Revell's F-15C--major fit issue here, what would you do?

Horrible!

Get the top right, then approx. the bottom.

About all I can think of is to try this:

Man, that is a huge gap for a spreader bar inside the rear fuselage...Throw that kit away and build their Strike Eagle. You won't look back.

I'm game; Morrison's idea looks promising. You could also, possibly, get the "E" and splice the upper fuselage of the "C" to it....

You know, I'm not so in love with the 'C' model that I won't buy an 'E'. I read some reviews on that Strike Eagle and it's looking good. I can get it at Hobby Lobby with a coupon, too.  ;) I'll wait to see if Revell is going to help me out, first.

Chris

Although you may have to put it into "File 13" eventually, it's still worth a shot to see what you can do with it.

You guys may remember Eddie Miller. He built amazing hybrids from parts. Do a search in aircraft for Hogzilla.

GMorrison

You guys may remember Eddie Miller. He built amazing hybrids from parts. Do a search in aircraft for Hogzilla.

Is he still an active user?

Not for years

You know, it doesn't matter what kit it is... someone on FSM has built or asked about it. 

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/37796.aspx

You Know ;

   Dirk - I can't remember having that problem with the Strike Eagle . Although There is another method I have used on their large F-4 model . I make a plug just small enough to fit inside the back part , with about a half of an inch of it sticking out .Then when I bring the parts together there is an area I can clamp on to close it up !

Make it a dio sitting on the Tarmac or on a runway or something with the aircraft secured down to the surface.  You'll never be able to see the underside and you can just ignore it and not go through all the pain.

Groot

I think RobGroot wins it. I think I'll slap it in a sand dune diorama and call it a Gulf War casualty or maybe a sci-fi post-apocalyptic type scene.

Thank you guys again for all your help.

Chris

Oh , Good heavens ;

   Don't do that . Display the airplane in pieces like it's a research and testing bird . All sorts of identifiable F-15 all over the place !

I cannot imagine that such a GLARING fit issue, could have gotten by the final production authorization inspections, then the molds being used for kit deliveries to customers. So I have to think it's some sort of warp problem, usually due to molded parts not allowed to cool sufficiently before boxing, or placed on other parts too quickly right out of the mold.

Some moderate heating, (hot water, hair dryer or under a light,) with repeated attempts in stages, may well reveal a salvageable part without surgery. I've had great luck with some reshaping that way, often it just might take a bit of "coaxing."  The problem for me has sometimes been to be able to determine which part has the warp, it's not always instantly recognizable, at the start all you know is "something just ain't right."

I also second G Morrison's example, that should do it.

Maybe R/M will send you replacements??? I hope to read that you saved it and will show us, you're a heck of a builder and I always enjoy seeing what you're up to. If you bin it, you'll always hate yourself. Best.

Patrick  

Maybe so. I'll take another look. I got hold of someone on Revell's Facebook page who said they'd email me very shortly. That was Thursday. I guess their 'very shortly' and my 'very shortly' are two different things. If I hear from them we'll see what they say and go from there. I have a TBM Avenger to finish up too, so not sitting around to wait.  

Thanks all, for the help so far,

Chris

Thinking more on this, I think Patrick may be onto something.  Maybe the boiling water trick?  heat couldn't make the bottom any worse, and if it does, you can always glue it to a runway with a bomb-loading trolley underneath to help hide the seam.

Groot

A little late to the party, but when I built this kit a ways back, I put spreaders in three areas to get the fuselage pieces to line up better:

I also added a small nut in the radome for weight.