Building a Swiss or Finnish modern Hornet

[Hoosfoos]

Hi everyone,

I just bought F4dable Models' excellent "Export Bugs" decals. I can build a Spanish Hornet right oob with the Hasegawa kit, but apparently for the Finnish and Spanish F-18s, there's some work to do (GPS, seats, mesh grill, etc). I know Wolfpack Designs makes the update for the 1/48 Hasegawa kit (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10106568), but I was wondering a couple of things:

Are the new Hobby Boss Hornets modernized, or they the same generation as the Hasegawa?

Same question about the new 1/72 Academy kit - is it up to production standard for the upgraded Hornet, if not is there any aftermarket to upgrade it?

Thanks for all your help.

[j-basset]

Hoosfoos,

The Hobbyboss 1/48 F/A-18C represents pretty much the same Lot as the Hasegawa kit does, with a whole bunch of added inaccuracies.

Some of the more recent Hasegawa F/A-18C releases have a new sprue 'M' which incorporates most of the required parts, but does not include the NACES seat, the fish-bone LERX vents, and undernose gun gas purge mesh.

To my knowledge only the VFA-94, VFA-105 & 30th Anniv editions have the new sprue.

The Wolfpack kit will certainly see you right, mostly.

In 1/72, I can't recommend highly enough, the relatively new Academy F/A-18C. You can build a Swiss or Finnish F/A-18C practically out of the box.

The only thing missing are the trailing edge fairings for the dual chaff & flare dispenser fairings which are not provided. I reckon these are easily scratchbuilt though.

Thanks for patronizing our products.

Jason

F-4DableModels

[Hoosfoos]

Thanks for the info, Jason, and thanks for producing your excellent products.

[Dndieje]

Thanks for the info, Jason, and thanks for producing your excellent products.

Hello,

Last weekend I bought the Hasegawa 1/48 F-18C in the "Mighty Shrikes" colour scheme at an airshow in Belgium.

On the included instructions it is mentioned that it is actually Hasegawa PT-26 with new decals.

To my surprise I found that the kit includes a small sprue with ALL parts required for the Swiss Hornet.

It has the GPS dome, IFF (bird slicers), dual flare launchers, aerials etc. All listed as "not needed" for the version provided.

This was great as I bought the thing to make it into a Swiss Hornet in the first place also using the excellent F-4Dable decals..

The only things that need to be made up are the grills just forward of the nose landing gear (both sides).

This is relatively easily done though, you could just fill the molded grill with putty and maybe use a decal for the new mesh grill.

The other (if required) are Swiss specific AMRAAM launchers for the outer wing pylons.

Keep in mind though that these modifications were all part of an upgrade programme carried out in the last couple of years.

You could probably just build a F-18C straight from the box and portray an aircraft pre-2008 or so.

Hope this helps.

Edited July 8, 2010 by Dndieje

[Hoosfoos]

Yeah, unfortunately these new Hornet kits by Hasegawa cost an arm and a leg. It's easier to buy a cheap F-18C from eBay and add the Wolfpack designs update set. On that note, I've noticed that Wolfpack designs will be soon releasing a F/A-18C/D update set in 1/72 for the Academy kit.

Edited July 10, 2010 by Hoosfoos

[Dndieje]

Maybe it`s worth your while to ask the forum if anyone who has bought the Hasegawa Hornet wants to part with sprue M.

The parts are not really required for a "standard" USN jet so you might get lucky.

I`m doing a Swiss jet myself so unfortunately I can`t help you.

Good thing also about the 1/48 Hasegawa is that it has the glass parts and prepared cut-out for the Night ID searchlight on the port side of the nose.

I know what you mean about the price though, if you consider the almost total lack of stores and (in the case of my "Mighty Shrikes" copy) markings for just one aircraft it can almost be considered scandalous.

On the other hand, if you want a Swiss or Finish Hornet you can build one straight from the box apart from the LERX vents and decals.

Saves you from having to indulge in an orgy of resin and etched metal which costs as well. :D

Not trying to push the thing by the way, just giving my honest opinion for what it`s worth.

[RiderFan]

The Swiss Hornets have the ID light (just like Canadian hornets). The only kit I've found with that part is the Academy 1:32 kit. For other scales you need to scratch build it, or in some rare cases, if the kit has Canadian markings, it comes with a decal for the light.

It's pretty simple to poke a hole in the gun ammo door though.

[phantom]

All the Hasegawa (1/48) ones come with the ability to do the search light. The port nose has the area you cut away clearly molded in the rear of the part. The clear parts come with all Hasegawa A/B/C/D sprues. Just look for the stuff marked "Not for use."

[manzana11]

The academy 1/72 Hornet is perfect fit for the Swiss bird. Only scratchbuild the ID light and that's it. A resin set for the exhausts will make things better in case you look for a little more detail. F-4Dable Models decal sheet is fantastic! Here's my build:

[the_baphomet_00]

The academy 1/72 Hornet is perfect fit for the Swiss bird. Only scratchbuild the ID light and that's it. A resin set for the exhausts will make things better in case you look for a little more detail. F-4Dable Models decal sheet is fantastic! Here's my build:

Hi manzana11...!!

nice avatar!

greetings!

[manzana11]

Thanks! My favorite aircraft and my country, all in one!!!! PM sent...

[tobiK]

May I hook in this thread...and ask a question: How s about the spanish EF-18 Hornets? Is this the same like swiss/finnish Hornets concerning the update or are they basic / early versions like you can build them out of Hasegawa F-18A / HB F-18A kits? I think about the Hornet of a tiger meet, there are decals from Model Alliance for a spanish "Tiger" hornet (besides a RNAF F-16BM and a turkish F-16C).

[Dndieje]

Spain uses the standard F-18A model so it can be built straight from any box.

The first batch of some 72 aircraft (A and B models) were classified as EF-18 and didn`t have the US Navy catapult hook attached to the front landing gear.

They later ordered another 24 F-18As from US stocks which (to the best of my knowledge) did have the catapult launch hook installed.

This one has the launch attachment installed:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Spain---Air...ea0e9e1c390adbb

And this one hasn`t:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Spain---Air...ea0e9e1c390adbb

Hope this helps.

Oh, this from the excellent F-4Dable decal sheet:

Serial Numbers:

EF-18A: C.15-13 to C.15-72

EF-18B: CE.15-1 to CE.15-12

Ex-US Navy F/A-18A: C.15-73 to C.15-96

Edited July 16, 2010 by Dndieje

[tobiK]

thanks! I see...it is the C.15-15 from ALA 15, my conclusion: this plane has NOT the catapult hook! Nice to know!