'Warhawks' F/A-18 Hornet (Monogram 1/48)

That's a quick build?  Beautiful job, Greg

tempestjohnny

Monogram huh. You've done well Padawan. I could never get that kit right

Well...if you're not hung up on stuff like panel lines matching...and you've got a bucket of putty and a full deck of sandpaper handy...then 'it's like falling off a log.'

(A high one...i.e., it still hurts. )

I appreciate the kind words.

Thanks Hutch & Shipwreck. Don't know what I was thinking when I took the pics...the lighting is pretty awful. But those old Monogram kits with the nicely-molded interiors are always fun to build, despite the occasional gaps or awkward fit.

Beautifull, Greg.  I'm looking for an -18 kit now.  Don't know whose kit I'll use, but I'll sure look for those decals.

I was working at MDD during the development, and it was a rough go at first.  MDD was teamed with Northrup for the competition for the lightweight fighter.  GD of course won the competion, of course with what became the Air Force F-16, a single engine fighter.  The DOD original plan was that AF, Navy, and Marines would use variants of the same aircraft. But the Navy balked- they insisted they would never fly a single-engine aircraft over water.  There was quite a battle in Washington for awhile, but the Navy ultimately won out.  MDD and Northrup were back in the fighhter business.

rocketman2000

I was working at MDD during the development, and it was a rough go at first. MDD was teamed with Northrup for the competition for the lightweight fighter.

Thanks, Don.

I read a book several years ago about that competition and the development programs involved. Lots of harkening back to the McNamara era and the seemingly-ever-inachievable quest for 'commonality' (which politicians love, but the services involved always loathe with white-hot passion, whether for real reasons or simply ruffled feathers).

Funny that we actually may see a sort-of achievement of that with the F-35 program.

As for models, I'm sure the 'Tamigawa' kits offer more detail and options...but the old Mono/Revell offering is still a fun build, and pretty good quality, particularly for visible detail like cockpit and landing gear.

Cheers

Nicely done Greg! You've done a mighty fine job on the old Mongram Hornet! 

stikpusher

Nicely done Greg! You've done a mighty fine job on the old Mongram Hornet! 

Thanks, Stik!

That's a great looking F-18! You're right those decals are sweet. Well worth getting out the monogram kit and having a go at it. Your paint and weapons make it look nice for sure.

TheMongoose

That's a great looking F-18! You're right those decals are sweet. Well worth getting out the monogram kit and having a go at it. Your paint and weapons make it look nice for sure.

Thanks, 'Goose!

Nice work, Greg. She looks awesome.

BK

Striking livery!  And nice job on the Monogram kit.

Thanks, Brandon & John. I really enjoy those old 'high end' Monogram kits.

Very nice build Greg!  You did it proud.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

Thanks, Jim!

It's funny, CAG birds aren't usually my thing...but the tail art on this one really seemed to capture the spirit of the 'Warhawks' callsign. (And I managed to find the decals at a reasonable price on eBay...and how often does that happen? )

Cheers

Nicely done, Greg. Those older Monogram kits build up really nice with a little work. Like you, raised panel lines don't bother me. Saving them just takes a little more time and skill than a more modern kit with recessed panel lines. I have the old Monogram Century Series kits I'm working on right now. Getting ready to paint the F-100D then on to the F-101B.

Good stuff, Greg.

Thanks, Frank.

fotofrank

I have the old Monogram Century Series kits I'm working on right now. Getting ready to paint the F-100D then on to the F-101B.

Cool cool cool. Are we talking NMF, camouflage, or something Canadian-bacon flavored? (The last being my favorite Voodoo garb.)

Thanks, Greg. The F-100 will be NMF and the F-101 will be a gray Texas ANG airplane.