Subject: Re: 1/32nd F/A-18C pt 1
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Everett McEwan" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 16:06:03 -0800

Hi Everett,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks for
sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Everett McEwan" <[email-masked]>
To: "Steve Bamford" <[email-masked]>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 9:54 PM
Subject: 1/32nd F/A-18C pt 1

> Steve you should have just gotten the next article
> (please insert a link to the first article in the spot
> where I left you a note (I refer to the Black box
> set). here are the first pics

>             1/32nd Academy F/A-18C Hornet
>                  Part 1- In progress
>                   By Everett McEwan
>
>                         1.jpg
>
>     I wanted to share with all of you ARCers my
> current project and show off what an awesome kit it
> is! Those of you who don't have this kit have probably
> heard some good press about this kit and seen a few
> built but until you get into it yourself you have no
> idea how great it really is. Despite the massive box
> and the hundreds of parts this is the best engineered
> model you will ever build, it is flawlessly designed
> and goes together better than anything else I have
> seen. I thought this would be the most difficult kit I
> have ever built and so far it's turning out to be the
> easiest.
>                     2.jpg
>      I assembled a lot of after market parts for the
> project because I wanted to really make this beauty
> shine. The goodies include; Eduard color interior set,
> color placard set, and the mesh set, the Cutting Edge
> cockpit set (late lot) and the Black box exterior
> detail set (Steve please link here to other article)
> and Daco's new F-18 book. I include the Daco book as
> an after market item because I bought it for building
> this kit and it is essential! I have never seen
> anything like this book, it is the best reference book
> ever produced hands down! A true must have.
>                      26.jpg
>                      18.jpg  3.jpg
>     The cockpit set is incredible, I chose this over
> the black box set because I like the clear resin
> instrument panel that allows you to make great looking
> multi-function displays.
>                   14.jpg  19.jpg 21.jpg
>     I made mine pop out a little more by painting
> clear green and blue and backing them with white
> instead of black (this is not as accurate but I like
> the look). After painting I used some of the PE parts
> to add even more detail to what is a great pit already
> (I really like the tiny stencils on the Eduard parts).
> The ejection seat also got some PE placards and
> careful painting, man it looks great.
>              16.jpg 22.jpg 23.jpg 24.jpg
>     I have yet to add it but this set even includes a
> mesh screen to fit over the hell hole behind the
> pilot, a very nice addition.
>                15.jpg 17.jpg 20.jpg
>
>                  I really like the kit nose wheel
> well, even though it could use a few more wires and
> hydraulic lines (I may add those latter) it is very
> easy to paint it up and get a accurate nose bay. I
> added some Eduard placards here too.
>                28.jpg 11.jpg 12.jpg 13.jpg
>
>                         10.jpg
>    The nose and main gear are a work of art, I am
> amazed at the quality and engineering here too. They
> actually come with a metal strut that you build the
> gear around making them strong enough for what will be
> a heavy load, and yet they are dead on representations
> of the real things. Academy did not compromise one bit
> on these little gems. The only things missing are the
> hydraulic lines but these are easily added with
> varying thickness of wires. I also added placards from
> the Eduard set but the kit includes decals for this as
> well.
>                      4.jpg  9.jpg
>     The Eduard mesh set is not necessary but for $6 it
> adds a few nice details and is worth buying. It
> replaces the nose vents (this is for late lot Hornets
> only), the upper and lower vents near the exhaust, and
> the vortex generators on the intake splitters. Some
> cutting is required, so be careful and follow the
> panel lines and you will get a nice fit.
>                      6.jpg
>    I cut and assembled the wings and the wing fold
> mechanism, but have left the final assembly for later.
> This is again a great addition, the limited Hasegawa
> release in 1/48th is the only other kit out there that
> includes a wing fold option as part of the kit, and
> not even half as nice (or as accurate) as this.
> Academy reproduced it in perfect detail including the
> upper wing latches that might be over looked in many
> other kits (I know Hasegawa forgot this).
>     I also built up the rear fuselage and joined the
> wings, there is a small gap in the wings joint but
> this was easily filled and re-scribed. I am finding
> that even though it is a very big kit with big parts,
> it all fits very well.
>                     5.jpg  7.jpg 8.jpg
>     That's about it for now, but I am chugging along
> on this baby and should finish it in no time. This is
> the first 1/32nd model I have built since I was a kid
> and now I see why so many people like them, they are
> easier because they aren't so many tiny parts. I have
> ordered some decals from Eagle Strike with VFA-105
> markings for a dirty bird from OIF and I am still
> trying to decide what to hang on the wings. The only
> bone I have to pick with Academy (and it's minor) is
> with all the ordnance included in the kit how could
> they forget the most common air to ground weapon? The
> GBU-16, the 500 pound Mk 82 based LGB, this is by far
> the weapon of choice for the modern Hornet. Oh well,
> if they included everything, what would the after
> market companies be left with?  God I love this kit,
> if you don't have it yet go out and get it! It rocks!
> Stay tuned for more.
>
>                    27.jpg
>
>
>
>
>
>
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