mawz Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I'm late to the party, but joining up anyways. Going to be building Italieri's F/A-18C in 1/72 with CF-188A markings. I'm hoping to use a set of Leading Edge markings, but the fit on the kit looks rough, so I'll use the kit decals if the build doesn't work out well. Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I'm late to the party, but joining up anyways. Going to be building Italieri's F/A-18C in 1/72 with CF-188A markings. I'm hoping to use a set of Leading Edge markings, but the fit on the kit looks rough, so I'll use the kit decals if the build doesn't work out well. Welcome to the GB! I have done that scheme (airshow CF-18 in 433 Squadron colours) in 1/48 before - if you are looking for some ref pics of the real aircraft, I have some. Shoot me a PM if you want them, and I'll e-mail them to you. Also, if you want to do that airshow bird orange/black scheme, you should probably make some changes to the C-model from the kit to make it an appropriately older CF-18. Pipe up if you have any questions - there are several of us here that can/will help! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted February 17, 2011 Author Share Posted February 17, 2011 And an actual update Italieri F-18C by mawz_models, on Flickr You can't really see it, but the searchlight has been added and I've cut off the extra antennae of the C. The fit at the forward/main fuselage join is horrid though, that's going to make for a lot of work. This kit reminds me all too much of the Testors F/A-18 in 1/48 (in fact it looks like the same kit scaled down). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Gotta thank ALF for the reference pics, they've been a help. The build has been a little challenging though, in fact I've decided to simply replace the Italieri kit with a Academy F-18A kit (the Australian/Canadian/Spanish boxing) and I'll finish the Italieri sometime when I feel like I need some frustration, I'm not about to waste those LEM decals on the Italieri kit. Should get started on the Academy Hornet this weekend and will post pics as soon as I can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 The Academy bird is building up pretty quickly DSC04164 by mawz_models, on Flickr DSC04165 by mawz_models, on Flickr Academy F-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Some fit issues on the overly-complex nose assembly, but nothing like the gaps in the Italieri kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 And things are coming along steadily, on both the Academy and the Italieri, the latter of which I think I'm going to use the rather nice Academy sheet on. 2 Hornets by mawz_models, on Flickr There's no comparison in the quality of the two models, the Academy not only goes together much better but the detail is FAR superior. Query for the Hornet experts, I'm going to use the Academy weapons on the Italieri bird, in a strike configuration. AIM-9's on the wingtips for sure, but I'm not sure about the rest. Are the twin racks OK for the LGB's? Both targeting pods? fuel tank config? I'm thinking either 3 tanks, 2x2 LGB's and both targeting pods or 4 LGB's on the wings, the centreline tank and a pod/sparrow config on the conformal pylons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted April 24, 2011 Author Share Posted April 24, 2011 And tails are on the Italieri, I'm going to hold off on the tails for the Academy due to the paintwork. Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr The Academy got the hinges and actuators for the wings after filling in the pylon holes since it will be clean. Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Next up for the Italieri is finishing the cockpit. I'm going to use the spare Academy seat in there with the rest of the Italieri bits. This one will be posed with a closed canopy so I'm planning on getting the cockpit complete and closed up before any painting. On the Academy, I'm going to hit it with primer and then paint the gear bays & gear I think. I'm going to pose the Canopy open for this one, so the cockpit will get finished last, especially since the spine will be black along with the cockpit coamings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 (edited) And paint is on the Italieri bird, which has been going much better than I had expected. I'm using the Academy pylons, tanks and weapons as they're much nicer and the Academy build will be clean anyways. Note sure which set of targeting pods I'll use, may mix them. Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Edited April 27, 2011 by mawz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted May 28, 2011 Author Share Posted May 28, 2011 (edited) The Italieri's all but done now. Need to finish up the gear doors, wheels and exhaust, attach the antennae and paint the weapons. It'll be done today or tomorrow. I used most of the Academy sheet on it, so it's done up as 776 with Balkan Rats markings. I did leave off many of the minor markings, the Academy sheet's as complex as your typical 1/48 sheet but most of the small bits are near-invisible and way too fiddly to bother with on a build with as many compromises as this one already has. I am using the Academy weapons, tanks and pylons with the Italieri targeting pods. Loadout is fictional, I'm hanging everything (3 tanks, 4 LGB's and 2 sidewinders + 2 targeting pods) The Academy bird isn't likely to make the deadline. I've got the basic scheme down aside from the tails, but the decaling's gonna take too long, the sheet's pretty darn complex and I don't want to screw it up. Edited May 28, 2011 by mawz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 And here's a couple photos of the actual progress The Academy: Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr The Italieri: Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr The Italieri should be done aside from the final dullcote later tonight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Well the Italieri is done, as 776. Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Italieri F/A-18C 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr And the Academy's almost there Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr I'll finish off the Academy Hornet on Wednesday night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Well after the last post I headed back to the desk to get just a bit more done before calling it quits for the night and ended up finishing off the Academy kit as well Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr And one shot with both. Academy F/A-18A 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brutus Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 It looks good to me for the same scheme I've completed, my only wonder is how is the build on the Academy kit? Was it relatively easier compared to a Hasegawa kit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 It looks good to me for the same scheme I've completed, my only wonder is how is the build on the Academy kit? Was it relatively easier compared to a Hasegawa kit? I can't comment on the Hasegawa kit as I've never built it but the Academy builds up very nicely. The only issues are a slight case of over-engineering, the nose assembly in particular is more complex than it really needs to be and you can get some minor alignment issues due to that. MUCH nicer than the Italieri kit (that Revell also reboxes). The detail is gorgeous though and no mods needed, the A boxing comes with everything needed to build an A or C (two sets of tails) and a marked hole for the spotlight complete with a clear part to fill it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Thats always been one of my favorite special schemes. Id love to find a set in 1/48 for a decent price to go along with my '03 Tigermeet special. GReat job on both Hornets btw. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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