EX_Birdgunner Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 (edited) Well with the F-14B picking up speed I started looking at my next project and see that it qualifies for the GB. I will be building a Hasegawa F/A-18C from VMFA-122 Werewolves during thier deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. I will be building plane number 13, BuNo 164278. This jet was flown by Capt. J "Skitzo" Penney. Skitzo is a now a Major in the Royal Canadian Air Force who was on exchange with VMFA-122 during this time frame. Skitzo is now in 425 squadron and will be leaving this summer and I want to surprise him with this as a parting gift. The kit and decals from Flying Leathernecks: Line art of Skitzo's jet: Cockpit done and installed: Wings, nose, tanks and wing pylons are together and I will be using the SJU-17 NACES from a Revell F-14D Kit fot the ejection seat: Happy Modelling. -Denis Edited June 17, 2012 by EX_Birdgunner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 At this stage of assembly, you should forgo the kit instructions and glue the aft fuselage side panels in before gluing the fuselage halves together, it will give you better control of that side panel seam. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Thanks for the tip Curt. Does anyone know if this bird can end up a tail sitter? The instructions do not specify to add weight to the nose and I can add some to the unused rear cockpit if it is needed. -Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
warthoglvr Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 I'be built several of the Hasegawa Hornets OOB and they are fine without any extra counterweight in the nose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 I'be built several of the Hasegawa Hornets OOB and they are fine without any extra counterweight in the nose. Thanks for the info Warthoglvr. Another quick question. I was planning on scratch building the IFF, Blade and GPS Antennas. But if that does not work out is there any AM that gives just that or will I have to get the full nose replacement from either MAW-Decals or Wolfpack Designs? MAW Wolfpack -Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graves_09 Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Your other option for the IFF, Blade, and GPS antennas is to get the "M" sprue from a newer special release kit or find someone who has an extra sprue... PM me if you are interested in a trade. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Your other option for the IFF, Blade, and GPS antennas is to get the "M" sprue from a newer special release kit or find someone who has an extra sprue... PM me if you are interested in a trade. :) Thanks for that info Graves. PM sent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 looking good so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 (edited) Hey everyone, I've been away on training for the last few weeks and I brought along my Hornet to work on in the evenings. Now I have time to update this WIP. I have the fuselage together and puttied: The decal instructions called for the tail brackets to be deleted for Skitzo's jet so I filled in the gaps with the bits from the sprue that has the numbers on it: I then sanded them down flush with the fuselage: My airbrush nozzel is broken so I can't do fine lines hence the not so nice pre-shading. Also, my base coat of light grey looked too dark: Installed the IFF antannaie on the nose. To do this I made a guide out of sheet styrene based on a template provided by Flying Leathernecks: Next up is the canopy. Happy modelling, Denis Edited June 16, 2012 by EX_Birdgunner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 Worked on the main canopy. I tried something new, a 7-step nail file/polisher followed by a dip in future. I was happy with the results. After steps 1-3 for sanding: After steps 4 & 5 Buffing: Steps 6 & 7 for polishing: After the dip in future: Now I have to finish painting this bird and move on to decals. Can't wait. Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Like the bird slicers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted June 17, 2012 Author Share Posted June 17, 2012 Only 2 weeks left, should be able to get this done on time. Fortunately, I have the next 2 weeks off before I deploy to the Middle East. Might even be able to get the Tomcat done too! :D I got the pitot tubes and antennas on. Notice the blade antennas and GPS dome. Thanks to Graves_09 for the "M" Sprue which also had the IFF antenna. Then able to get paint done and a coat of future to prep for decals. Got started with decals. Since the tails, elevators, and other bits were ready first I got started with them. Weapons and ordnance is also done. Probably going to put a darker coat of grey on the Lightning pod though. Now to wait for the future to dry on the main fuselage and I can start putting on those decals. Meanwhile I will finish up the ejection seat. Happy Modelling. Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 Decals are on!!!! Just finished putting on the decals. Phew, there are a lot of data decals, I was in "No Step" hell for a while. I got the tails put on and put some Tamiya Smoke to represent the codite dust on the nose from the gun. I had a small crisis when I removed a piece of tape I used to keep the tails aligned while the glue was setting. I didn't notice that one side was over top of the "3" on the right tail. Since the decals are not sealed yet almost all of the "3" was removed with the tape. No worries right, just use another "3" from the sheet. But there are none! Seems that VMFA-122 did not have a number 3 jet. So I used part of a 2 and part of a 5 to fix the 3. Looks good to me. What do you think? Before: After: (There is micro sol on the 3 so that is why it looks wrinkled.) Now to seal it all in and finish up. Happy Modelling! Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 NIIIIIce!!!!!!!!! You can finish that in a day or two!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 Done!!!!! I finished the build with a sludge wash of golden brown to take in account that the squadron was based out of Al Asad, Iraq. Now onto the pics. A couple more next post...... Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 A few more... The seat form the revell tomcat was too high so I ended up using the kit seat and added lead foil seat belts to "represent" a NACES. The nice tail art is probably some of the most bad *** I have ever seen: Close up of the port side of the cockpit with Skitzo's name. I'll be giving this jet to him next week at his mug out. I'll be placing a few pics in the finished builds thread. Hmmm....wonder if I can get that Tomcat done in a week? Thanks for watching. Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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