Revell 1/32 F/A 18E Super Hornet - Finished

Tubosteve

(they are sealed under a couple of clear coats so not going to try change them out and mess eveything up).

Well, really, the only thing that would have to change would be the star in the blue circle.

You could just lay the correct center on over the existing. 

Or not, it's your build.

Thank you and and all for your kind words. Coming from you guys who's work I admire it means a lot!

Thanks also for pointing out my errors with the stars & bars at least I got 1 out of 4 right!! (they are sealed under a couple of clear coats so not going to try change them out and mess eveything up). As I said earlier, it is what it is and I'm happy with how it turned out despite my errors.

Love the scheme, it looks awesome. Excellent work all around.

BK

Tubosteve

Oh well, it is what it is

...and it's a beautiful build!

If you have any spare insignia, you could always yank those off with some Dymo tape and put new ones on.

tempestjohnny

Both wing insignia are upside down also. 

OMG..........I must have been asleep when I did that  I know that putting on so many decals was a nightmare, but I must have just disengaged my brain at some point. Oh well, it is what it is...........

Awesome looking bird. She's a beauty.

Turned out great.  Very cool markings. 

Well done, Steve, she's a beauty.

Tubosteve

Yes it's a big bird so to actually see it in the flesh must really be something.

Having bummed a ride in a non-super, it does not "feel" big on the inside.  Really, it was far easier than a T-38 to move around in the sky.

It's an incredible build, and does the subject proud.

And, since you are not displaying it tied down, you also get to save about £40 on RBF flags

Tubosteve

@ Eaglecash.........so you had the chance to photo the plane but didn't? Or did, but just not on your 'real' camera?

 

Thanks all for your kind words. (I'm afraid it's a cup of tea Crown, back on lockdown here in UK so all pubs etc closed for a month.......not that I frequent pubs anyways!).

Yes it's a big bird so to actually see it in the flesh must really be something. 

@ Eaglecash.........so you had the chance to photo the plane but didn't? Or did, but just not on your 'real' camera?

Fantastic!

Aha!

    A very commendable bird build. Very nice effort to put the realism in and on the kit. Now, point of Fact! Did You Know the "Blue Angels" have transitioned to a new Aircraft? Yessir, They have gone from the FA-18 Hornet to the F-18 " Super Hornet".

   Oh yeah, does any work get done in that fine looking office?

Spectacular job !!! That model must weigh a ton .  Now sit back have a pint and look at your work. (Or tea) 

Nicely done Steve!  Had an opportunity to photograph this exact bird a few months ago at work, but I had left my real camera at home.  

Love it!  Beautiful.

I was at MDC during the whole development, from McDonnel's involvement with the F-17 through flight tests of -18.

So I'm calling this one done for the moment, everything is on except the center line tank, undercarriage/doors), and the gun thingy for the nose (on the way from Revell as was missing from the get go). Can't put them on until the new parts come from Revell in 4/6 weeks. I had a massive brain fart a few days ago and threw away an 'old' sprue with 1 of the undercarriage assy still on it.....Doh!!!!

So this is 99.9% finished, until the bits arrive.

All in all, this kit was not the nightmare I was expecting from online reviews. Sure, it didn't just fall together like Tamiya, but nothing so major that a little care and clamps couldn't sort out. Also, there a couple of very good build logs around that will show where the issues are, forewarned is forearmed as they say.

Hope you enjoy, comments and critique as always welcomed.

Thanks keavdog, glad you like it. As mentioned earlier in thread, I emailed Alclad to ask if they had any suggestions for the paint and they very kindly sent me replacements for both paints along with a bottle of their thinner.....all FOC! Haven't used the 'new' stuff yet so cannot report if it was 'user-error' or a paint issue. mine was Alclad Mil-Spec over Tamiya grey primer.......but my primer had days to go off so I feel it was not some reaction between the 2 (unless others used same combination with similar results?).

Happy how it turned out in the end, a rub down with a soft cloth is not so much of a big deal.

Thankyou Brandon, these big models really to take up quite a bit of room. gonna have to sacrifice something in my shed to make room for this puppy...........think my Eurofighter might be the one to move to the loft space!

Nice build. I don't know how I've missed this so far, but glad I found it. Man, those modern jets in 1/32 take up some realistate when done. Looking forward to seeing it complete.

BK

Just caught up on this thread - what a great build!  I had a similar paint issue.  I blamed it on my impatience.  I think it's a hot paint over not fully gassed out/dry primer.  In my case I had a pretty heavy coat of Tamiya white primer and shot MM insignia yellow thinned with laquer thinner.  Pebbled the entire thing!  Mine went into the trash after some mock sidewinder hits ;).  You recovered very nicely!

Well, that's a bit of a PITA!  Someone in Revell messed up as they do not supply you enough decals on the sheet!

For the weapons pylons you have 4 inner and 2 outer. For each inner pylon side you require 1 x #74, 1 x #78, 1 x #80 and 1 x #81.......2 sides per pylon (obviously!) so 2 x 74, 78, 80, 81. 4 pylons so need 8 of each for all. So...what do they give you............6!!! well done Revell!!!!

Need 12 of each when you do all the inner and outer pylons ​​​​​​​   So I'm just gonna have to do one side of the pylon only.............dammed annoying.

Finally got all the decalling done! On the home leg now, got a semi gloss top coat to go on, finish up the ordinance and then final assembly of flaps/wheels/doors/ordinance etc.

All in all, not as bad as I was expecting given the reviews I read online, few few quite bad fit issues and a fair few minor 'niggles'..........but not so bad as to make me want/need to shelve it.

Off to do the clear coat now............then finish up painting/decalling and weathering of the bombs.

And before anyone else says anything, I have just noticed my 'deliberate' mistake and the stars'n'bars are upside down on the right side of the cockpit..........oh well!!!

Looking very nice.

An excellent WIP my friend.  Your progress is amazing for the amount of detail that's been applied!

Your friend's, Toshi & Ezra

Progress report. So, I've got her all dirtied up and sealed with another clear coat.........and now on to the mind-bending business of decals..........there's loads of the little blighters!! This is going to take a few days I think, keep popping out to my shed and do a few and then take a break as I am getting cramps in my hand and I'm sure I'm boss-eyed when I come in..........​​​​​​​