Cobrahistorian Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 (edited) Hey guys, I've gotten the first of two Revellogram F/A-18 kits that I will be building for this GB. I'm sick of F-16s right now, so I'm doing something different, and Hornets are about as different as I can get at this point. Never thought I'd be building so many Navy kits, but here I am. Its a little odd, being an Army guy and all, but hey, it works. So, build #1 will be from VFA-204, using the Twobobs Katrina Relief sheet. I think I'm gonna keep the loadout simple. This pic confirms a good a/g load, so I'm going with that. http://image64.webshots.com/164/7/81/2/212...rtcuts/FullSize Right now, I've done a quick overview of the parts, what I'm gonna do to em, etc. I had originally envisioned this as a quick OOB build, but with some of the things I'm seeing, I may end up getting some resin flaps for it after all.... we'll see. Build #2 is going to need a bit more in terms of resin, since it has the APX-111 IFF blades installed. I'll be building it as a VMFA-142 bird. Gonna focus on this one first though Here goes nothing! Jon Edited January 11, 2007 by Cobrahistorian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 I'm sick of F-16s right now, What?? I don't understand. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 (edited) He's choosing to build Hornets instead of Vipers Edited January 12, 2007 by Trigger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan_Lotton Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 And to top it off.. He's building NAVY not AIR FORCE/ANG You know..one flies from a boat, the other from the land. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 He's choosing to build Hornets instead of Vipers Yeah, I still don't get it. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 What I don't get is how the darn things fly with their wings standing still! ;) Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 Wow, I actually got a lot done on this build today. I started off with painting the gear wells and anything else that is white on it. Once that was done, I primed the speed brake and put the two-part decal on slowly and carefully. It came out great, but the decal is a tad big for the Monogram speedbrake. Since the decals were optimized for the Hasegawa kit, I'm wondering if there's a significant difference in size between the two manufacturers. I painted and detailed the cockpit, and I'm quite happy with it. Haven't done the seat yet, but I'm going to use the kit's parts. I debated back and forth for a while, and finally decided to drop the flaps. So, I cut em off and I'm in the midst of shaping and re-fitting them. So far so good. Hopefully I won't have any priming issues like with my Viper builds. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 Well, here's my progress so far! Right wing with dropped flaps. Cockpit and spine details. Right wing and fuselage. I've attached the pylons on the right wing as well. Loadout will be 2 CBUs outboard on a CER and a single CBU inboard. Here's what she'll look like when finished: Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 Wow, that went together pretty fast! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Filak Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Boy, I'll say - he's making short work of this one! Looking forward to seeing it with a coat of paint, Jon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Nice work so far. I am anxious to see the final result. Darwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 She's comin along nicely. Got the CBUs built and sanded and I'll be focusing on the left wing's flaps this evening. #2 arrived today and I will most likely do some parts prep on it as well. This one's molded in gray, so I think it'll be a bit easier to deal with than the Blue Angels boxing. I'm going to add a resin nose to this one for the APX-111 IFF antennas. I thought about scratchbuilding them, but I don't think it'd look right. Loadout for my Marine Reserve Hornet will be a single live AIM-9M on 1, GBU-12 on 2, tank on 3, LITENING on 5, Tank on 7 and GBU-38 on 8. She'll be Modex MB210, BuNo 162409. I'm gonna have to tweak the SuperScale decals a bit, since 164209 was the squadron CO's bird when they did the decals. Its different now. I'll post more pics as I make progress! Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keith Diamond Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Looks like it's off to a great start Jon! Good work with the flaps and leading edges. I"ve built some RM Hornet before, and whenever I build some more, I'll do the same. I also notice that the right missile rail was slightly bent. Don't you just hate how RM packaged that kit? Every one of mine was like that. I mean, it's an easy fix, but still. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share Posted January 17, 2007 (edited) Tonight's progress: I added the left wing's flaps, all gear doors, windscreen, upper and lower angled antennas, tailhook, and the bumps just aft of the radome. Here's tonight's progress on my Marine bird too. Here's what she'll look like finished. Photo courtesy gatorsiniraq.com I'm contemplating a third build since these two are going so well. VFA-201 Hunters from the Twobobs "Patriot Hornets" sheet. Considering I've spent less than $20 on three Hornet kits, I may just go for it! Jon Edited January 17, 2007 by Cobrahistorian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share Posted January 17, 2007 Just did the APX-111 on the nose. I think the slicers are a little thick, but it works. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will2K65 Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Nice progress so far ;) Does the Blue Angels boxing (presumably you got one 'o these judging by the blue plastic!) come with all the usual weapons pylons and fuel tanks? I'm asking as a Blue Angels one tends to pop up on Ebay fairly often and goes pretty cheaply, but I'd rather build it as a 'fleet' bird than a display one, yet I had read that the Blue Angels boxing doesn't come with any weapons pylons or fuel tanks, where as the standard A and C boxings do! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 19, 2007 Author Share Posted January 19, 2007 Will, It comes with four Mk83 LDGP bombs, full pylons and two dual ejector racks, plus two AIM-9Ms. I'm adding some stuff from Hasegawa Weapons Set D as well, but the kits do come with some ordnance and full ability to hang stuff on em. I've made more progress this morning. I've modified the Hasegawa LANTIRN pod and made it a LITENING II. Still have to finish the intake on it, but it is looking rather good right now. I've run out of super glue, so the leading edge flaps on both birds have a bit of a gap, but that'll be taken care of pretty quickly. At this point, I'm getting pretty close to painting. Gotta order some decal sheets! #3 is on the way and I'll be building her as a VFA-201 bird from JRB Ft. Worth. Since the Hunters are a fairly familiar sight to my wife's family, I couldn't leave them out! Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 20, 2007 Author Share Posted January 20, 2007 Aaaaaand we're ready for paint! Both birds are together, up on their gear and as you can see, have their loadouts ready to go. I've gotta get a compressor, these propellant cans are killin me! Gotta pick up some propellant today and I'll get em sprayed. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Shropshire Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Looking exteremly nice on both builds. Can't wait to see the finish product. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will2K65 Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 (edited) Looking good...may follow your path with one of these, assuming my ebay purchase goes well. Can't decide on markings though, not many F/A-18A+ options out there compared to 'C' models. VFA-201 or 204 favourites at the moment! EDIT: Just bought meself a Hornet (1/48 Monogram F-18A, black boxed version with markings for a Finnish jet...not seen this version of the kit before, and its odd since Finland actually has C models...but it was cheap so I figured I'd take a risk) ;) Edited January 21, 2007 by Will2K65 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 very nice Jon - looking forward to seeing some paint and markings on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Filak Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I'm looking forward to seeing all of those Rockeyes hanging off of the VFA-204 bird. That's a pretty cool loadout, and one that you don't see on a Hornet every day. I didn't happen to see if you mentioned it Jon, but are you going to put a pair of Sidewinders on it as well? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Steve, Nope! No sidewinders on the 204 bird. The pics I've got show em loaded out with rockeyes and nothing else. Will, Congrats on grabbing that A model! I've gotten rather lucky as of late. Grabbed three off of the Buy/Sell forum for real cheap. Today's progress filled and sanded all seams. It was my first time working with Bondo and I REALLY like it. It dries quickly, sands well and doesn't shrink. Both birds are now primed in black and will get their actual paint as soon as I can get a hold of a new can of propellant. I'm hoping that we'll be able to get a new OIF VMFA-142 decal sheet made within the next few weeks so I can really mark my second Hornet the way I want. Pics tomorrow after my damn checkride. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted January 24, 2007 Author Share Posted January 24, 2007 (edited) No further progress, but #3 did arrive yesterday. Decals for it should arrive shortly. #1 is ready for paint and will be getting that this week. Decals are ready to go. #2 needs a couple things tweaked, but is pretty much ready for paint as well. Decals are in the works, but I may be doing some possible alternate decals for VMFA-142 instead of the outdated Super Scale sheet. #3 will start going together within the next day or so. Decals will be for the CAG bird for VFA-201 from their OIF cruise aboard the Teddy Roosevelt. I'm thinking a loadout of 3-wet with a GBU-31 and HARM underwing with a targeting pod and an AIM-120C on the fuselage stations. I'll update as soon as I take more pics. Jon Edited January 24, 2007 by Cobrahistorian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Walker Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 I'm looking forward to seeing all of those Rockeyes hanging off of the VFA-204 bird. That's a pretty cool loadout, and one that you don't see on a Hornet every day. That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw that photo of it on the first page. Great work on both of these so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.