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F/A-18C "Hornet", VFA-81 "Sunliner", CV-60 Saratoga


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Just finished the MiG-25, and then I started doing "Foxbat"'s "victim", "403" by LCDR Michael Scott Speicher, from VFA-81 "Sunliners", CV-60 Saratoga.

If you're interested in the MiG-25PD, please check it here:

MiG-25PD Foxbat IrAF "US NAVY Hornet Killer"

Here is a very useful thread I started 2 years ago and here finally I start to make Speicher's one.

Thanks a lot for your info again, guys!

F/A-18C VFA-81 Any 1/72 decal available?

I use Academy's incredible 1/72 F/A-18C kit with some aftermarket goods as below:

53426728201107172003231553395272213_030.jpg

Edited by haneto
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I only used the pipe area of Dr. Pepper's seamless intakes with original plastic parts on the top.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_029.jpg

53426728201107172003231553395272213_028.jpg

After painting and assembling.

Remember to dry fit before you glue and close the fuselage because the intake pipes may bother other parts.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_027.jpg

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Thinning the edge of HUD cover here.

That would do a lot to the final effect.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_026.jpg

Paint the screen with GSI Creos hydro-paint gloss clear to replicate the glass effect.

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Cockpit finished.Very easy indeed.

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53426728201107172003231553395272213_023.jpg

The HUD is a gem!

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53426728201107172003231553395272213_021.jpg

After sanding and polishing the canopy to get rid of the harming line,

mask the inner clear area then add the back mirror and handles, spray them all flat black.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_020.jpg

53426728201107172003231553395272213_019.jpg

Since I decided to make canopy movable freely this time, I found this part is too thick to close the canopy after gluing, so again some sanding work.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_018.jpg

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Resin seat from Quickboost, but I found it a bit too small.

And I also found an error of this Academy kit: the cockpit is about 30mm too low.

I did not adjust the whole cockpit because I mentioned that too late.

So I just added 30mm plastic sheet below the ejection seat.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_017.jpg

53426728201107172003231553395272213_016.jpg

Canopy closed.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_015.jpg

Again this auxiliary intake edge is thinned from inside to make it look sharper.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_014.jpg

According to the references, VFA-81 Hornets during Gulf War do not have GPS antenna so just cut it off.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_013.jpg

Restrenghten beams of intakes.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_012.jpg

Canopy could open or close freely.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_011.jpg

53426728201107172003231553395272213_010.jpg

No additional IFF antennas on the nose, either.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_009.jpg

Be sure to fill the small lines between windshield and nose.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_008.jpg

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And you need to make some rescribing work here after the fuselage sanded.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_007.jpg

When Hornet is parked, the rudders on verical fins are positioned at about 25 degrees interward.

So I cut the rudders off by a P cutter, then glue them back again.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_006.jpg

53426728201107172003231553395272213_005.jpg

Folding wings from Wolfpack Design, but they are all wraped.

And what's more, they shrinked a lot and cannot fit the fuselage:

53426728201107172003231553395272213_004.jpg

While this is the original plastic parts which fits quite quite well.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_003.jpg

So I decided to make the folding wings parts from the plastics parts.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_002.jpg

Add brass rod to increase the strength.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_001.jpg

So that' all I got till this weekend.

53426728201107172003231553395272213_000.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Yufei

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Hi Yufei,

Can you verify that the cockpit is 30mm too low? 30mm is more than the height of the top of the canopy to the bottom of the fuselage. Did you mean to say 3mm?

Thanks,

My fault.

Mistyping, it should be 3mm.

for the vertical stabs, do they really tilt inwards?

this pictures shows they are displaced outward:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-18C_VFA-25_CVN-72_2000.JPEG

They could displaced inwards or outward actually.

And I personally prefer inwards. :)

Some progress here.

Seems US birds not so welcome in a Western forum? Because it's a shot down one? :coolio:

The "air wirer" slice on the windscreen.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_027.jpg

I rescribe the line and put some putty to make the bulge.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_026.jpg

Airbrakes off, and you need to put 0.3mm plastic card inside to avoid gap.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_025.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_024.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_023.jpg

IFF antennas way too think.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_022.jpg

Rivets also added.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_021.jpg

Academy make the landing tail hook a total rounded one but actually some area should be flat rounded.

I used a vise to flatten the area.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_020.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_019.jpg

Some cusions and release structures need scratchbuilding.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_018.jpg

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Lowered flaps do not fit quite well with the original plastic wing parts.

So adhere some putty and rubbing the surface by a Q tip with Alchol when putty is 70% dried.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_017.jpg

Fill the injection holes.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_016.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_015.jpg

HARM pylons from Academy 1/72 F-16C kit, and a bit modification to fit Hornet's pylons.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_014.jpg

Drill holes for all missiles.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_013.jpg

The standard SEAD mission weapon set for VFA-81 on the night of January 17th, 1991.

AIM-9L*2,AIM-7*1,HARM*2, FLIR*1, fuel tanks*1

HARMs are from Academy F-16 kit, too and special thanks to my friend for his selfless help!

53426728201107252157599203245416007_012.jpg

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Now here comes the problem of this kit.

How big? It depends on you.

Note the angel of the real plane from side profile.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_011.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_010.jpg

This is Academy one.

Too close to right triangled.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_009.jpg

I replaced the main landing gears with Italeri 1/72 F/A-18E/F ones because they are cheap enough and according to my study, they were made according to C/D gears but not E/F ones.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_008.jpg

If you think it's so so for you to take from side prifile, then take this view from front.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_007.jpg

The Academy gears are almost vertical to the ground and it totally ruins the look of Hornet.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_006.jpg

This is Italeri ones.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_005.jpg

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Choosing some details added.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_004.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_003.jpg

The landing gear lamp is from the Belussian brand ELF and it's terrific!

53426728201107252157599203245416007_002.jpg

53426728201107252157599203245416007_001.jpg

Insert wet tissue paper inside the intake pipes for masking usage.

53426728201107252157599203245416007_000.jpg

And we are ready to paint buddy~

Thanks for looking!

Yufei

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nice work so far :)

.. just some info if you didn't know already, 403 did not have speicher's name on it. Also, I read somewhere the load out on his plane that night was 2 aim-9, 2 sparrow, 3 HARM, 2 fuel tanks.

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Nice build,

One thing about the Sidewinders and HARM missiles. they have weather seals at the back of the rocket motor, like in this pic.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/AGM-88_AGM-45_and_AGM-65_rear_view.jpg

The Sparrow has a slightly recessed seal.

http://cdn.wn.com/pd/1e/7f/a79e80a92d3a86922e384944ddbb_grande.jpg

great build cant wait till you finnish

jose

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They could displaced inwards or outward actually.

And I personally prefer inwards. :)

Oh I see :)

Great job on the main landing gears, do the italeri MLG fit ok with the Academy wheel wells? I might have to go this route with mine too! :cheers:

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Thanks for your feedbacks!

nice work so far :)

.. just some info if you didn't know already, 403 did not have speicher's name on it. Also, I read somewhere the load out on his plane that night was 2 aim-9, 2 sparrow, 3 HARM, 2 fuel tanks.

Thanks for the info!

Would you mind informing me the resource of that info please?

Nice build,

One thing about the Sidewinders and HARM missiles. they have weather seals at the back of the rocket motor, like in this pic.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/AGM-88_AGM-45_and_AGM-65_rear_view.jpg

The Sparrow has a slightly recessed seal.

http://cdn.wn.com/pd/1e/7f/a79e80a92d3a86922e384944ddbb_grande.jpg

great build cant wait till you finnish

jose

Got it!

I'm quite unfamiliar with US birds so thanks a lot for the hint!

Oh I see :)

Great job on the main landing gears, do the italeri MLG fit ok with the Academy wheel wells? I might have to go this route with mine too! :cheers:

Generally it fit not bad, but you need to add 0.3mm plastic card on one side of the hinge of Italeri gear part, then sand down the other side to allow it fit in the correct angel to Academy MLD bay.

Dry fit it and you can solve the problem in 5 minutes! :thumbsup:

Cheers,

Yufei

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Excellent work and much quicker progress than I can make!

I've always wondered what makes the Academy kit so incredible when one requires so much resin (Or scratchbuilding.) to make it look realistic when sitting on the ground.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Fianlly I found some time to update my thread here so here ya go!

I sprayed Mr. Surfacer #1200 firstly and sand the surface with #2000 fine sanding paper.

Then wash it with the help of a child use toothbrush.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_042.jpg

Because the main colour of Hornet is grey, I sprayed another white surfacer to help the grey looks right.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_041.jpg

I used GSI Croes Mr. Color for painting.

C307 and C308 has been sprayed upper and lower surface, just as indicated in NAVY painting rules.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_040.jpg

Arrest hook also painted with C307 and C308.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_039.jpg

53426728201108181310442595736136395_038.jpg

Then spray C305 for post shadow, just releax. You'll have tons of time to play with several kinds of grey now on.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_037.jpg

C308 sprayed again but this time just aiming the panel lines which have been coloured C305 one step before.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_036.jpg

The reattached/repainted colour is a mix of C323+C308+White, ratio is up to your flavour buddy.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_035.jpg

Spray another C308+White+Brown(extremely little), to overspray the whole plane to make the repainted area more gentle.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_034.jpg

Apply the walking area decal, and spray the colour which you used last step to make a worn out effect.

By the way, the decal in Academy Hornet(not Cartograf printed) is quite nice indeed!

What a surprise!!

53426728201108181310442595736136395_033.jpg

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Then attach some antenna things into white.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_032.jpg

Three antennas on this VFA-81 Hornet are all straight vertical ones, as photos indicated.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_031.jpg

Radome colour sprayed.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_030.jpg

Painting is finished.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_029.jpg

Wash the plane with brown+medium grey enamel colour.

And add the dirty area with sevral kinds of brown enamel colour.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_028.jpg

The exhaust weathering effect was made by pastel.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_027.jpg

The oil dirts also.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_026.jpg

Then after all dirty things you added, spray a flat coating to protect the effect.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_025.jpg

Some metal area brush painted after washing and coating, in order to save the metal effect most perfectly.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_024.jpg

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Landing gears and white stuff got painted and weathered with dark brown or brownish black enamel colours again.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_023.jpg

Wheel bays.

I did not spend time detailing it because it's not very visible after finishing.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_022.jpg

53426728201108181310442595736136395_021.jpg

Landing gears.

The lamp was made by ELF landing lamp detail set.

Extremely recommended!

53426728201108181310442595736136395_020.jpg

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53426728201108181310442595736136395_018.jpg

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I firsly planned to use Aires resin nozzles indicated for Academy kit but found it way too small in section!

So I gave up and consentrated myself to detail the original plastic parts.

First, make the patels look thin.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_016.jpg

Next, add EVERGREEN 0.13mm plastic card to make the inner patels.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_015.jpg

Then painted and weathered.

Caution: Speicher's F/A-18C is an early C model so it still used GE F-404-GE-400 engines but not F-404-GE-402 ones.

So the inner material is not white!

53426728201108181310442595736136395_014.jpg

Edited by haneto
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Chaff dispenser launchers need to be drilled 0.3mm holes.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_013.jpg

The AIM-9L/M Sidewinders.

The original fins of kit parts are way too thick so I replaced them with myself cut 0.2mm new fins.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_012.jpg

Painted.

Notice the different metal material and seeking head.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_011.jpg

All weapons painted and washed.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_010.jpg

Some small area of the main body need some attached painting.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_009.jpg

Stabilizers are made movable by placing a ring inside the fuselage.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_008.jpg

Early C models do not have nit alike antennas but more like fins.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_007.jpg

Hand brush Mr. Hobby Gloss clear on the light surface.

53426728201108181310442595736136395_006.jpg

53426728201108181310442595736136395_005.jpg

53426728201108181310442595736136395_004.jpg

Edited by haneto
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