DutyCat Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 (edited) Most of the pics I have seen do NOT show the strake fences on top of the nose. Are they to be retrofitted or just not a feature of the D model?. And since the Academy C has them, does anyone know if the new D release features them? Edited April 2, 2010 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 If you're talking about the 1/72 kit, then yes, Academy has them included on the nose. It looks like some users have them installed, and some not. Here's a Swiss one that has them: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Switzerland...-18D/1642476/L/ and this USMC one too: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Marin...-18D/1619649/L/. But this USN bird doesn't have them: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/...-18D/1620029/L/ Not sure what the logic behind this is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbrundt Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 I do believe those are IFF antennas, not 'strakes'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Indeed they are antennas. Often called "bird slicers." Some D's have them but some do not. Just be sure to find good reference photos to make sure that the jet you are building does not have them before you cut and sand them off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Within a unit, not all of the jets may have had the IFF upgrade. Here is a photo from a recent trip through Wake Island, showing four F/A-18D from VMFA-121. Note that the jet on the far right is an ATARS Hornet, while the remaining three are standard D-models. The Hornet, second from the left, has the IFF antennas while the other two do not. -JS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted April 2, 2010 Author Share Posted April 2, 2010 I do believe those are IFF antennas, not 'strakes'. Understood. I just wanted everyone to be sure of what I was talking about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted April 2, 2010 Author Share Posted April 2, 2010 If you're talking about the 1/72 kit, then yes, Academy has them included on the nose. It looks like some users have them installed, and some not. Here's a Swiss one that has them: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Switzerland...-18D/1642476/L/ and this USMC one too: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Marin...-18D/1619649/L/. But this USN bird doesn't have them: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/...-18D/1620029/L/ Not sure what the logic behind this is. Didn't know the Navy even had D's. I guess only in VFA-125, for training purposes. Are any of those cool camo jets in 125 D's? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Didn't know the Navy even had D's. I guess only in VFA-125, for training purposes. Are any of those cool camo jets in 125 D's? VFA-106 has, or had, D's as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 VFA-106 has, or had, D's as well I'm in 106, we have damn near everything, mostly C,D,E,F, but there are a few A+, and a bravo or two Quote Link to post Share on other sites
g0_command0 Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Even NSAWC has or HAD a D or two Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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