Hobby Master F-15E Strike Eagle Review

[tmanthegreat]

My local HobbyTown USA store just got in a couple of these... I picked one up, despite the high price. Overall, it's a great model and HM didn't disappoint. There are excellent photos on the Flying Mule site, so I won't post any here. The model has a Good mixture of diecast and plastic, crisp detailing, and lots of accessories! There actually was a lot to assemble with over a dozen pieces representing hard points, drop tanks, electronics pods, and ordinance. Took a while to get it all together and some directions would have been nice! Has optional pieces for the air break and canopy in the open positions. Highly detailed cockpit. No moving control surfaces like rudders and elevators, which is ok by me. It really could have cost $30 less given it's size - we've gotten larger equally-as-detailed HM models like the F-111 and A-26 for much less than the F-15. But still, I think it's a great model... Certainly better and more accurate than either the Witty Wings or FOV versions. Worth the purchase if you can get a discount or have the cash

[aferguson]

agreed it's a nice bird...the ra'am is even nicer i think, except for the ordnance loadout of a couple of Popeye missiles which i find rather bland.

i'm interested to see the prices of the upcoming Vigilante and Hawkeye. Will they also be about $100 or significantly higher? Hobby Master is pretty much the only game in town now. Witty is gone, CW is gone, Gemini Jets is pretty much gone, Corgi is on the verge of bankruptcy......HM is doing well though.

[dragon53]

AFETRGUSON:

The Vigilante is going for $99.99 at two dealers I've seen. I already preordered mine.
With HM releasing the Vigilante and Hawkeye, I hope the EA-6B Prowler is next.

[USCGMK2]

I wanted this one till i saw the price, even with a 10% disc it's still kinda high. I'm sure the Hawkeye will be over $100. I'm looking forward to the Hurricane though.

[cnq]

How does this F15E from HM compare to the one from GeminiJets which is much cheaper ?
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/GJ-GAUSA7003

[aferguson]

from reviews i've read the gemini/witty Strike Eagle isn't very good. It's a D model not an E...it's just painted like an E. Canopy shape is wrong, and a few other problems i can't remember. I did alot of looking around and all the other Strike Eagles had major problems (dragon, fov, witty/gemini) and so i reluctantly decided on the HM. The HM isn't perfect either....the canopy is slightly off and the conformal tanks aren't quite right and the external fuel tanks look a bit strange, but it's by far the best of the bunch, outside of building a model kit.

In contrast the Witty/Gemin F-15a/c is quite good. I have the Israeli Witty F-15 and it's nice. Canopy/spine area is a bit off but nothing you'd notice without comparing to photos. Witty seemed to have problems with canopies,
for some reason. Their Super Hornets are excellent though. To bad they're out of business now....they were improving and listening to feedback from customers.

[tmanthegreat]

Have to agree that the HM F-15E is the best of those made by other manufacturers... I was days away from caving in and getting the FOV version and I'm very glad I didn't! I do have a Witty F-15C, which I like. Hobby Master is supposed to be making the earlier-model F-15s as well. Would be great if they did one in my hometown's California Air National Guard livery.