The 1/48 Strike Eagle by Italeri has returned, accompanied by new markings and armament. Stu Fone offers a full review, plus advice on more authentic weapons loads.
While the F-15E has been in operational service for 35 years, Italeri’s kit is a comparative youngster, first airing as a single-seat F-15C in 2002. Its initial Strike Eagle boxing (issued in 2003) provided extra parts on a single runner (F), with bombs (supposedly Mk.84s) added to the original weapons frame (D). This time, the Mk.84s are gone, being replaced by duplicate Runner Ks from Italeri’s recent 1/48 F-35B (although listed in the instructions as Runner G) and joined by an all-new decal sheet with markings for six aircraft deployed to either Jordan or the United Arab Emirates while on the anti-ISIS/ISIL Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). In total, there are eight styrene runners, including one frame for the F-15E’s larger canopy, plus nosewheel light and head-up display combiner glass. The product code is 2803.
