Wolfpack 1/48 F-15A MSIP Eagle Update Set First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | January 2008 | Manufacturer | Wolfpack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-15A MSIP Eagle Update Set | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 48010 | Primary Media | Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Excellent enhancement for the Revell kit | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate/Advanced | MSRP (USD) | $27.99 |
First Look
The F-15 Eagle first entered service in the early 1970s and remained in production through the better part of the 1980s. Production continued with the F-15E Strike Eagle, but that is another story. Eagles produced during and after 1984 received a series of capability improvements in avionics and weapons. The Air Force retrofitted most of these capabilities to older Eagles through the Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP).
While there have been many F-15A/B/C/D kits produced in 1/48 scale, few have captured the updated covered in the MSIP. Wolfpack has stepped up with this resin detail set to bring the Academy or Hasegawa kits up to date.
In the cockpit, the MSIP Eagles received a new instrument panel configuration which is replicated with a new resin panel in this release.
As the AIM-120 AMRAAM came into service, the Eagles received a new dual capability launch rail that retained the capability to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder, but added the capability for the AIM-120 as well. This set provides the new launch rails and the inboard pylon adapters.
Of coure, no good avionics update is complete without a bunch of new antennas. This set provides those antennas as well as a good set of illustrations where these new antennas are fitted.
The set is rounded out with a new arresting hook and a pair of inboard fuel tanks which feature the same swing-away aft pivot of the centerline tank.
If you're wanting to build a contemporary air superiority Eagle, this set will bring the Academy or Hasegawa kits closer to contemporary standards.
My sincere thanks to Lucky Model for this review sample.