john53 Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 (edited) This will keep me busy while I wait for my paint shipment. It's a Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18C which I am building as a Blue Angels F/A-18C. I will most likely use Cam Pro decals. I'm not going to load it up with PE or resin, just a quick OOB build. So far the cockpit and instrument panel are done. I will make some seat harnesses out of tape.---John Edited July 8, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 I have the cockpit in and the fuselage halves closed up. To be on the safe side I added a bit of weight in the nose area just above the nose wheel well. Fidgety intakes next.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted May 26, 2018 Share Posted May 26, 2018 Nice work, John. I'm planning to do the same thing with my Hase F/A-18A kit ( ie use CAM decals). Will be watching your progress Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 26, 2018 Author Share Posted May 26, 2018 Thanks, I have the dreaded intakes and the nose on. I also filled that sink hole in the left LEX. There seems to be one also on the right side but not as bad as the left side. More putty and more sanding.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 26, 2018 Share Posted May 26, 2018 John, I'll be following right along as I love the Blue Angels scheme. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 27, 2018 Author Share Posted May 27, 2018 I filled the holes in the wing bottoms for the unused pylons and added the wings. I'll have to add a small amount of putty to the gaps in the top of the wings where they join the fuselage, there is also a good sized gap on the left bottom wing. Looks like Hasegawa's molds have seen their better days.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 27, 2018 Author Share Posted May 27, 2018 (edited) Gaps in wing to fuselage on top surfaces filled and sanded and tails added---John Edited May 27, 2018 by john53 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 John, you're making excellent progress. As for those wing gaps, I'm betting that they were there from day 1, not just from the aging of the molds. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 I’m enjoying this build. I’ve got one of those kits as well. Looking forward to what I know is going to be a winner! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 Thanks, I added the intake ramps, flip it over and added the fences to the LEX, some more lumps and bumps , tails and canopy and sanded down the depression on the left side of the LEX.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 I also added some tape harnesses to the seat before I closed up the canopy.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 John, Your attention to those little details is paying off in Spades Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 7, 2018 Author Share Posted June 7, 2018 I looked around for various decals but It seems like I will have to go with Cam Pro. I had read that there were cracking issues with them but I'll have to deal with it.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 It's blue. Tamiya TS-15.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Masks off. Once the decals arrive I can match the yellow and paint the wings, stabs and tail areas.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F4DPhantomII Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Looking good I just got Kinetic's 1/48 F-18 Blue Angel kit,I am itching to start.Also have the Tamiya TS-15 spray can paint. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Go for it! I'm really interested in doing Academy's 1/72 F/A-18C as maybe a Golden Dragons VFA-192 bird. I have the decals in this kit and am not using them, right now.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Paint color really looks quite good. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 I am going with donated Hasegawa decals. The blue color is OK but not what I expected. I probably should have used primer.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 I ran into a major problem. No F/A-18A decals fit a C, only because the 2 lumps behind the canopy are wider than the yellow stripe. So I am ordering a Hasegawa A model and going that route. I just don't feel like trying to cob the decals to fit. I got a good deal at Plaza Japan for the Hasegawa 1/72 Blue Angels F/A-18A at about $8.50.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 I just received my replacement kit from Plaza Japan. 1/72 Hasegawa F/A-18A Blue Angels. Good shipping, only 8 days, economy shipping at that.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 I decided to use the pilot figure, the cockpit is very sparse.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Not sure so I added some weight to the nose area, closed up the fuselage halves and dull coated the pilot, used MM Blue Angels Blue gloss to paint his uniform. I then Futured his helmet and visor.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 The tape is off and I did a test fit of the pilot. He won't be added permanent until after the blue paint is done. Now to remove him and sand the offensive seams. This time I am primering before the blue!---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted July 13, 2018 Author Share Posted July 13, 2018 (edited) I have the wings, nose and intakes on and most of the offending misfit areas puttied and sanded.---John Edited July 13, 2018 by john53 pc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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