Hajo L. Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 You may have heard, the Luftwaffe needs a replacement for the aging Tornados, and while the F-15 and the F-35 have been already removed from the competition, the F-18 (it´s unclear in which configuration, EF-18G would be good since it would fulfill the Tornado ECR-role - and it already has a "G" in the dsignation 😉 ) and an updated Eurofighter are still in the game. So, I will assume the EF-18 has "won" and will do a german Hornet! I already did the instrument panels and the cockpit tub. I realized that this must be some sort of "snap together"-kit, since most of the parts have some pin that fits into their counterpart. Details look good, though, and it looks like this will be a rather quick build. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted July 11, 2019 Author Share Posted July 11, 2019 It would be indeed possible to build the kit without glue! You can snap all parts together. But I still used glue, just to be sure, and to close smaller gaps. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Perhaps one day it won't be "what if". Think I read somewhere the Germans are looking at Growlers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted July 13, 2019 Author Share Posted July 13, 2019 Yeah, propably in my first post.... 😉 HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share Posted August 3, 2019 Sorry for pausing so long, but I was on vacation and had another kit taken with me. But I´m back and was able to do quite a lot during the last few days. Basically because the kit literally snaps together, the montage of the gear was a thing of 5 minutes...: I already painted the first layer, using a slightly lightened up Revell 374. Since I do want some sort of camoflage on the aircraft (and not do a boring "one-grey-only"-bird) I oriented myself on the Norm 90J-scheme of the F-4F. I shortly thought about doing a Norm 81A or B, but that would be a bit too retro for a 2020+ aircraft... That´s why I only added a slightly darker grey: HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 I like the paint and agree the Eurofighter current scheme would not be as interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) The crew has taken their places: "Schwarz-Rot-Gold" ("Black, Red, Gold") is a must for my Luftwaffe-aircraft! Canopy closed! And some clear to prepare the model for decalling tomorrow! HAJO Edited August 4, 2019 by Hajo L. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 In the meantime I was able to apply the decals. But I have to tell you a story that came with the decals... I´m pretty happy with my life, but this time even I got jealous! Of course the EF-18G needs some German markings, and so I went through my stash and "voilà" - that fits - dug up the Revell decal sheet of the "Lechfeld Tiger" of 2011. Looks like this: A short research reveiled that the aircraft is listed as "located in the city of Erding". Okay, what does that mean? Can I use the registry of 46+33 on my Hornet, or is the Tornado with this number still active? So i have a collegue and friend who´s a German Air Force Officer, a jet-driver. I ask him if he knows anything about this specific Tornado. The answer comes quick: That bird is practically out of service, the big fin has been removed and is a decoration in someones garden. And the registry is "blocked". "Huu, blocked??", I´m wondering and ask him again. "Yeah, I hold the privileg for that registry!" he answers with a smiley. And he adds: "Check the canopy!". So I zoom on the canopy... I see the names of the pilots... There is his name on the canopy!!! I check the decal-sheet - there is his name as well!!! My buddy has his own freakin aircraft-model!!!! Damn.... 😉 Well, it´s an act of honour for me to put his name on my EF-18G now. I only cut off the rank, he´s no Hauptmann (Captain) anymore. 🙂 This is how the model looks right now, still needs some matt clear coat: And to use some pieces of the cool Tigermeet-decals, I put a couple of them on one of the ECM-Pods: Looks cool, I think. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 That is definitely very high among the coolest of the coolest coincidences!!! 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cool Hand Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Very nice build here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Thank you! It´s done now: Now only the the Luftwaffe needs to purchase a couple of these beasts... 😉 Hard to see, but my buddy is flying this aircraft: The tiger-striped ECM-pod: Front sight: Belly and dirty engines: HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Nice, realistic build. Good job. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cool Hand Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Very cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Very nice, looks cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 This is one of those, "If they don't actually exist, they sure should." models. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share Posted August 15, 2019 Thank you, guys! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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