Eric B. Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 (edited) Hello, I am just starting a Super Hornet and a Hornet, both 1/72nd scale. The Super Hornet is scheduled for a September deadline as it should be the basis of an article in a model magasine. I normally build in batches of 2, 3 or 4 kits. This time along the Super Hornet (Hasegawa 1/72) I started a Hornet (also Hasegawa 1/72) and a Corsair II (Fujimi 1/72). Just by chance I discovered that group built. Never tried one. Man, I know I am slow and I normally prefer to post my models when everything is done. I'll try to beat the November deadline with the help of my editor and the Super Hornet thing. Now I gathered resin bits for the Hornet. I'll try to use them all on this project (Aires, QuickBoost..). Also as I'll like to represent my models in normal "parking situation at rest" I also decided to deflect all flying surfaces. I have loads of decal sheet but I have not made my choice yet. What I know is that it is going to be US Navy or USMC. I love weathered machines. Here is my start : * Resin parts and preparation of parts * Flying surfaces cut * Cockpit inserted As ever with Aires resin parts, the parts simply are wonderful, very sharp, excellent quality resin, very detailed. But preparation is awful, so much material (plastic) has to be removed so that resin details can find a way. Cockpit floor had to be sliced and replaced by metal foil from photo-etched parts fret. Landing gear well roof now is thin as cigarette paper. The result certainly is worth it but the resin inclusion process is just pain. Cheers Eric B. Edited July 9, 2008 by Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Woooow!!!!just wow... on a 72 plane???i would get mad of fitting those thingies LOL LOL anyway,superb job and will follow this for sure!!!! Cheers dude Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 Thank you Giacomo Detailing main landing gears now : * Unmodified/modified gears * Both mains detailes with stretched sprue, metallic tube and electric wire * Inside of gear Brake lines still have to be added Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Ok OK ok... I was subscribed to this GB....I will immediately go away since we already have a winner here!!!!! maaaan...I mean,those are 1/72 gear struts!!!!you kiddin me?!?!?!? geeeeez,give me a breaaak,that work is outstanding... are you a 72nd modeller??? Cheers and really amazing and neat work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 That looks amazing! As Giacomo said, hard to believe this is 1/72. Just wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I got a feeling this is going to be a great build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GoBlue96 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Um... wow. I think I'm going to subscribe to this thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Josh1971 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Fantastic work! Gives me some ideas for the 30 or so I have of these jb Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Thank you very much all. I hope the end result will be OK. I have worked on the model mostly painting cockpit grey and all white parts (landing gears, wheels etc... ). Nothing very interesting to show now. New stage will be finishing cockpit detailing and inserting Aires wheel wells before I can cement fuselage parts together and start to give the model a Hornet shape. I now believe model will be finished in VMFA-212 markings : either from MAW decals 72MAW002 or Hasegawa decals ref 00729 with a white tail (I am quite used to CAG black tails but white tails : this would be a first in my collection.. And that would be very elegant. Will depend on Hasegawa decals quality. It seems that VMFA-212 aircraft fit subversion and details I have : SJU-5 ejection seats and older style grills of the gun vents below nose. I'll have to add a GPS dome but otherwise things seem to be OK. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Aires wheel wells are inserted now. A lot of filing, both plastic fuselage and resin wells. Aires should work seriously on their part fit!! But result is worth the pain.. Instructions can't be followed due to wheel wells adjusting. I therefore had to cement fuselage walls to build up the area around the wells and be sure how these parts should be cut and filed before gluing them in position. I am happy I thought about this problem otherwise it would have been hard to guess how fuselage parts might have been adjusted if wells already were glued in position. (better adapt wells to fuselage inner shapes than adjust fuselage walls to resin wells. Cockpit is inserted as well and paint job started with just the basic colours. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 The gear bays looks very detailed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Agree with raptor....those bays are just marvellous...still amazed by the fact it is a 72nd scale... Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Are the resin gear wells deeper than the kit ones? If yes, how are you going to fit the gear legs into the wells, if they're now too short? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks all... Yes Mark I fear that the new resin wells are deeper than the original ones and thus landing gear would be too short. How much I don't know, and I'll pobably know very late in the building process (when I'll have to cement gear and wheels). I'll probably add plactis bits in the gear then.. Now turning again to the front of the aircraft and cockpit. Very good moulding again by Aires casters. Just that I still wonder why the don't check part fit. Next stage will be fuselage build up; Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Great work eric...especially considering that this is a 72 plane!!!! gosh,you are goooooood!!!! Cheers mate :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Hello again, Thanks Jack Swiss for your very kind comment. I have added some measure of an air intake trunk as the Hasegawa 1/72 F-18s (all versions up to the Super Hornets) really are weak on this point. Air intake trunks just are thin plastic sheet cemented as cylinders. I added resin engine front disk. A lot of epoxy cement was poured around all gear wells for added strengh (never depend on Super glue for strong joints). I used Super Glue for initial positionning in place and later added epoxy for strengh. Sub assemblies continued with landing gears - A bit of filing, flash removing and painting still has to be done there but this parts will now be set apart for a while. Next job will be some sanding before I can joint fuselage halves (next post). Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Nice fine paint detail work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thats an awesome work Eric!!!! I like your idea for solving the intake area!!! A Q...arent the wheels a bit strange???I mean, they dont even seem hornet's wheels,especially the rear ones!!! Cheers mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 A Q...arent the wheels a bit strange???I mean, they dont even seem hornet's wheels,especially the rear ones!!!Cheers mate Hello, You made me wonder... 6 holes in the hub and bolts around - I looks like Hornet wheels to me (checked in my DACO book - both front and mains). Maybe that's my painting.. I'll see what I can do.. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Mmmhhh....that's strange look at this can you see what i mean? that's what i think: the holes seem a bit larger than the reals the most visible thing is that the rims go a bit deeper inside the wheel instead of being "at the same level" of the wheels (sorry for the english!) nothing with you dude,just talking about how accurate is hase in 72 with this hornet LOL!!!! what are your thoughts? Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Hi Jack, See what you mean but the basis are here I believe. I will check with Italeri or Italeri wheels (I might have some as spares as I won't build the models I had bought). Academy seem better in depth but don't have the holes (and I won't steal Academy parts on their new Hornet) Else I will work on painting : adding some soot and grime (Hornets seems yo dirty their wheels a lot - as in your photograph) might help to reduce the "depth of view". Thank you. Cheers Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 The Hasegawa 1/72 F-18C Hornet kit starts to show its age is not state of the art. It needs details a great deal of filling and filling. This also mean a lot of rescribing work as the heavy filing means some panels are lost Some of the modifications made beside additions of resin parts (cockpit and landing wheel wells) : GPS dome Antennas Small square reinforcing plates at fin base level Round details above wings flap plate (as I plan to build aircraft with deflected flying surfaces) Fuselage now is built and cockpit is fully integrated. I slightly changed finish of main wheels as photos I have of the aircraft I plan to build show that hubs are stained by brake dust. This also helps to conceal a bit the fact that hubs are too deep (as shown by Jack Swiss) on the Hasegawa little Hornets. Cheers… Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Fantastic update Eric!!!!!! I love the work you've done!!! cant wait to see more... Cheers :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewS Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 Great progress, Eric. Your embellishments, corrections and painting are spot on; indeed, the work you're creating is inspirational. Thanks so much for the update. Andrew. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 It's really amazing that you can put this much detail on a 72nd scale aircraft! I'm deeply impressed..! Looks awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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