Looks nice, and (B) comes with bombs.

I hv seen photos of Dragon's F-15E "Rocketeers" but sometimes it shows bombs in the photos and sometimes only Sparrow missiles. Haven't found a definitive image of the kit's contents, nor of the "ideal" F-15E.

All comments and knowledge appreciated.

GLCANON:

I have the Dragon 1/72 F-15E "Mad DucK". From what I've seen, all of Dragon's F-15Es come with the same payload---2 fuel tanks, 2 Sidewinders and 2 AMRAAMs. The photos you saw of Dragon F-15Es with other weapons are probably from the optional Dragon Weapons Sets---which are now very rare since they were discontinued a long time ago.

This photo is the Dragon F-15E with standard accessories:




This photo is the Dragon F-15E "Mad Duck" with optional pilots and laser-guided bombs.




This photo is a Dragon F-15E customized with Hasegawa accessories:

Brilliant, Dragon53. I may hv to outfit one myself if there's no diecast that comes with the GBUs. Either that, or purchase a 1/72 resin kit with all the ordnance and built & paint the weps myself.

Anyone out there know of any Witty or Dragon F-15 that come with GBU bombs?

Or, what is your favorite diecast F-15 in 1/72 ?

Thanks in advance

GLCANON:

As far as I know, Witty doesn't make any F-15E Strike Eagles---only the F-15 Eagle one-seater with Sidewinders, etc.

As I said earlier, none of the Dragon F-15Es come with GBUs standard---the GBUs were available only in optional Dragon Weapon Sets.

I'd seen this Dragon F-15E one posted on Ebay in May and it included GBUs: DRW 50149

Look at the front of the box, it even reads, "Extra weapons."

http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/3deb986 ... 0291d5c512

<a href="http://s449.photobucket.com/albums/qq21 ... onF15e.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq21 ... onF15e.jpg" border="0" alt="Dragon F-15E"></a>

Does anyone else here have 50149?

GLCANON:

I stand corrected. That's a real find there. I have the F-15E "Mad Duck", also from the 4th TFW like the F-15E in your photo, as part of my North Carolina collection. If I had known there was a Dragon F-15E with bombs included, I would have bought that one.
On another message board, there have been several discussions about the Dragon F-15E being a big disappointment because it's a fighter-bomber---without bombs. Also, there have been discussions of the optional Dragon Weapons Sets being rare and highly-sought after for arming the Dragon F-15Es.
Ironically, if you had the F-15E in the ebay photo and wanted it to be accurate, you would still have to buy another Weapons Set to get the second pilot figure.

Well that's the trick, I guess. Do the research. I can't afford an unlimited collection like Chairmanmilo, so I try to research the examples of each model and get the "best" one.

Or I sit back and wait until they come out with one I will like. There's a 1/72 Skyraider coming out shortly, but I can't say I care for the paint scheme. Same for the VAL dive bomber. But if they've invested in those castings, you can be sure there will be more paint schemes coming.

Must be patient. Just picked up a Corgi B-24D Strawberry Bitch after waiting and looking for one for a long while. If it weren't for the shipping cost, it wasn't much more than Flying Mule and the others are selling their B-24s now presently.

Right now I only have one F-15 in my collection, a Witty. But I found this particular Dragon F-15E w/ordnance online this evening - I look fwd to its arrival. I also found 2 x Dragon F/A-18s in the Jolly Rogers scheme, and they also come with GBUs. The Witty F/A-18s in the Jolly Rogers scheme don't come with ordnance - so Witty loses.

Had to wait a long time for a Corgi Presidential Sea King to come available, but picked up for less than the present Corgi Sea Kings are selling for online.

Good things come to those who wait.

ps. Perhaps I could put Hobby Master pilots in my Dragon F-15... they are the same scale.

GLCANON:

I pre-ordered the Hobby Master A-1 Skyraider the other day, mainly because it's a Mig killer. There will be a lot more repaints of the A-1 to follow.
I lucked out and got a Corgi 1/72 B-24 "The Dragon and His Tail" on ebay for about $40.
As for your F-15E, you're lucky. I would have much preferred an F-15E with GBU bombs than the missile-only version I have. I bought the Hobby Master pilot set to get 2 pilots for my F-15E. Some collectors have amputated the front pilot's legs to get him in the F-15E cockpit, but I got my pilot in without amputation---but it took a lot of squeezing using tweezers.