kg4kpg Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 (edited) So, I’ve been building F-18’s in 1/72 and I’ve built one in 1/48, but holy cow, I received this kit today and it’s… Still, I’m going to built it, and soon, after I finish a couple airliners I’m in the middle of. Are there any issues I need to be cognizant of or does it go together well? Chris Edited July 1 by kg4kpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Chris The intakes are a bit of a challenge so I would recommend resin ones, other than that it builds up nicely. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 +1 on the resin intakes. The main landing gear is reported to sag aover time. I replaced mine with SAC gear. Of note, I was told a few times that SAC gear would sag over time as well. Mine is fine after at least 7 years. I was unhappy with the detail on the kit exhaust nozzles so I replaced mine. Also, the ejection seats are not the SJU-17 type, but the older SJU-5/6 type. I've heard some people complaining about the shape of the wings, or the angle of the wings. I folded mine and they were quite ok. As for the fit, I seem to remember this kit fitting pretty good. Some sink marks had to be filled, a few joints needed some putty, ones on the LEX to fuselage joint come to mind. Nothing major. But I was absolutelly in love when I built mine so I may be biased 😉 Have fun and post some pics of your Hornet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 Man, this kit is a monster! Which tires do you use? Styrene or rubber? I want to use the rubber tires, but haven’t some kit makers had problems where they melt after long contact with styrene wheels? Has anyone had issues with the rubber cracking or breaking down after sitting on the shelf a few years? I usually build jets in 1/72, definitely a difference in complexity of the landing gear. 😂 That's a lot of parts. From Helmsman: This is what I've used for my bug. https://www.flyingleathernecksdecals.com/p/fl32-2009-fa-18abcd-wheels-for-academy As for rubber tires, Trumpeter's seem to be ok so far, have them on Su-27UB for about 7 or 8 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Hi! I did mine as an F-18B some ten years ago. I used the rubber tires and SAC metal gear, and have had no problems with either. I also used resin intakes as others have suggested, and exhausts as well. However, I would definitely NOT recommend that you get the AIRES exhaust set. Its too small, and you will have a step between the end of the aircraft and the exhaust. Ask me how I know! I ended up using the kit exhaust with the AIRES interior exhaust tube and that worked fine. I'm currently working on an NSAWC A model now, and have bought the Reskit exhausts, which are much better and actually fit. HTH, Fred K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 On 7/21/2024 at 8:32 PM, kg4kpg said: Man, this kit is a monster! Which tires do you use? Styrene or rubber? I want to use the rubber tires, but haven’t some kit makers had problems where they melt after long contact with styrene wheels? Has anyone had issues with the rubber cracking or breaking down after sitting on the shelf a few years? I usually build jets in 1/72, definitely a difference in complexity of the landing gear. 😂 That's a lot of parts. From Helmsman: This is what I've used for my bug. https://www.flyingleathernecksdecals.com/p/fl32-2009-fa-18abcd-wheels-for-academy As for rubber tires, Trumpeter's seem to be ok so far, have them on Su-27UB for about 7 or 8 years. I've not used the rubber tires, so I can't say anything. Mine sit in the box and seem to be fine. But they're not attached to any plastic. I did encounter something similar in 1/72 Fujimi Tomcat where the rubber tires would brake. But I feel it was a bit different kind of rubber than Academy used. As for Aires burner cans, mine were quite ok. I've used these: and managed to get this: There seems to be a tiny bit of misalignment but i feel it makes it more realistic. I feel they are not closed enough for a parked jet though. On 7/21/2024 at 9:25 PM, f5guy said: Hi! I did mine as an F-18B some ten years ago. I used the rubber tires and SAC metal gear, and have had no problems with either. I also used resin intakes as others have suggested, and exhausts as well. However, I would definitely NOT recommend that you get the AIRES exhaust set. Its too small, and you will have a step between the end of the aircraft and the exhaust. Ask me how I know! I ended up using the kit exhaust with the AIRES interior exhaust tube and that worked fine. I'm currently working on an NSAWC A model now, and have bought the Reskit exhausts, which are much better and actually fit. HTH, Fred K. Wow. Lovelly Hornet. Very nice paintjob. BTW, anyone knows if Academy will be re-releasing this beast? I'd love to get my hands on one but they seem to be mostly available second hand only. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 39 minutes ago, Thadeus said: I've not used the rubber tires, so I can't say anything. Mine sit in the box and seem to be fine. But they're not attached to any plastic. I did encounter something similar in 1/72 Fujimi Tomcat where the rubber tires would brake. But I feel it was a bit different kind of rubber than Academy used. As for Aires burner cans, mine were quite ok. I've used these: and managed to get this: There seems to be a tiny bit of misalignment but i feel it makes it more realistic. I feel they are not closed enough for a parked jet though. Wow. Lovelly Hornet. Very nice paintjob. BTW, anyone knows if Academy will be re-releasing this beast? I'd love to get my hands on one but they seem to be mostly available second hand only. I had two sets of the Aires exhaust cans and neither fit. To be sure that it wasn't just me, I tried them on a second kit, and had the same issue. I'm glad that they worked for you. Your Hornet looks great! Love the tiger scheme 👍 Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 16 hours ago, f5guy said: I had two sets of the Aires exhaust cans and neither fit. To be sure that it wasn't just me, I tried them on a second kit, and had the same issue. I'm glad that they worked for you. Your Hornet looks great! Love the tiger scheme 👍 Fred. Thanks! I must have been lucky then. I've had a few Aires sets that felt a little underscale but I always thought they were kind of made this way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 Great builds f5guy and Thadeus, two great schemes. I haven’t decided if I want to do a scheme from the kit or an aftermarket set. I did this one in 1/72 and was thinking of doing it again on this build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 2 hours ago, kg4kpg said: Great builds f5guy and Thadeus, two great schemes. I haven’t decided if I want to do a scheme from the kit or an aftermarket set. I did this one in 1/72 and was thinking of doing it again on this build. Looks great! I did this jet in 72nd scale using the Academy kit, and some Wolfpack resin wings with the drooped flaps. Unfortunately, I really goofed the wings up, so I'll probably redo it at some point. It should look awesome in 32nd scale if you can find the kit. Just FYI, if you can't find the Academy D version in 32nd scale, the Kinetic kit in the pic attached is the Academy kit with all of the parts necessary to build an A/B/C or D. During my build of the green Hornet I dropped the canopy and put a nice big crack in it. I contacted Academy for a replacement, but after a year and a half of phone calls, emails and waiting, no joy. A fellow ARC'er clued me in to the Kinetic kit, so I picked one up and used the two seat canopy from it. Eventually I'll just build as an A or C. HTH, Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 5 hours ago, kg4kpg said: Great builds f5guy and Thadeus, two great schemes. I haven’t decided if I want to do a scheme from the kit or an aftermarket set. I did this one in 1/72 and was thinking of doing it again on this build. Lovelly Hornet. Academy kit in 1/72 is quite nice kit too 😉 3 hours ago, f5guy said: Looks great! I did this jet in 72nd scale using the Academy kit, and some Wolfpack resin wings with the drooped flaps. Unfortunately, I really goofed the wings up, so I'll probably redo it at some point. It should look awesome in 32nd scale if you can find the kit. Just FYI, if you can't find the Academy D version in 32nd scale, the Kinetic kit in the pic attached is the Academy kit with all of the parts necessary to build an A/B/C or D. During my build of the green Hornet I dropped the canopy and put a nice big crack in it. I contacted Academy for a replacement, but after a year and a half of phone calls, emails and waiting, no joy. A fellow ARC'er clued me in to the Kinetic kit, so I picked one up and used the two seat canopy from it. Eventually I'll just build as an A or C. HTH, Fred. And IIRC it has the SAC gear as well. Pretty cool. They seem to be sold out though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winnie Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 A tip for the rubber tires, if you use "Bare metal foil" on the rim, any point that touches the rubber, the rubber/styrene mix won't attack each other. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted July 28 Share Posted July 28 On 7/23/2024 at 1:16 PM, f5guy said: Just FYI, if you can't find the Academy D version in 32nd scale, the Kinetic kit in the pic attached is the Academy kit with all of the parts necessary to build an A/B/C or D. Isn't Kinetic kit is also hard to find? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f5guy Posted July 28 Share Posted July 28 1 hour ago, Helmsman said: Isn't Kinetic kit is also hard to find? I don't know.... it might very well be. I was just throwing it out as another option. Fred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 I’m getting close to wrapping this build up and have a question. I’m going to build mine with GBU-31’s. The decals instructions say it would be common for this plane to also carry an AN/AAQ-28. The kit includes an AN/AAS-38. would anyone have a -28 to trade for -38? I have assembled it, just need to finish a little painting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 (edited) I had the same problem when I built mine. And lack of GBU-12's in Academy kit. I didn't manage to solve my problem, but I got hold of an Academy F-16I that I robbed of this pod. Nowadays there is a nice Eduard resin set: https://www.mojehobby.pl/products/AN-AAQ-28-V-Litening-pod-23755893.html I know that's not what You asked for, but it's the second best thing. Edited September 3 by Thadeus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 (edited) Dave Roof has some excellent update sets for the Academy Hornets in his Flying Leathernecks line, including wheels, pylons, HUD and a LIGHTNING pod, both deployed and stowed. I would highly recommend them. Aaron Edited September 3 by strikeeagle801 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted September 4 Author Share Posted September 4 5 hours ago, strikeeagle801 said: Dave Roof has some excellent update sets for the Academy Hornets in his Flying Leathernecks line, including wheels, pylons, HUD and a LIGHTNING pod, both deployed and stowed. I would highly recommend them. Aaron Thanks Aaron. I saw a post Dave had on Facebook showing the new product so commented on it to look into it. The current release is a left hand version and I need the right hand version. He replied saying should be available in September, which is fine. It will just be the last item attached to the build. *break* Thanks for the info Thadeus, looks nice too. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 2 hours ago, kg4kpg said: Thanks Aaron. I saw a post Dave had on Facebook showing the new product so commented on it to look into it. The current release is a left hand version and I need the right hand version. He replied saying should be available in September, which is fine. It will just be the last item attached to the build. *break* Thanks for the info Thadeus, looks nice too. Chris Got it. Eduard has one in their Brassin line as well. I think it is the right-handed version and is deployed. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted September 14 Author Share Posted September 14 Mission complete. Just a taste. I have to figure out a good way to photograph it, being so big, yet incorporate a good backdrop, and hide any faults. 😬 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RexKramer707 Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 I am certainly not nitpicking, but shouldn't their helmets be camouflage? Or have camo covers. Regardless, I have woodland camo patern decal i could cut off some and mail it to you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted September 16 Author Share Posted September 16 (edited) The instructions said white, so I googled it and although there were no clear pics, you could see that they had on white helmets. I’ll see if I can find it again. **still have them. Edited September 16 by kg4kpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 17 Share Posted September 17 I always assumed camo helmets were for in-theater only. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kg4kpg Posted September 17 Author Share Posted September 17 12 hours ago, habu2 said: I always assumed camo helmets were for in-theater only. In retrospect, this is a Desert Storm scheme, so I suppose I could have went with a camo helmet, but that canopy was a tough fit, they’re going to have to stay as is. 😬 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted September 18 Share Posted September 18 (edited) 19 hours ago, kg4kpg said: In retrospect, this is a Desert Storm scheme, so I suppose I could have went with a camo helmet, but that canopy was a tough fit, they’re going to have to stay as is. 😬 Not necessarily. For the most part, USMC aircrew do use camo helmet covers, although there are exceptions. While assigned to training commands, “boat squadrons”, or new helmet systems (JHMCS, TOP OWL, et al), USMC squadrons will not use helmet covers over their taped helmets. Even while deployed, camo helmet covers are used over reflective taped helmets, affixed via Velcro so that they can be quickly removed in an emergency situation (when I flew on UH-1s on the MEU, we still used our helmet covers over our reflective taped helmets). It’s highly unusual to see operational deployed land-based USMC squadrons NOT using helmet covers, although there are, of course, exceptions. For a VMFA(AW)-121 scheme, especially in the later stages of ODS, helmet covers would be appropriate, but I would never say never… Hope this helps! Ski Edited September 18 by usmcski6502 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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