Opinions on a good F/A-18 Kit in 1:48

Hasegawa wants you to buy their aircraft weapons sets. So good luck getting lots of bombs with their kits. I have several half consumed hasegawa aircraft weapons sets.  Hasegawa does give you the twin ejectors for bombs with their F/A-18 kits.  

There is a local unused parts from kits trading and celling with an "s" "group" so I can usually round up what i need once a month.  

Yes it is large... but it does offer a wingfold build option to save a little space... but seriously, if you want the ultimate F/A-18 kit, IMHO, that is the kit.

That would be a huge friggin' plane.

It is what it is... With as much as you would spend on the Hasegawa or Kinetic F/A-18's, you could always go up to the Academy 1/32 Hornet.... that is one fantastic kit straight OOB....

stikpusher

In most cases they are not drop in. Usually some thinning and cutting of kit parts is required, and sometimes thinning of the resin parts as well. Resin cockpits are very common for this. Just a heads up. Forewarned is forearmed.

But they sure look good once it's all done. And in some ways it's easier than filling seams on intakes... that is a whole different challenge.

 

That's tragic.  I'm guessing the only real drop-in resin would be the ejection seats and the wheels. 

I've been searching YouTube for a tutorial on seamless intakes, but I've come up snake-eyes.  I guess trial and error is how it's gonna be.

I guess if I want a good Hornet, with full length intakes it's gotta be either Kinetic(which was terribly painful the first time, although I was very inexperienced) or Hobbyboss. 

In most cases they are not drop in. Usually some thinning and cutting of kit parts is required, and sometimes thinning of the resin parts as well. Resin cockpits are very common for this. Just a heads up. Forewarned is forearmed.

But they sure look good once it's all done. And in some ways it's easier than filling seams on intakes... that is a whole different challenge.

stikpusher

Have you worked much with resin and aftermarket stuff? Most if it is not drop in fit and requires surgery to the base kit to make it fit. And sometimes to the resin parts as well. 

If you have, then never mind what I just said. If you have not, you're in for a LOT of skill honing. 

 

Yeah....I have not...I was hoping they'd be more drop in replacement...

Have you worked much with resin and aftermarket stuff? Most if it is not drop in fit and requires surgery to the base kit to make it fit. And sometimes to the resin parts as well. 

If you have, then never mind what I just said. If you have not, you're in for a LOT of skill honing. 

stikpusher

Well that makes perfect sense. We tend to get that way modeling stuff that we have a personal connection with.

I take it that you were a Marine by the sound of your CAS Birds. Have you built any Cobras or Harriers? 

 

Yup, 2004-2009, amphibious assault.  My modeling experience is far more limited, so I'm trying to learn and hone those skills as best I can.

As for the harriers and the cobras, I have not yet.  I wanted to get a good hornet made before I move on to the kitty hawk AH-1Z I have.  And the AV-8B is on my list.

Well that makes perfect sense. We tend to get that way modeling stuff that we have a personal connection with.

I take it that you were a Marine by the sound of your CAS Birds. Have you built any Cobras or Harriers? 

stikpusher

I take it that you're something of a F/A-18 fanatic. Best 1/48 kit, best seamless intakes... what else are you planning here?

 

I love me some bugs.  Had them, Harriers, and Cobras provide air support for me many times.

I take it that you're something of a F/A-18 fanatic. Best 1/48 kit, best seamless intakes... what else are you planning here?

stikpusher

The only two companies I can think of are Seamless Suckers and Cutting Edge. But both look to be out of business.

 

After some google searching, I found two Rhino Modelworks and XMM.  I've heard good things about Dmold, but they don't have one for the F/A-18C.  Has anyone used either of the ones that do exist?

stikpusher

The only two companies I can think of are Seamless Suckers and Cutting Edge. But both look to be out of business.

 

I would use Google and try and find a set of maestro models  intakes k4841 as they are great to use and sometimes the odd set come up otherwise  there is  xmold-modeling.com who do a set for the hasegawa classic hornet, they are not the easiest to use as they do require you do a bit of cutting to the wing root area but they are the only ones definetly available that I know of at the moment. 

The only two companies I can think of are Seamless Suckers and Cutting Edge. But both look to be out of business.

So, who makes the best full length intakes for the hasegawa? 

For those of you building a kinetic kit, I have found how to greatly improve the fit of the nose and canopy and it is as follows  

1 .glue bulkhead h31 directly to the front of the main fuselage

2 glue front fuselage halves together but do not glue the floor section(which is either c13,17,18,23 depending on which you want) tape it in place only.

3 test fit nose to main fuselage, it will almost certainly sit a touch low ( check gap between floor section and the bulkhead) trim the tabs on inside of nose or notches in bulkhead to allow nose to sit higher so there is no longer a gap between bullhead and floor piece.

4 once you have that gap gone tape side of nose to main fuselage (1 piece of tape each side so it cannot move up or down) then remove the floor section you taped earlier, sometimes there is a step between the nose and main fuselage where nose is a little narrower if you are happy with the fit then glue with some liquid cement from the inside if you are not happy shim the nose to bulkhead till it is flush then glue.

Following this process gave me much better fitting of the upper fuselage to nose section and of the canopy

Hope this helps 

Mrmavx

Devil Dawg

I've got the Hasegawa 1/48th F/A-18F in progress (along with a few others; see below), and it does have the full-length intake trunks. They fit pretty danged good, too.

 

I was hoping to do an A+ or a C, as the usmc opted not to buy the E or F super hornet

laskdjn

 

Wilbur Wright

The Hasegawa F-18's in 48th scale are tremendous.   They are worth the cost.  I've built the A and D varients.

  

Another thing that bothers me about the Hasegawa kits is the lack of a full length intake trunk 

I've got the Hasegawa 1/48th F/A-18F in progress (along with a few others; see below), and it does have the full-length intake trunks. They fit pretty danged good, too.

laskdjn

Very nice, indeed.  One day I hope to get that good.

 

Thank you kindly. It also brings tons of weapons unlike Hasegawa's.

Very nice, indeed.  One day I hope to get that good.

keavdog

Very nice Blue Angle!

 

Thank you Sir!

Here's mine. Double click on the images for closeups.

Certainly looks passable to my eye.

laskdjn

 

plasticjunkie

I recently built the 1/48 HB twin seater as Blue Angel #7 and found it to be a very enjoyable build with no fit issues whatsoever. Great looking details.

 

 

 

 

How is it accuracy wise? 

 

From the reviews I have read, it rivals Hasegawa. The pit can use some minor help but that seems to be the norm with most models requiring either some sort of pe or resin upgrades for better detailing. I found it to be adequate. 

Here are some great shots 

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234908839-148-fa-18d-hornet-hobby-boss/

plasticjunkie

I recently built the 1/48 HB twin seater as Blue Angel #7 and found it to be a very enjoyable build with no fit issues whatsoever. Great looking details.

 

How is it accuracy wise? 

I recently built the 1/48 HB twin seater as Blue Angel #7 and found it to be a very enjoyable build with no fit issues whatsoever. Great looking details.