Shelf Oddity 1/144 F-15 Photoetch Detail Set
By Matt Bittner
The newest aftermarket producer for 1/144 is Shelf Oddity and they're not sitting still. After releasing their 1/144 Ordance they've released three photoetch sets and this one is for the Revell 1/144 F-15E (although the set could also be used with other 1/144 F-15 kits, such as the one from LS). There are a lot of parts on the photoetch fret so care, patience, a strong magnifying glass and possibly a strong vocabulary are a necessity.
While the majority of the set is for external details there are a few pieces to be used inside the cockpit. This includes three different instrument panels (two for the later variants like the 'E', but there is also an instrument panel to be used on earlier, '70s-vintage Eagles) as well as seat belts for the kit's ejection seats. Also includes is a replacement/add-on HUD along with a piece for the canopy that provides the rear-view mirrors.
For the outside Shelf Oddity provides numerous "hatches" and the like; plenty of antenna; Sidewinder rails; Sparrow missile braces; bomb racks that are used on the conformal fuel tanks. All of the replacement landing gear doors are multiple-piece assemblies but even so will look really nice when built and added. Shelf Oddity includes the oleo scissors for the landing gear and front diagonal piece for the front landing gear which includes the missing landing light. There are detail pieces for the wheel hubs on the outter side if you're building the earlier F-15A/B. For the inner side of the wheels pieces are included that replicate the brakes.
Finally Shelf Oddity provides quite the number of pieces to create any type of F-15 exhaust. It will take some time to bend and build them, but you can create either turkey-feather equipped exhausts or feather-less ones.
Shelf Oddity does include the following statement: "Spare parts are provided whenever possible - both you and your carpet can be happy at the same time." Totally awesome.
Huge thanks to Shelf Oddity for providing this set for review. Now, do I use it on the intended target, the Revell F-15E, or the single LS F-15A kit I have laying around. Hmmm...