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F/A-18 Hornet Group Build Interest Thread & Poll


ARC F/A-18 Group Build  

111 members have voted

  1. 1. Would you be interested in participating in an F/A-18 Group Build?

    • Yes
      100
    • No
      11


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So hopefully this question isn't too off-topic, but it is with a view to preparing for this GB... what are 1/72 Hornets worth buying? I've only ever built the RoG kit. I see the Academy kit is pricier than Hasegawa, RoG, Hobby Boss... is the higher price reflective of better quality? How is the HB F/A-18A? Or Hasegawa's, for that matter?

The 1:72 Academy kit is about $32 CAD and worth every penny. Especially if you can find one of the -A variants. Think of the Academy kit as being a scaled down version of their 1:32 kit but with fewer parts.

The HB kit is, in my opinion, horrible. I built one for an RCAF pilot and was really disappointed with the kit. It doesn't even come with the little LEX fences so you have to scratch build those. No cockpit to speakof and rather simplistic to put together. It's cheap, but you get what you pay for I suppose. It reminds me a lot of the Heller kit.

Been a while since I built a Hasegawa one, but I always thought they were the most expensive of the bunch.

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So hopefully this question isn't too off-topic, but it is with a view to preparing for this GB... what are 1/72 Hornets worth buying? I've only ever built the RoG kit. I see the Academy kit is pricier than Hasegawa, RoG, Hobby Boss... is the higher price reflective of better quality? How is the HB F/A-18A? Or Hasegawa's, for that matter?

I've built both the Hasegawa and Academy kits before. The Academy is much better detailed and fits a lot better too. It also has weapons included (GBU-12s, AIM-9s and AIM-7s) and their respective stencils. IMHO, it's well worth the price difference.

Mark

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Disclaimer: I'm in, regardless wink.gif .

Would a 'what if' include something like doing a SEA camo scheme on an F-18F?

Or an ME/BF-109 camo scheme?

Yes.

Disclaimer #2: Only out of curiosity: Why no 'what if's'?

I don't mind/care either way; I'm easy.

There are 52 'yes' votes for the GB but I don't know if that's a low, med, or high vote count. I'll assume, in general, a high vote count for a proposed GB is ideal

If you happen to end up allowing 'what if's', I'm definitely going to do an F-18 in a historical camo scheme that I like. The SEA camo scheme and the British dark two color camo scheme comes to mind. I have two that's already planned and a possible third. That will be the third F-18 build for me if it is allowed.

Which ever way you decide to finalize, I'll fully support your decision

Honestly, I'm not a big "what-if" guy. I'd rather see models of aircraft that saw actual service with an air arm, squadron, etc. But, if there are enough people interested in doing one or two, then I guess it will be alright. I just don't want to end up with more "what-if" builds than actual squadron aircraft.....that's my only worry.

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I just don't want to end up with more "what-if" builds than actual squadron aircraft.....that's my only worry.

I don't think you will have to worry about that. In previous GBs where whifs have been allowed they make up only a fraction of entries. In my mind the purpose of a GB is for a bunch of us with a shared interest in a subject to build models and show progress while doing it while we help each other along the way. The worst thing that can happen is a bunch of us build and finish models :thumbsup: If some of those finished models happens to have french roundels or USAF markings its not the end of the world, its just more models to see, And at the end of the GB/Day its better to have more models at the finish line, not fewer.

my 0.02

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Since we have time to prepare for the GB I want to get a consensus on 1/48th and 1/32nd scale Hornet and Super Hornet models.

In 1/48th and 1/32nd scale, who makes the best overall F-18A/B/C/D?

In 1/48th and 1/32nd scale, who makes the best overall Super Hornet?

I'm currently building a Revell 1/48th scale F-18E. I highly recommend the kit as it is a very accurate model. Crisp details as well and a very reasonably priced kit. With that being said; there's only one drawback. If you want to build the kit in flight, the wheelwell doors in the closed position fit absolutely terrible. My build is in flight. My remedy was to fill the entire wheelwell with epoxy putty and scribe the wheelwell door panels.

If you're going to build a parked/LG down build, wheelwell door panel fitment won't matter.

One of my F-18 GB's will include said Revell 1/48th scale F-18E. For simplicity, I'll probably build that as a parked a/c!

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Since we have time to prepare for the GB I want to get a consensus on 1/48th and 1/32nd scale Hornet and Super Hornet models.

In 1/48th and 1/32nd scale, who makes the best overall F-18A/B/C/D?

In 1/48th and 1/32nd scale, who makes the best overall Super Hornet?

I can't speak for the Super Hornet variety but in 1:48 you have Hasegawa and in 1:32 you have Academy (or the Kinetic Reboxing).

Given that this GB isn't supposed to start until next summer, the new tooling 1:48 Kinetic F-18A kit might be available by then. Not sure.

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Colin,

I know I am not going to do a WIFF build but if it gets more folks interested then I support it.

Love to see an Israeli F-18A/B/C/D or even the New E/F/G's

RAF

German (any of the Phantom NORM schemes)

Dutch

Norwegian

Canadian Super Bugs

Polish Bugs

Austrian and Hungarian markings would look cool.... Hey Even the Swedish splinter scheme.

A Super Bug in Russian Markings with Russian Ordnance would also be Cool.

These are some ideas but the list is endless.

YF-17 with operational Canadian markings...

My only thing would be that the only WIFF part be Decals only.

Litvyak,

As far as 1/72nd scale Legacy Hornet kits go The Hasegawa kit is still a good kit and you can probably find them pretty cheap in the forums. If you can't find one. PM me I have a couple of spares in 1/72nd scale you can get for a reasonable price with shipping.

:cheers:/>

Emil

Edited by Emvar
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So hopefully this question isn't too off-topic, but it is with a view to preparing for this GB... what are 1/72 Hornets worth buying? I've only ever built the RoG kit. I see the Academy kit is pricier than Hasegawa, RoG, Hobby Boss... is the higher price reflective of better quality? How is the HB F/A-18A? Or Hasegawa's, for that matter?

As far as Hornets go in 1/72 scale, and as mentioned by a couple of others, the Academy is the top of the heap. The biggest problem is the $30.00+ and the main landing gear looks a little anemic and too squared along the ground. If you don't want to pay so much for the kit, the Hasegawa kit isn't too bad. You can find some of the older boxings for as much as $10.00 on Ebay. The Hasegawa kits are ideal for building an early version of the Hornet, but it will need a cockpit and better weapons.

Academy.....

2656030660051667340rLwDBt_fs_zps5a011434.jpg

2553659300051667340PHTJGS_fs_zps6c5d2452.jpg

2195537410051667340vHDCnr_fs_zpsd5587fe8.jpg

2179822350051667340YfhloJ_fs_zps1e26329b.jpg

Hasegawa (I used the extra cockpit parts from the Academy kit and extra weapons)....

2517335210051667340gxUhVB_fs_zps0d553f75.jpg

2376555150051667340MeEPyq_fs_zps73273801.jpg

2331517010051667340MmgMjd_fs_zps86a40dd6.jpg

2117776870051667340NSwzJb_fs_zpsf65238e8.jpg

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As far as Hornets go in 1/72 scale, and as mentioned by a couple of others, the Academy is the top of the heap. The biggest problem is the $30.00+ and the main landing gear looks a little anemic and too squared along the ground. If you don't want to pay so much for the kit, the Hasegawa kit isn't too bad. You can find some of the older boxings for as much as $10.00 on Ebay. The Hasegawa kits are ideal for building an early version of the Hornet, but it will need a cockpit and better weapons.

Academy.....

2656030660051667340rLwDBt_fs_zps5a011434.jpg

2553659300051667340PHTJGS_fs_zps6c5d2452.jpg

2195537410051667340vHDCnr_fs_zpsd5587fe8.jpg

2179822350051667340YfhloJ_fs_zps1e26329b.jpg

Hasegawa (I used the extra cockpit parts from the Academy kit and extra weapons)....

2517335210051667340gxUhVB_fs_zps0d553f75.jpg

2376555150051667340MeEPyq_fs_zps73273801.jpg

2331517010051667340MmgMjd_fs_zps86a40dd6.jpg

2117776870051667340NSwzJb_fs_zpsf65238e8.jpg

I remember VFA-132, Seen them while I was with VFA-151! I may have to do a review type build with the two F/A-18D kits I ordered for this GB.

Edited by tosouthern66
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i have so many legacy hornets i cant wait to get started on them for this group build and they are all 1/48 scale. and i got a book called the modern hornet guide defiantly worth it, so the hornet i have are aggressors blue angels test pilot school NASA the centennial jets and the 30th anniversary jet and the prototype

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Hey Phantom! You know these are Hornets and not Phantoms? Lol I know you do good work on everything you build. Just giving you some grief. Love your Phantom builds! Colin, heres a what if one for you.

Edited by tosouthern66
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Actually, I wouldn't really consider that Super Hornet as a what-if. Yeah, there is only one, but hey, it exists....lol.

So, I added prototypes/demonstrator types to the rules.

Edited by Colin K
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Phantom

I have a couple questions for you. How many Hornets do you have vs Phnatoms? Give us some numbers.

For everyone here

While we wait for this to start in July lets see your Hornets you have built?

Edited by tosouthern66
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While we're waiting...

This is a 1:72 scale Hobbyboss F-18A. A pretty horrible kit that doesn't even come with LEX fences, you need to scratch build those. Regardless, I built it up as the 2010 CF-18 Air Demo scheme. Well known for its rather spectacular crash that was caught on film in Alberta. Maj. Bews, the pilot, ejected from only a few feet off the ground and survived okay. This model is now sitting on his desk.

The decals are a combination of my line of decals plus some custom ones I created via my lowly laser printer. I think it's likely that I'll be doing another one of these for the GB. I have an old 1:32 Revell Hornet that needs a lot of work to make it a production aircraft, but it would be an interesting project.

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thanks

David

Edited by RiderFan
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