CF-188A to F/A-18C

[Nicolaas]

Hi

I bought a 1/48 Hasegawa CF-188A at a model sale yesterday. I want to build a Swiss AF F/A-18C. What are the differences between the F/A-18A and F/A-18C? Only thing I can see is the formation light? on the port side of the Swiss F/A-18C's just in front of the cockpit.

Thanks in advance

Nico

[Andre]

The gist of it:

- various ECM antennae on the nose, spine and tails

- chaff buckets on the undersides of the fuselage near the main landing gear,

- (most likely) the seat.

HTH,

Andre

[ALF18]

Hi

I bought a 1/48 Hasegawa CF-188A at a model sale yesterday. I want to build a Swiss AF F/A-18C. What are the differences between the F/A-18A and F/A-18C? Only thing I can see is the formation light? on the port side of the Swiss F/A-18C's just in front of the cockpit.

Thanks in advance

Nico

Nico

That's a pretty complex question - there are several threads here on ARC that address this.

First of all, the Swiss and Canadian Hornets both have the light on the left side - it is an identification light, used to illuminate an aircraft intercepted at night and see what it is. Both Swiss and Canadian have it.

Other differences? The Swiss aircraft are otherwise identical to US Navy and Marine F/A-18C aircraft. Landing gear is different (main gear struts) from the Canadian Hornet. I don't have the time to get into all the differences, but if you don't find it by searching the threads, send me a PM and I'll try to find a good version of what's required.

Which kit is it exactly? What kinds of antennae are on it already? That is a big question.

ALF

[DONG]

Nico

All you need is a set of "C" tails and the Hasegawa F-18C instruction sheet, all the parts are in the box except the tails.

Don

[phantom]

Don is right, in the instructions take a look for the parts marked "not for use".........Use them. And modify the tail with a centre RWR.

[Nicolaas]

Good news! Thanks guys! I'll check the tail fins out.

[Sgt Spooky]

There's an article on the IPMS Canada website that discusses a lot of the differences as well.

F/A-18A/C to CF-18 hornet conversion

Another note is that Swiss Hornets have been upgraded to include systems that appear in the later blocks of USN/USMC C/D models, most visible is the IFF antennae in front of the cockpit windscreen and the use of Dual Chaff Buckets instead of the Single Chaff Buckets

Here's another article talking about the Swiss governments more recent upgrades to it's hornet fleet

Swiss Hornet Upgrade 25

I think also that the pylons for stations 2 and 8 (outboard wing pylons) are slightly different, as I heard that the Swiss developed a different pylon in order to carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs on these stations, but I can't confirm that.

F-4Dable models made a nice decal sheet for these birds, and it included Finnish and Spanish hornets as well, but I think that sheet is long out of print.

Good luck with the build.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Sgt Spooky

[ALF18]

There's an article on the IPMS Canada website that discusses a lot of the differences as well.

F/A-18A/C to CF-18 hornet conversion

I think also that the pylons for stations 2 and 8 (outboard wing pylons) are slightly different, as I heard that the Swiss developed a different pylon in order to carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs on these stations, but I can't confirm that.

I'd forgotten where that article was - great reference.

Now that you mention the different pylons, I can confirm that they have smaller air to air weapons pylons on the outboard wing stations (2 and 8); they create less drag, and are a bit lighter = more performance. I don't know for sure, but they might be similar to the Super Hornet outboard wing pylons.

ALF