95th
Fighter Squadron
This
is the 1/48th Academy F-15C Eagle built in the markings of the 95th Fighter
Squadron, which is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB on Florida’s
panhandle. They are tasked with training F-15 pilots. The mascot of the squadron
is “Mr. Bones”, an infamous skeleton.
I
decided to do this model after making some briefing sticks for the unit, and not
recalling ever seeing a 95th FS flagship F-15 built. The only modifications I
made were to change the blade antennae under the forward fuselage to a swept
style one, and make the bullet style fairing on the right, rear boom (by the
tail and exhaust) from a 72nd scale Maverick missile. I added a few training
missiles and a single fuel tank on the centerline.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
markings were the most challenging part of the build. Seeing no decals existed
of the tailband, I made it with blue Microscale decal and Microscale letters
(typically used by railroad modelers.) It went fairly easily, but I forgot to
seal the letters after they dried, and when I went to apply the tailband after
soaking, all of the letters started scrambling around. It was quite the
challenge to get all of the letters lined up again while on the tail, and I
didn’t get it perfect.
I
used the “TY” code, badge at the top of the tail and wing badge on the right
intake from the Superscale F-15 sheet for the 1st FS, and spare decals for the
“95FS” and serial number. I needed the 95th FS badge for the left intake,
and a fellow ARC member, “Hitch”, helped me track down the older Aeromaster
F-15 sheet with this badge. This project could not have been completed without
his help – thanks a ton Hitch!
I
made a 2-foot display base using a cut stair step from Home Depot and curved
acrylic rods. I made a large 8x10 inch graphic of the squadron badge, and a
smaller dedication plaque. Both were inserted into plastic frames and glued to
the base. I then added an Air Education and Training Command and a 325th
Fighter Wing patches. You
can see an article I did for ARC on doing display bases here.
I sent
the completed model and base to the 95th FS as a gift for them to display.
Thanks
for looking,
Ken Middleton
Click on
images below to see larger images
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