1/32 Academy F/A-18D Hornet

by Daniel

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So this is Academy's third release of their famous F/A-18 kit, this time the double-seated, Marine Version. I don't have much to say about the kit, it’s the same, just with all the stuff for a –D, and also most of the parts for a –B are supplied, I think. I decided to use kit decals for VMFA(AW)-224 Bengals, this colorful Bird is really an Eye-catcher.

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I decided to do the Tiger stripes by hand, I’m young and I don’t have the patience to mask it all (*g*). This was a six-hour session! Weathering was done mostly before the stripes were painted, doing some shading on the panellines. After the stripes came some touch-ups with a brown-grey mixture, heading in the direction of flight. This is best seen on the overall top-shot.

Weapons load is normal as I saw it on photos for Operation Iraqi Freedom; two AIM-9Ms, two drop tanks, one AGM-65 Maverick, two GBU-12s (from the Academy F-16CJ kit) on a horizontal ejector rack, FLIR/LANTIRN pods and a CBU on centerline station. I didn’t use any aftermarket sets, but I think this was the last time. Next project is Trumpeter’s F-105D “Thud”; and for this kit I bought a complete Eduard set, for Interior, Exterior, Weapons, Masking foils etc 

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But back to the Hornet: after the Tiger stripes had dried, I put a gloss coat. Decals went on very easy, using Gunze Mr Mark Softer for the first time: I like it! A final cot of dull cote and done was the beauty. Only error I made was scratching the canopy; I’m such a fool! Now it looks like this jet was shot at, and one bullet penetrated the canopy...

Daniel

Photos and text © by Daniel