Fine Mold’s F-15J is a detail-rich canvas, particularly for 1/72. Tackling the intricate work early, when enthusiasm is high, always pays dividends for me. Conveniently, the parts breakdown of the kit enables work on the rest of the aircraft to proceed in parallel, when a break is needed.

1. 2.5mm holes drilled in existing cable run and electronic boxes; 0.2mm lead wire cut to length and secured with CA glue.
   
   
2. Aires resin seat base-coated with dark grey Mr. Surfacer 1500; seat cushion airbrushed with Flat Earth (XF-52), then glazed with AK3G acrylics to bring out texture; details brush painted with acrylics; subtle details dry brushed with medium grey.
   
   
3. Instrument panel airbrushed with Mr. Color 317 (FS36231), individual panels brush-painted with dark grey-black; details picked out with acrylics; IP decals cut individually or small clusters and applied; Greenstuff World UV resin applied to glass faces and screens.
   
   
4. Dark grey oils were used to define recesses in the cockpit and avionics bay, while Abteilung 502 Cream Brown was used on the cockpit upper surfaces. Together, the finished cockpit has a pleasing complexity for the scale, and rewards the effort spent defining the details
   
   
5. Reskit resin main wheels were sprayed Mr. Primer Surfacer 1200, followed by Mr. Surfacer 1500 White; a dark grey/brown oils wash defined details and Carbon Black ink defined the holes; acrylics were used to the cap and bolts, and brake discs on the back.
   
   
6. Electrical cables and cable runs were added with copper wire and 0.3mm brass micro- tubing, secured with VMS black CA, with excess cleaned with VMS CA remover; glass faces of landing lights masked with VMS liquid mask, and the housing sprayed Gunze Super Metallic Chrome Silver prior to applying primer.
   
   
7. Details were painted with acrylics following references and placards applied following references; Anyz chrome decals applied to the hydraulic cylinders; the landing gear was given a medium grey oil wash.

Prepping for base painting includes sanding the entire surface with Godhands 6000 and 8000 grit sanding sponges, then using poster putty to clean out the delicate panel lines, followed by degreasing the surface with IPA.

1. While Fine Molds advises against applying primer to preserve the fine surface detail, I found a very thin coat of Mr. Surfacer 1500 could be applied without obscuring the detail. Once applied it was again lightly buffed with 8000 grit.
   
   
2. Working in sections, start the layered ink mottling by lightly wetting the surface with Tamiya X-20A, applied with a flat brush.
   
   
3. Liquitex Titanium White was coarsely applied, staying within the prepared surface to keep the ink in suspension.
   
   
4. Using a deerfoot stippler, slightly moistened and brushed against a clean surface to remove loose fibres, the ink is lightly stippled as it dries until the desired tonal structure is achieved.

The finished effect is pleasingly organic, featuring a mix of hard and soft-edged tonality, while the inks being incredibly thin ensure surface details are preserved.

1. Profile views were scaled to size and printed on card stock. Using a new scalpel blade, the camouflage pattern was cut out and the pieces tacked to the surface with thin ropes of poster putty, lining up the pattern with the panel lines.
   
   
2. The patterns were pressed gently against the surface until a gap of roughy 1mm was left; the margin of the camouflage was sprayed with Light Ghost Grey (Mr. Color C308) thinned 80:20 with Mr. Levelling Thinner, applied to an opacity of approximately 60-70% coverage.
   
   
3. The masks were removed, and the the Dark Ghost Grey (Mr. Color C307) sprayed freehand to the same 60-70% opacity. With the first application of mottling and base colours on, the surface features a nice subtle mottling. If the final intended finish was that of a well-maintained aircraft, this would be an ideal point at which to move onto recalling and panel line washes.
   
   
4. While the inks and base colour have all been very tin applications, in preparation for the next round of mottling, the surfaces were lightly sanded with 8000 grit sanding sponges to control any surface texture build-up.
   
   
5. Following the same process, the surface was lightly moistened with X-20A, then a dark grey ink mix (50:50 Carbon Black and Titanium White) applied.
   
   
6. The ink was stippled until the desired effect is reached, then wiped away with a cotton swab lightly wetted with X-20A, moving in the direction of airflow, or gravity, as appropriate.
   
   
7. The elements of the hinomarus were cut using a Dspiae circle cutter. The positive mask element was applied to establish proper positioning, then the surrounding mask applied. The same procedure was used when masking the red as well.
   
   
8. Gloss white was applied first, followed by the Red Madder with a 5% of JASDF Dark Offshore Blue added to darken and desaturate the red slightly. The gloss finish was intentional as it would ensure the hinomaru wouldn’t be stained by later steps.
   
   
9. Decals were sourced predominantly from a Platz set, with others from the Platz F-15J stencil set.
   
   
10.  As the decals are quite thin, Microset and Microsol were used in their application; to speed the process and help them conform to surface details, a hairdryer was used frequently to soften and dry them.

Before/After
Here the dark grey ink wash had been stippled and wiped away; not only does the surface have much stronger contrast, the panel lines have already been defined without needing a panel wash; this will be followed by a light second application of the base colours to bring up their saturation

While most Japanese F-15s seem to benefit from superb care and clean airframes, my preference leans towards well-weathered aircraft, and the challenge of interpreting their application.

1. The distinctive touch-up paint was the first task. To keep track of where paint was to be applied, I marked up a profile view in advance.
   
   
2. Using an Iwata HP-B with a 0.2mm needle/nozzle, I airbrushed the touch-up paint freehand, following the marked-up profile and reference photos showing where additional areas had been painted.
   
   
3. The finished touch-up paint showing the contrast against the darker tone of the layered ink mottling and base colours.
   
   
4. Where touch-up paint has oversprayed the panel lines by the dark grey ink, thinned oil mixes (of Payne’s Grey, Shadow Brown, and Raw Umber) were used to restore them.
   
   
5. Many of the touch-up applications show a slightly darker “bloom” around them. This was achieved by moistening the surface with X-20A, then applying small amounts of dark grey ink around the repainted area, allowing it to dissipate into the surrounding surface, while ensuring the touch-up area remains clean.
   
   
6. Almost ll F-15Js feature a distinctive rosette pattern around the panel latches on the nose. Here, minute dots of dark brown/black oil were applied with a No.0 round brush, then blended lightly with a No.2 round brush, lightly wetted with odourless thinner.
   
   
7. The outboard ailerons feature heavy staining. Much of this effect was imparted during the dark grey layer, shaving the ink directionally rather than stippling.
   
   
8. The effect and build-up was further refined with dark grey oils, using the bulk of the deerfoot stippler hairs to streak, instead of stipple, in this case,

1. The aft metallic panels were sprayed Gunze Super Fine Silver, followed by a mist coatof GX113 Clear Flat, then a mist coats of Liquitex Carbon Black inks. Small areas of bright silver were created by using X-20A to lift the ink, revealing the Super Fine Silver beneath.
2. Panels with additional colour saturation were sprayed mist coats of Raw Umber and Burnt Umber inks.
3. The tonal variation seen in the metallic panels was created by again using thinner on around brush to lift the ink, and this time re-distribute it in mottled patterns. These areas were then sprayed again and the mottling process repeated 2-3 times.
4. Nozzles sprayed silver, then by NATO Black (XF-69, 90% opacity); Raw Umber ink for carbon fibre panels; varying blacks/dark grey acrylics for other details; highlight metal edges with graphite, add and paint rods; dark grey and black oils for detail wash and streaking on inside.