|
|
|
_ |
|
1/48 Italeri F/A-18F |
|
by Sergei Galicky, Russia |
|
-------------------- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When I began this project, possible Super Hornet model releases by Revell and Trumpeter, which can and should be better, seem to be a remote prospect. I had the Italeri kit in my hands,, and I figured I could improve it.
First of all, I wanted to correct the model, admitted by development, of a mistake. Therefore work began to find information and reference photos of the Super Hornet. In the beginning it was difficult to find information, but with receipt of the F/A-18 at squadron level, photos began to become easier to find.
Areas of poor detail of this model kit include poor interior cockpit, very simple ejection seats, wrong recessed panel lines and much more. I intended to exert maximum effort to improve ad complete this model. I spent much effort fixing problem areas on this model. To get a detailed cockpit, I have decided to use the standard cockpit from the Hasegawa F-18D. I altered the instrument panels. Ejection seats I also took from the Hasegawa kit and has finished them up to an acceptable level of detail.
The wings have undergone modifications. First of all, I wanted to imitate the mechanization of the flaps in a parked position, which are almost always in a lowered position. I cut them off detailed and finished them. The stabilizers also can be in different positions, but more often are in a downward position. Stabilizers are molded as one piece with the bottom part of the fuselage in a horizontal position, l also cut them off.
The improvements were completed on the fuselage. I scribed new panel lines and drilled out rivets. Work on the air intakes required some painful days. The intakes were too large, and consequently also were modified. Before windshield
there is a trapezoid overlay under gauges and aerials, which the model lacked so
I made it independently. The configuration of the gun and refueling probe were
also corrected. The fine details were completed in the cockpit and on a
canopy (the mirrors, hooks) was added. Canopy and windshield glass were covered
in a mix of two acrylic varnishes -smoke and red. It seems, I have
achieved the necessary shade.
For markings I used a little decals. From them has combined the plane of a squadron VFA-122 with number 101. Whether serial number of the plane for the plane with number 102 was corrected on one figure from last six is made five (I do not know so it actually). Stencils were from different decals and even 72-nd scale. In it I looked at a photo, than on the instruction more.
Well as you can see,
this is not a model that was done the easy way.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Photos and text © by Sergei Galicky
|
|
With much
eagerness I await a new F/A-18E model from Revell.