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

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

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.)

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, 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

Very nice build Greg!  You did it proud.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

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

Striking livery!  And nice job on the Monogram kit.

Nice work, Greg. She looks awesome.

BK

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!

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.

stikpusher

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

Thanks, Stik!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

That's a quick build?  Beautiful job, Greg