Rodney Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) Here is my just completed Hasegawa F/A-18D 1/48. While I say just completed, it was started over 10 years ago... I built some aircraft models growing up and really enjoyed it. But then high school sports, college, and life took over. After graduating and moving to the Bay Area in California, I discovered a great model shop. This was my introduction to kits other than Monogram and Revell. Also, my discovery of aftermarket decals. The very first aftermarket decal I bought was the Orion decals I used on this kit. In addition, I used the Steel Beach intake covers, Eduard AGM-65 Mavericks, Meng AIM-9 and AIM-7, and True Details ejection seats. The Orion decals were old and I ended up using the formation lights from a second set when a couple shattered. While the Meng missiles look good, it was challenging to clean up the small forward fins and glue them on perpendicular to the missile body. The Eduard Mavericks are really nice but the resin blocks were a pain to get off and sand the bottom flat. It appears that Eduard has improved this on their new weapon releases. I scratch built the IFF antennas and GPS antenna. I believe everybody is familiar with the challenges on the rear fuselage. Several rounds of putty and rescribing required. This kit challenged me until the end. The starboard wing is lower than the other one. In my attempts to make them even, I broke the metal landing gear. Ended up ordering a replacement set from SAC. Knocked off the flaps a couple of times during painting. I should have gone back and fixed the canopy glue joint. Also, really disappointed in my attempt to use oils for weathering. Happy to finally have this one done. Thanks, Rodney Edited September 24, 2018 by Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted September 24, 2018 Author Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) Made pictures larger. Edited September 24, 2018 by Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flanker27 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 wow, this is fantastic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelguy2 Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 looks great Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dustiepal Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Really really nice, I think it looks great! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dylan Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 beautiful job Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Really neat and nice build 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainObvious Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Congratulations on pushing through 10 years Rodney! She looks great! -co Quote Link to post Share on other sites
coairmech88 Posted September 25, 2018 Share Posted September 25, 2018 Nice work....great photography, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 Nice job Rodney! Which hobby shop were you referring to? I’m in the east bay. I grew up in the South Bay and the great hobby shops I knew and loved are gone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 Thank you all. It's good to at least get it finished. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 4 hours ago, picknpluck said: Nice job Rodney! Which hobby shop were you referring to? I’m in the east bay. I grew up in the South Bay and the great hobby shops I knew and loved are gone. It's killing me to not remember the name. It was in Mountain View, I think on El Camino Real. It was a good size shop with great selection. I would buy one model at a time growing up and then that store was the start of my stash explosion happening. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelingbob Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 2 hours ago, Rodney said: It's killing me to not remember the name. It was in Mountain View, I think on El Camino Real. It was a good size shop with great selection. I would buy one model at a time growing up and then that store was the start of my stash explosion happening. Rodney San Antonio Hobbies on the corner of El Camino Real and San Antonio Road???? It's now a huge planned residential/commercial shopping district that's quite toney!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 2 hours ago, modelingbob said: San Antonio Hobbies on the corner of El Camino Real and San Antonio Road???? It's now a huge planned residential/commercial shopping district that's quite toney!!!! YES!!! I miss having a hobby store like that to visit. Definitely revived my interest in the hobby. Are there any stores left in the Bay Area? I remember one down in San Jose and one in the East Bay that I'd visit. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelingbob Posted September 26, 2018 Share Posted September 26, 2018 If the San Jose shop you remember is D&J Hobby, then sadly, it closed down last year (2017). No more good modeling related hobby shops in the South Bay. Still a few RC related shops hanging on, with limited selections of tools, glues, and paint, (but no kits) but most of those have also closed. The shop in San Leandro (East Bay) (Hobbies Unlimited) is still operating, but that's over a 50 mile one way dedicated drive for me (not on the way to any place I go) , so I rarely visit it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Yup...San Antonio! That, and D&J were treasures! Hobbies Unlimited in San Leandro is still alive and well and Loose Caboose in Napa is another cool spot. Bonus that Napa is an easy sell to the wife if she likes wine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Roof Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Rodney, That looks awesome! That decal sheet was the first product I ever released and it's nice to learn it was the first aftermarket sheet you ever purchased. Do you mind if I use your photos on my web site and Facebook page to show off the use of the decals? Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 4 hours ago, Dave Roof said: Rodney, That looks awesome! That decal sheet was the first product I ever released and it's nice to learn it was the first aftermarket sheet you ever purchased. Do you mind if I use your photos on my web site and Facebook page to show off the use of the decals? Dave Dave, Go for it. I've always liked the viking markings on those jets. I wish my skills were better to do your decals justice. Thanks, Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 The panel lines are too contrasting to me, but overall it looks beautiful! And the light weathering is very nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 I'll have to try a dark grey wash next time. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Nice work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted October 14, 2018 Author Share Posted October 14, 2018 10 hours ago, Scooby said: Nice work. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleAviation Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Nice clean painting and light weathering. Looks great Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FlyAndFight Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Great job! I've got the same kit and decal set in the queue. Love the markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Swashplate Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Beautiful work. Congratulations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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