Hornet Help Needed

F-18A+? The '18 is my favorite modern jet and I've been building them for a while and I've never heard of an A+ variant. What decal sheet did you get? Maybe the A+ is the designation for the upgraded A models used by Spain. They were refitted with some new electronics and the ability to carry the AMRAAM a while back so that would be my guess on the F/A-18A+ deal. The only people in the U.S. still flying tha A's are the Marines, Blue Angels, NSAWC, and NASA. Anyways, the C is an upgrade from the A model in electronics and weapons capabilities. These are the noticable changes on the C airframe: There are two additional fairings on each side of the nose under the LEX. There is a fairing on the forward right nose gear door. Two fairings for the ASPJ (Airborne Self-Protection Jammer) are located on the spine behind the canopy. The antenna fairings on the bottom of the intakes were done away with. Another fairing was added (a middle one) to each fin. It should be noted that most (if not all) C's flying have the second antenna under the fuselage (by the nosegear well) and the aft antenna on the spine swept back, and a few have new IFF strakes on top of the nose. I hope this helps you a little.

Originally posted by Rebel99 F-18A+? The '18 is my favorite modern jet and I've been building them for a while and I've never heard of an A+ variant. A+ are A models that have been upgraded to have the same weapons capability as the C/D models. Some USMC squadrons have them. Externally, they are identical to the normal A models except they may have the "bird slicer" IFF array on the top of the nose ahead of the windscreen. They don't have the extra bumps on the nose or spine of the C model and don't have the 3rd fairing on the trailing edges of the fins that the C has either. Reply Joe Hegedus Member since December 2002 From: Patuxent River, MD Posted by Joe Hegedus on Friday, February 20, 2004 9:53 AM The only people in the U.S. still flying tha A's are the Marines, Blue Angels, NSAWC, and NASA. VFA-97, as of this writing, is still flying A model Hornets. I think VFA-203 still has A models, too. USMC has some of the A+ birds. Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 20, 2004 11:07 AM O.K.. I haven't heard of them being referred to as A+'s before. I have heard of the upgrades and even have a pic of a USMC bird with the swept-back antennas. As for VFA-97 the "Warhawks", I hadn't forgotten about them. I read not too long ago that they finally retired their A's and traded for C's in an issue of 'Air Forces Monthly. I don't know about 203 and I mentioned the USMC, but it's no big deal. Thanks for clarifying on the updated designations. Oh, and about the pylons- I wanted some for one of my birds too, but I don't think anyone makes them. I'll have to look again. Reply Edit cassibill Member since February 2003 From: Indiana, USA Posted by cassibill on Friday, February 20, 2004 12:32 PM A+'s are also called B's cdw My life flashes before my eyes and it mostly my life flashing before my eyes!!! The 1/144 scale census and message board: http://144scalelist.freewebpage.org/index.html Reply Lufbery Member since December 2002 From: Harrisburg, PA Posted by Lufbery on Friday, February 20, 2004 12:43 PM I thought the B is a two-seater. -Drew Build what you like; like what you build. Reply cassibill Member since February 2003 From: Indiana, USA Posted by cassibill on Friday, February 20, 2004 1:08 PM I can't find the sight again but I thought it said something like the modified A known as A+ were later called B's cdw My life flashes before my eyes and it mostly my life flashing before my eyes!!! The 1/144 scale census and message board: http://144scalelist.freewebpage.org/index.html Reply jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Friday, February 20, 2004 1:45 PM Rebel can you tell me what parts in the Hasegawa Hornet in 1/48 you are referring too? Thanks. This info has been extremly helpful. Thanks to all that gave me somethings I did not know. Also what parts reprsent the ones under the intakes? Which are the FLIR Pods and LDT Pods. Thanks. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Lufbery Member since December 2002 From: Harrisburg, PA Posted by Lufbery on Friday, February 20, 2004 2:09 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I can't find the sight again but I thought it said something like the modified A known as A+ were later called B's Well, that's what happened with the Tomcat, but (as far as I know) the F-18B has always been a two-seater. Regards, -Drew Build what you like; like what you build. Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:25 AM Sorry for taking a while to get back, but the main parts in the Hasegawa C model you would need to work with would be the tail fins. The middle sensor that sticks out from the trailing edge would have to be removed. All the other fairings related to the C are molded as separate pieces, so all you would have to do is leave them off. I'll find an instruction sheet when I get home and give you some specific part #'s. As for the A, A+, B confusion... that's the F-14. The older F-14A's went through an upgrade program and redesignated A+'s. Later, to simplify designations the A+ was dropped and they were given the B designation. As was previously stated the F/A-18B is the two seat version that is similar to the A. Reply Edit jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 11:45 AM Well the Twobobs sheet Patriot Hornets lists them as A+. I have that sheet right in front of me. But Bob said that one other sheet had a typo so maybe that was a typo. Thanks again for your help. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 12:40 PM No problem. I'll let you know what parts to worry about tomorrow. Good choice of markings! I've seen that sheet at the hobby shop and actually thought about getting it. Reply Edit jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 1:06 PM I got some others as well. I got the VFA-94, VFA-22 and the All American Bird. All for projects a long time down the road. I just wanted to secure them to get them before they were gone. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 26, 2004 9:22 AM Sorry for not getting back to you yesterday. I haven't been feeling too well, but I didn't forget about the #'s. I have the instruction sheet for Hasegawa kit # P26 which is the basic C model they have. Regardless of what decal options come with the kit as long as you have a C model these are the instructions included. First, in step 10 the small fairing on part # F3 needs to be removed. Next, in step14 DO NOT open the two holes in part # G4 that are behind the canopy. These are for the ASPJ fairings which you will not need. The fins (F1 and F2)shown in step 15 need to have the middle fairing removed as mentioned earlier. Last, in the final step (22) you will not need any of those parts: K2, K23, or K24. Well, I hope this helps with your project. If you need to know anything else just ask. Take it easy! Reply Edit roadkill_275 Member since September 2003 From: North East Texas Posted by roadkill_275 on Thursday, February 26, 2004 10:46 AM Maybe this will help clear up some of the confusion. Officially there is no A+. This designation was started in-house by MDD to differentiate the Spanish A's from the regular A. A lot of the aviation magazines picked up on this and that was how it became widespread. I found this out while researching for my Hasegawa F-18C, at first I thought there was another version of the electric bug out there. Curiously some of my references stated that the Spanish Hornets were rebuilt by Grumman, some said MDD and a couple said LTV!!!! Kevin M. Bodkins "Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup" American By Birth, Southern By the Grace of God! www.milavia.com Christian Modelers For McCain Reply jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Thursday, February 26, 2004 7:25 PM Rebel 99 what are the parts D17, D20, B21, L5, L7, L10 for? I assume that B20, B22 B23,adn L8 are for the LANTIRN Pod? and third with the OEF decal sets from Twobobs the list something called an LDT. Which is the LDT and which is FLIR? Thanks again and get well soon. Take care. I will be building and A and C respcetivley after all sorry about that. At my current skill level it doesn't seam viable to do more than and OOB kit. One more question. On that Twobobs sheet talking about OEF, the list MK 82's as a payload option. Would they typically carry one, two, three or six of these MK 82's. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 27, 2004 9:47 AM O.K., the first set of parts you listed beginning with D17 are under step 19 in the instruction sheet. That's the LDT that Twobobs lists. It was originally designated LST/SCAM for Laser Spot Tracker/Strike CAMera, but it was changed to LDT/CAM... same thing. Just mount it as the instruction say and you will be good to go on that. The other set of numbers starting with B20 are for the FLIR pod. Those are the only two you should need for your OEF Hornet. As for the Mk. 82's, the Monogram kit comes with four- two mounted on one pylon on a VER (vertical ejector rack) The VER's complete with sway braces are included in the Hasegawa kit so all you would need to do is mount the bombs to them. I believe that if you put 4 Mk.82's on the VER's included you will be fine. Keep in mind that F-18 loads have many different combinations. I've even seen pics of Hornets with an asymmetrical loadouts (droptank on one pylon JDAM on the other). Hope this helps. If you have any more ?'s feel free to post away! BTW- thanks, I'm doing a lot better today. Reply Edit jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Friday, February 27, 2004 9:53 AM i have never heard of any other aircraft putting one tank on one pylon and a bomb or something else on the oppostie one it seams so odd. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Melgyver Member since March 2003 From: Lafayette, LA Posted by Melgyver on Friday, February 27, 2004 10:36 AM Jim, They loaded different ordinance on the A-1 Skyraider pylons a lot. A mini-gun pod on one and "nap" on the other or a 500 lb bomb. Clear Left! Mel Reply jimz66 Member since December 2002 From: Winsted CT Posted by jimz66 on Friday, February 27, 2004 11:31 AM It just seam weird thats all. Phantoms rule the skies!!! Reply Melgyver Member since March 2003 From: Lafayette, LA Posted by Melgyver on Saturday, February 28, 2004 11:28 PM Jim, You wouldn't believe the "wierd" stuff that happens during a "war"! A lot of "R&D" stuff too! Clear Left! Mel Reply JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy