Rampage55 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) I have been wanting to build a model of a VMFA(AW)121 F/A-18D during the Green Knights first deployment in the Delta and the F/A-18D's combat debut during "Operation Desert Storm" since 1991. I think it's about time I got around to it. Actually this will be the first build in a series of builds that I am planning covering the evolution of VMF-121 (F4F-4 Wildcat WWII) to VMA-121(A-4E Viet Nam) to VMFA(AW)121(F/A-18D Desert Storm). The next build will be an A-4E for the "Gone But Not Forgotten" GB. Here's what I'm starting with. I'll have some in progress pic's in a couple of days. Happy modeling, Mark Edited November 30, 2008 by Rampage55 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marine4 ever Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 nice! great subject Mr. Barnes semper fi Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Uhhhh that's awesome!!!!! gonna follow this with great interest!!!! Cheers mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Added to the GB group list. Welcome aboard. Look forward to seeing the progress. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Look forward to it......but I don't recall ATARS being around in 91. That came years later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Thanks Gentleman!!! Tank, I believe you are correct. I don't remember seeing any ATAR's birds until well after Desert Storm, however I picked this BB set up cheap, minus the ATAR's nose piece, so I will be using just the cockpits and shroud, depicting a standard configuration. Here is what I have so far, the construction is fairly straight forward and I had this done in an evening of cutting, fitting and gluing. It was quite satisfying actually. I was relieved to find the nose piece fit so well. The cockpits are dry fit to check placement. I will be adding the painted cockpits after the model has been painted. The tricky bit will be the side panels. I have not dry fit these yet as they are to delicate. Here's one of the Verlinden seats and the center shroud dry fit as well to check placement. Semper Fi, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
speedlimit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Great start Mark! Looking forward to more progress. Eric Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 That's a great progress!!!! wow,aready fitted,glued and sanded??? sheees....going faaast!!! looking fwd for other pics! Cheers dude Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aarzee Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Looking great so far !! Nice choice for the build !!!! Watching with much interest ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 Cheers guy's!!! I appreciate the kind encouragement. Dave, Rodger that loadout info, I have only one pic showing a 121 Hornet during ODS and that is the same load it was carring. It's good to know there was no variation to that. Thanks, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Looking interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marine4 ever Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 (edited) pic's? semper fi Dan Edited September 13, 2008 by marine4 ever Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted September 19, 2008 Author Share Posted September 19, 2008 pic's? :P semper fi Dan Sorry bro, not much to show at the moment. I have tweaked the air frame a bit and got the intake's and covers sorted out but that is about it. This build has taken a bit of a back seat until I get my F-4 finished up. Then I have my little egg beater waiting in the back of the hanger to be finished off as well. I am planning on using those LAU tubes you sent me for this build though. Stay tuned! Semper Fi, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 With less than a month left to go I thought I better get going on this project. The airframe has had all the various parts added and is ready for the paint barn. I left off the main flaps to make it easier to paint. I didn't like where the instructions indicate where you were to attach the bumps behind the cockpit. They look too far forward and too low so I moved mine back and up a bit. Under wing pylons and stores almost ready to paint. I drilled the rocket tubes out on the LAU's so I could add slightly longer ones made from plastic rod that I spun in a Dremel tool to get the right shape. I have the cockpit's just about finished painting and will post pic's of those soon. I hope to get to painting the rest sometime this week. It's going to be a pinch but I think I'll be able to get it finished by deadline. Thanks for looking, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderGrunt Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Looking Good Mark, Waiting for this Fac to Mark some targets!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenshb Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 And there's no problem fitting the cockpit parts after assembling the fuselage? Jens Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 Looking Good Mark, Waiting for this Fac to Mark some targets!!!!!! Thanks Bro. And there's no problem fitting the cockpit parts after assembling the fuselage?Jens Nope, they fit like a glove. I have test fit repeatedly to make sure they would. This is a trick I pick up from Dave aka "Tomcat Tweeker" during the USMC GB last year and I think he picked it up from Dave Roof. I started painting last nite and hope to have an update soon. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 A few steps forward were made over the weekend on this project. Primed and preshaded, I'm still trying to get the hang of using a double action airbrush. At least it's an improvement over my last effort. The photo-etch HUD frame has been attached and I test fit the painted front cockpit one last time. The second pit and IP coaming have also been test fit. There is a raised band on the LAU tubes that needs to be sanded off. Before; After: Right now I'm working on the landing gear and hope to finish the painting soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Well Done Mark!! Can't wait to see the finished bird! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 Thanks Dave!!! I'm looking forward to getting this one finished too so I get going on my "Green Knights" Scooter. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 I was able to get on a bit of a roll with this build over the course of this past week, unfortunately I didn't stop to take many photos. I'm feeling the deadline looming and as usual for me, it's looking to be a last moment finish. I really enjoyed getting the hang of subtle panel fading with the double action airbrush. I have a long way to go but I pleased with my results so far. Paint, clear coat, wash, clear coat, then, it's time for my favorite part ..... Decaling!!! I've been using a mixture of decals. Some of the kits decals were used for the stencils. SuperScale decals for the nat. insg. and sqdn markings. MAW Decals Formation Lights sheet was used for the slime lights and I pinched a few stencils and vent decals from a MAW F-18D sheet I have also. After the decals have been sealed with a dullcoat I'll try my hand at fading the decals a bit with a tinted clear coat, particularly the walkway areas. I've been reluctant in the past to do this for fear of messing things up at this late stage but the fresh looking decals really don't suite the look I'm hoping to achieve with this build. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 Very cool Dave!!! Looks like I guessed right on which color "MARINES" to apply as some had them dark gray and others seem to have had the light gray. It also looks like this A/C has a tan nose, another detail that seems to be on some A/C and not on others. Thanks again, this photo has been very helpful indeed. Semper Fi, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Benner Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 great looking hornet rampage, love seeing Desert Storm builds I'll keep this build in mind when I do a VMFA-121 jet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rampage55 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 Thanks Benner!!! :) It's good to hear from you. I had originally planned to do this build for the "Desert Storm GB" last year but realized I didn't have all the bits I needed to pull it off back then. :) Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marine4 ever Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Mark!!! well done. looking forward to seeing a finished version. Semper fi Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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