Mr.Happy Posted December 5, 2025 Share Posted December 5, 2025 This is Revell’s 1/48 Super Bug F/A-18E. It was one of Revell’s last 1/48 attempts at aircraft during the early years of this new century. The kit originally was released in 2007. It’s based off an early block F/A-18E. Molded in China the kit has soft plastic, questionable panel lines, poor designed intakes and not at all accurate, inaccurate shape of the airframe, short shot molded landing gear with holes in their structure, flash, and soft details. Ironically the kit comes with weighted main landing gear tires. One gets the feeling that this was molded by different teams after a long liquid lunch’s . (Another double martini bartender!) I remember while I was building this kit I was venting to a friend about how poorly molded this kit is. He has built this kit when it first came out. In our conversation I said, “I’m almost embarrassed for Revell for putting out such a terrible kit, especially on the heals of their nice F-15E Strike Eagle. We both came to the conclusion……In short It’s a POS mold. Stick with Hasegawa and save yourself some trouble and time. The only this good about this build was that I used Two Bobs Decals which were sublime. When I painted this kit I was going to replicate the CAG bird of VFA-14 The Tophatters. But after such a long frustrating process I chose an anonymous line bird after a lengthy tour aboard the USS NIMITZ. Lots of touch ups by the crews involved with maintaining these aircraft. The kit was Painted with Gunze and Tamiya paints throughout. (I feel as if I waisted good paint on this thing.) Should I ever build another Super Bug F/A-18 it will be from Hasegawa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted December 5, 2025 Share Posted December 5, 2025 Great paint! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted December 5, 2025 Author Share Posted December 5, 2025 Thanks phantom! Many of the great work and pictures on ARC was part of the influence of the paint job. I’m always inspired by your work and volume of kits you have built over the years. This kit is number 11 for the year for me. Keep building, Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff M Posted December 5, 2025 Share Posted December 5, 2025 I've built that kit too. Yours looks real good. Great paint and weathering. Keep building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted December 5, 2025 Share Posted December 5, 2025 All things considered, I'd say you won the battle. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted December 6, 2025 Share Posted December 6, 2025 Still anice looking build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
usmcski6502 Posted December 6, 2025 Share Posted December 6, 2025 Talk about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear! Kit flaws aside, I think your Super Bug turned out just fine. Consider it a warmup to an upcoming Hasegawa build. Well done! Semper, Ski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted December 6, 2025 Author Share Posted December 6, 2025 Many thanks gents: Geoff M A-10 Loader Da SWO USMCski6502 You all really are amazing modelers and your posts are truly inspiring. Keep building and inspiring all of us on ARC. THANKS SO MUCH ! Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BastianD Posted December 7, 2025 Share Posted December 7, 2025 Great result despite your critics on the kit itself. Why did you leave the canopy semi open? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robert Garelli Posted December 7, 2025 Share Posted December 7, 2025 Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel about the kit? 🤣 You did an awesome job on it, love the weathering!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted December 7, 2025 Author Share Posted December 7, 2025 5 hours ago, Robert Garelli said: Don't hold back, tell us how you really feel about the kit? 🤣 Yeah It was a less than spectacular build session with this one. Thank you for the feedback on the weathering ! Keep building, Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted December 7, 2025 Author Share Posted December 7, 2025 8 hours ago, BastianD said: Great result despite your critics on the kit itself. Why did you leave the canopy semi open? Robert Garelli, First : Thanks much ! Second: Unfortunately I had tempted to prop that canopy in a full open position. However I found that I risked having some unsightly glue stains on the mechanism/actuator that opens the canopy. I originally wanted a closed canopy but encountered more problems with the frames. So I went for the balance of the two options. Keep building, Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted December 31, 2025 Share Posted December 31, 2025 Nice paint, that is one dirty bird! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted Saturday at 02:06 PM Author Share Posted Saturday at 02:06 PM Lol, Many thanks Trojan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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