For a while now, I have been using the Revell F-18C kit as a base for building my collection of CF-118A Hornets in the very colorful Demo schemes released by Leading Edge Models.  This time, I decided to try something a bit more challenging….take that same F-18C kit……and convert it to a two-seat variant of the CF-18. 

Click on images below to see larger images

            Next came the decision as to what to use for the cockpit.  Well, looking at the Testors kit cockpit, I realized I needed something different.  My answer came in the form of a Black Box resin cockpit set for the F-18B.  The front tub actually fit into place with no problems at all, but time had to be taken to line up and place the second tub for the backseat.  After much dry fitting of the tub, seat and canopy to ensure the correct position, the tubs were secured in place with plenty of CA and braced with some plastic strip.  Cockpit was painted the normal colors of gray and black with dry brushed instruments and dials.

            Now, I though the hard part was over…..wrong!  I figured why not rescribe the panel lines??  Then the thought occurred to me.  Well, if you’re going to all the trouble of converting the model to a two-seater, why not cut the flaps and lower them??  Well, so I got to cutting and scribing and suddenly realized, what did I get myself into?? 

            Fast forward a couple of months….gathering dust was blown off the model and work resumed.  I finally hung the flaps on the jet and finished the scribing and got the jet ready for paint.

            After doing 9 CF-18’s, you would think I would have at least one regular line bird??  Nope!  Well, time to change that.  I looked through Leading Edge Models Generic CF-18 decal sheet and decided on which two-seater to build.  After looking at a few photos I had taken, I decided to build CF-188B 188916 assigned to 441 “Siler Fox” TFS based at 4 Wing Cold Lake.

            Paints used were from Gunze.  The topside gray from Gunze (H337) isn’t a good match to the real CF-188, so I decided to tint it with just a touch of green and actually got a pretty good match to the gray used on the top of our CF-18’s.  H308 (Light Ghost Gray) from Gunze was used for the underside of the model.  With the model painted, a few coats of gloss clear were sprayed so that decals could be applied.

             As stated, decals used are from Leading Edge Models Generic CF-18 decal sheet.  This fantastic sheet gives you enough decals to do 2 complete CF-18 models and markings for all current squadrons are provided.  They went on with no problems and Micro-sol was used to soften the decals in some spots. 

            After the decals were applied, another coat of gloss was applied, followed by a panel wash, a coat of flat, and then chalks were used to do some weathering.  After a while, I thought I had gone to far with some of the weathering, so I cranked up the airbrush and actually misted paint over the chalk to tone down the effect, giving me the results I was looking for.  A final coat of flat was then applied.  After that, canopy, gear and weapons pod were painted up and weathered as well. 

            All told, this project turned out better than I had hoped for and now I have a conversion project that I am really proud of.  I hope you have enjoyed my model! 

CHECKER CHECKER!!!!!!!!

Colin