These
are three 1/48 Hornets built by Fulton Recepcion over 7 years ago (a good Marine
Corps bud of mine).
Fulton had built a
series of 1/48 models for each type of plane that the VMF/VMA/VMFA-323 Death
Rattlers had flown in th eir history. The F/A-18A and F/A-18C Hornets were from
that series of models. The Monogram F/A-18A represents the first Hornets that
VMFA-323 operated. He cut and drooped the leading edges, rudders and flaps. He
painted it in the original F/A-18A colors of Light Gray(FS36495)on the lower
surfaces & sides, Light Ghost Gray (FS36375) on the upper surfaces, and Blue
Gray (FS35237) on the anti-glare panel. Superscale 48-191 provided the markings.
The Hasegawa F/A-18C
represented the current (at the time) Hornets that VMFA-323 flew. It was built
mostly out-of-box, with changes to the seat and antennas to reflect the later
block F/A-18C. Superscale 48-473 provided most of the markings. Fulton changed
the 'WS' tailcode to the 'NE' tailcode of CVW-2, changed modex to '201' and
added 'USS Constellation' to represent the (then) previous carrier deployment.
The F/A-18D began
life as the Revell-Monogram F/A-18C. Fulton converted to a D by opening up the
fuselage and scratchbuilding the rear cockpit. He cut and drooped the leading
edges, rudders and flaps. He changed the seats and antennas to reflect the later
block F/A-18D. The longer two-seat canopy and fairing-behind-the-canopy parts
came from the Testors F/A-18A/B. Again, Superscale provided the markings. (Whew.
That was a lot of work. I remember asking him at the time why he didn't just buy
the Hasegawa F/A-18D. He already had all the kit parts required and wasn't about
to back down from a challenge.)
Fulton
ended up donating all 3 Hornets to VMFA-323 and VMFA(AW)-225 about 6 years ago.
I was with him when he turned over the F/A-18s to VMFA-323 and a pilot remarked
that they just had to show the previous CO the model with his name on it. The
photos were shot on the flightline at Miramar. If you look in the background,
you'll see the real VMFA-323 jets. Unfortunately for us, VMFA(AW)-225 had just
painted over their
jets in anticipation of receiving the last F/A-18Ds off the St Louis production
line. SEMPER FI Fulton.
John
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