jjuwana Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Guys, how as the title says, how dirty can a land based hornet get ? I'm gonna paint my hornet in "The Gators" marking, do you have any references pics, is there a rule about dirtying your hornet, I mean which section should be dirtier than the other ? Regards JJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Guys, how as the title says, how dirty can a land based hornet get ? I'm gonna paint my hornet in "The Gators" marking, do you have any references pics, is there a rule about dirtying your hornet, I mean which section should be dirtier than the other ?Regards JJ My units Hornets were ground based and they still got dirty. They still leaked fluids, our hands got dirty which marked the airframe, our boots left marks on the fuselage, the guns left powder stains. Rain, sleet, and snow, tossed up dirt. I think you get the picture. When we were in Europe, they would turn black just flying in that environment. Back in Canada they get bleached from the sun and therefore we don't have the same problem we had in Europe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 The first place I notice things get REALLY dirty quickly is the main landing gear struts and especially the wheel hubs. When we change a tire and get a good mainmount from supply, the hub is glossy white. That wheel can stay on the jet for quite some time if they don't pound them on the flight deck of a carrier... The accumulated dirt and brake dust on top of hydraulic fluid can turn the wheel hub almost as black as the tire itself! Lots of potential for spot touch-ups for landlocked navy jets, as they don't really appreciate us repainting them all the time while underway at sea! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Here's a shot of a relatively clean jet from VMFAT-101... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eizzle Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Great pics, I am saving those! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjuwana Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 Great pic guy, thanks, I've read something about "spot priming", "daily / weekly access door" can you enlighten me on those ?? Regards JAhja Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mkimages Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I'd guess that depending on the situation, they can get pretty darn dirty. However, from what I've seen of them at home base, VMFA-142 keeps their jets on the clean side. Here are a few pix of a Gators F-18 taken at the NAS Atlanta airshow in 2004 that may help. :( Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Great pic guy, thanks, I've read something about "spot priming", "daily / weekly access door" can you enlighten me on those ??Regards JAhja The daily/weekly door thing was a Tomcat-ism, referring to the engine nacelle doors... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Our land based hornets sometimes do one better than just spot painting. Walking out to a jet today I passed a gray B model with a tan trailing edge flap, and another gray one with a primer green rudder. At a Randolph AFB airshow we sent a Hornet with a tan leading edge flap. Apparently the Air Force maintainers took pity and offered to paint it for the crew if they could stay an extra day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Here's a VFA-106 F-18C. Now, this particular bird came from VFA-83 maybe less than a month or two before I took pics of it, but still she's quite dirty for a shore based a/c.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjuwana Posted December 12, 2007 Author Share Posted December 12, 2007 Great Pics Oompa, thanks Anyone with the top view of the dirty hornet please ... Regards JAhja Quote Link to post Share on other sites
squezzer Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 If you don't want to weather your kit, just built a swiss Hornet, i've never seen such clean aircrafts in 17 years of experience in aeraunotics maitenance! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjuwana Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Hi squezzer, do Swiss Hornet really clean ? I mean no oil leak whatsoever ?? One more question abput hornet guys, I'm planning on building the hornet for my wife who are really fond of "Indenpendence Day" movie, any suggestions? JJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
squezzer Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 (edited) Really very clean! Of coursen there are some normal leakage but they re are cleaned just during the thruflight inspection. For exemple, the swiss tech always clean up the steps of the integrated ladder with a cloth after they step down! Edited December 13, 2007 by squezzer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjuwana Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Guys, I need some pics of VMFA 142, with full color insignia, can anyone help me please... Regards JJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
devil505 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 '142 is a reserve unit. They tend to keep their birds on the cleaner side. But if you want to "dirty" them up. They get trashed! Smudge the panels, canopy rails, tanks,walkways, landing gear,etc.,etc. I don't have any pics but you can try airliners.net Quote Link to post Share on other sites
devil505 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 No teasing, Dave :D Give 'em up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
devil505 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 While not land based, here is an example of just how dirty our Hornets can get during combat ops...... I wonder if you just made his jaw drop out of his head? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I don't know ... that radome looks awful clean ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjuwana Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 *%$-+, they can get that dirty ????? I wonder what can make that Hornet looking like that ? oil, grease or what?? But I think the new breed (F-18E) still looking pretty clean, are they ? Think I can go along... the way dirtying up my Hornet, apart from manipulating the painting proccess, what other techniques can you guys recommend ? Regards JJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 While not land based, here is an example of just how dirty our Hornets can get during combat ops...... you know the cool thing about that pic? to me, it looks more camo'd than a clean hornet! i mean look at it, it really blends in pretty well to the ground. maybe the navy should look into just burying their aircraft for a month or so before putting them into service. it could be the "Camouflaged Realistic Aircraft Program" I think my next hornet will incorporate the new C-R-A-P scheme. :wacko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neeko Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Pretty much everything coming back from the Gulf looks like C-R-A-P these days... :wacko: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PNW_Modeler Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 *%$-+, they can get that dirty ?????I wonder what can make that Hornet looking like that ? oil, grease or what?? But I think the new breed (F-18E) still looking pretty clean, are they ? Think I can go along... the way dirtying up my Hornet, apart from manipulating the painting proccess, what other techniques can you guys recommend ? Regards JJ check out the tools and tips section.....do a search for weathering.... There is a TON of knowledge in there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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