Thoughts on an RAF F-15

From what I recall, the aircraft would have been a twin-stick with probably a missionized rear cockpit which I assume means F-15E equivalent (again you could go with the twin-TAB format and the center circular radar screen from Tornado), anything would be an improvement over the standard tub rear seat which is practically bare. Same deal on ejection seats: MB-whatever. I would also modify the front panel with a moving map though this might be more on the order of the Jag.3 update with a single, large, centermounted COMED/MFD and the older radar/RWR screens retained. This would give you datalink and TV video as well. The HUD should be replaced with a wideangle, small-frame, (modern) version.

Though I've heard of the concept, I've never seen an RAF demonstrator, even as a model. The 'World Tour' 290 bird which wore French AdA marks when over there in like 1976 was still flying in the overall Air Superiority Blue gloss/flat scheme, a similar 'PRU' color might contrast out okay with the RAF standard marks, either full tone or pastel in a high level Atlantic Defender role.

I still don't really like the idea of the standard F.3 ADV scheme for this, if only because the Eagle airframe has a no hard wing/fuselage and top/bottom segmentation like the VG Tomcat to make the pattern breaks 'work'. I would instead consider the new Dark Camo Grey/Sea Grey combo of the later GR.1A's (including underwing Sea Eagle perhaps) or Jag updates.

If you want to make it a pure interdictor then go with the Lime/Lichen Greens of the early Harrier II (GR.5) schemes. Another option is the 'last year blues' style finish of the FGR.2 demo flight. Or an RAE Raspberry test bird. As an interceptor, I would probably FAST the aircraft up with CFT3 (Iceland/Alaska fighter version) rather than use droppables though twin wing tanks in addition might look good. Leave the centerline empty or alternate stored as you actually pay more in cruise drag for this than it's worth on all but divert-margin (jettisoned) longrange deployments. I would probably go the opposite route of period-70's munitions in favor of latest-and-greatest with twinned Meteor on the centerline and each of the CFT stations (X6 60nm shots) plus 10nm ASRAAM/20nm AMRAAM-C on the wing shoulders. If scratchbuilding Meteor doesn't appeal then consider the Have Dash which was a conformal carriage planing missile designed specifically for the F-15 environment.

VAS or an equivalent would still be required, IMO, one 'different' possibility being Pave Spike on one of the forward stations, probably as a permanent modification (stripping down and fairing in the long tailsection). Something similar was done with ATLIS II on the forward 5a station during the IFFC trials, though not with CFT.

If you do a 'high level laser bomber', ala Granby Buc replacement, this would let you put CPU-123B on the underwing stations, and centerline with the pod safely tucked forward on a Desert Tan machine (might actually look good in this case) with full 'self protect' missiles on the rest of the CFT and ALARM on the shoulder stations.

For lolo work, the F-15 is actually not as good as the Fin for sustained speed and ride but I would probably go with a modified pylons (centerline at least) and the same tandem VER-2 style carriage format with some form of Mk.13/18 retarded bomb. If you go X2 on 2 and 8 plus 2X2 on 5 that gives you 8 laydowns which is similar to the max-load Tornado option with FAST MRM and shoulder ARM/SRM as 'shootthru backup'.

Markings... In this case I like the idea of a fair amount of contrast but the Eagle simply doesn't support much with the spineless fuselage and intake design. Black Tails with Double Hawk or Saint Andrew's crosses might be neat, I might carry this forward to a cockpit area as a yellow bordered cheatline as well. Alternately, black-top wingtips would look cool as they pop out the roundels ala Hawk.

Speaking of which, I would probably think about putting the roundels high and forward on the nose to make sure they weren't masked by the inlets. I still like small ones...;-) I'm also somewhat fond of full-feather exhausts and in this case I might 'cheat' and go with the new petrochem 'tar' colored late versions to indicate an MLU upgrade with PW-229 or 232 engines. Carrying FAST is hard work and the 232 especially would make a helluva difference to thrust to weight and throttle-back 'cruise' performance altitude bands. The F.3 spec was something like an 1:45 at 200nm with an end-cruise intercept, the Eagle might do that but it's wing profile and lighter loading would favor taking the less efficient F100 higher up which means more base (dry) thrust percentages.

APG-63V2 AESA would look super 'modern' and you /might/ consider replacing or modifying the ALQ-128 fat thimble to better resemble the Eurofighter wingtip versions. Carriage of BOZ-107 on the outboard underwing pylons might also be neat looking, especially for a Green-Eagle interdictor. There are frankly some pretty serious structural problems here but you can never have too many expendables.

Phimat or TRD/Apollo type options on the wing shoulders might also work and if you have ASRAAM, go with the CRL/BOL with the distinctive forward domed cooling bottle.