Short History

While we are all familiar with the Su-27 family of aircraft this beast is in a league all in its own. Sukhoi’s Su-35 Super Flanker (NATO designation "Flanker E") took the world market by storm when it proved able to challenge and defeat any aircraft in the East (and West) except for absolute top-of-the-line fighters such as the EF2000 and F-22. The direct derivative of the Super Flanker, aptly designated the Sukhoi Su-37 Terminator, was only intended as a technology demonstrator but is one of the most maneuverable aircraft ever built.

Over the years there have been quite a few F-15E Strike Eagle kits released by several different kit manufacturers in 1/72 scale. However most of these kits were adaptations of the manufacturer’s F-15B or D kits with some extra parts to address some of the differences between the B/D and the E airframes. Academy’s recent release is a not an adaptation of another two-seat F-15 kit, but instead was designed from the outset to be a Strike Eagle.

This set is designed to fit Revell’s series of 1/72 Me 262 kits. The kit was originally released back in 1997 and has been re-released periodically since then. I installed the set on the Me 262 A-1a/U3 photo reconnaissance variant of the kit.

The set consists of 6 parts, a nose gear strut with retraction strut, two main gear legs, two main gear retraction struts and a metal nose gear bay. The castings are nicely done, however, as the kit parts are showing their age – mold seams, etc. – these defects are repeated on the cast parts and you will need to take some time scraping off the mold seams. I used a brass wire wheel in my battery operated Dremel tool at slow speed to polish up the struts and finish removing the mold seams.