The Hornet's Nest GB 10/10-10/11

Hello everybody, here is what my plans are.

I have a whole extra set of Revell Mk. 83 bombs, so I plan to put eight on the Hornet. This is a F-18C, but I think they can still hold a ton!(More like 7) I also am going to put on two AIM-9 missles on the racks, and a drop tank if possible. My question is, is this overloading? These jets can carry a lot, so I don't think it is, but tell me if it is, because I want accurate!

I am only at this stage, but I think it will be fun. Sorry its blurry, but an iPod is my camera.

I was looking through my builds earlier today. I realize I appreciate the quality builds more. If you remember me building three years ago, I was building planes faster than Fermis. I realized today that quality beats quantity(Gee I am building like 1 in two months now). I am going to apply several weathering techniques to this build, so I think I should do good. I always do the weapons first, and then the build.

I have a question for the Hornet's Nest. I have the 1/48 Revell Blue Angels F-18 Hornet and was wondering if it could be turned into a military used variant? Inside the box it has two different sets of cans and has bombs in there also.

If this is possible, which variant would it be? If this turns out to be possible, I will join up with you guys on this GB. Might be the first GB/ model I've finished in a quite a while, lol.

Thanks!

Fastas:

Knowing that it is a Revell kit it is probably the F-18A variant. Most of the Blue Angel kits out there are of the "A" model. There is no real difference from the planes the group flys than those of the fleet A/C. (Save the smoke ejectors). As long as it has wing pillons you should be able to creat a Combat "A" version.

The A and C models are a little more sleek looking than the "Beefed Up" super bugs. I can't see the Angels switching over.....but I could be wrong. Personally I was bumbed when they switched from A-4s.

Best of luck.

Travis

Thank you for the info STFD!

I have two sets of decals on the way now so could I get added to the list? Progress pics to start showing up soon.

Scott- I am very eager to see that HobbyBoss kit, how do you like it so far?

Andrew- Not sure if this helps, but here is a page with typical Desert Storm loadouts on F/A-18A/C/D Hornets:

Desert Storm Hornet loadouts

HTH!

FantasEF- By all means, to the GB!  I added your name and kit to page one, and I listed it as a "C"- hope that's OK!

Hey Frank! Thanks man you rock! I have found this:

That looks like the answer I was looking for. 8 Mk. 83s that is a lot, but the hornet is beastly. I seriously don't know why the majority of modellers like WWII planes better. Modern Jets rule!

My question is though, where do the AIM-7F missles go? I don't know where the fusalage pylons are.

Again thanks Frank!

H

Thanks DayWalker! I think it is an "A" model though.

I ordered 2 sets of different A+ decals for it, as the only difference between the two is the Hughes AN/APG-65 in the "A" model and the Raytheon AN/APG-73 in the "A+" model, which are both in the nose and thus not visible.

I cut both fuselage halves off their sprues and started filing and fitting them to each other. Outside of that I've only just perused through the instructions. I'll probably start painting interior pieces tomorrow but won't do any major gluing until my Tamiya Super Thin gets here (happy dance).

Good to see some Hornets being builtI'll be starting mine at the end of this month...That should be enough time to finish it

Daywalker

 

arki30:

 

Filling and sanding....

Sanding and filling....

 

 

=my least favorite part of a build.  How bad is it on your kit?

Good fit, but typical Hasegawa over-engineering.  A lot of sub-assemblies that create more seams.  It's just tedious and my least favorite part of a build.  The good news is I've taken that as far as I can and will be putting primer down soon to see what I missed.  Progress pics coming by the end of the week.

Deadmau5.

FastasEF

I have a question for the Hornet's Nest. I have the 1/48 Revell Blue Angels F-18 Hornet and was wondering if it could be turned into a military used variant? Inside the box it has two different sets of cans and has bombs in there also.

If this is possible, which variant would it be? If this turns out to be possible, I will join up with you guys on this GB. Might be the first GB/ model I've finished in a quite a while, lol.

Thanks!

The Blue Angels fly F/A-18A and B variants.  Wikipedia has a little blurb here.  I swear I've seen a post somewhere on a forum that detailed the "changes" the Angels aircraft have over the full military version, but darned if I can remember where.  I know the gun is removed.

raptordriver

Hey Frank! Thanks man you rock! I have found this:

 

Wing			Fuselage	Belly	Fuselage	Wing
Wingtip	Outboard	Inboard				Inboard	Outboard	Wingtip
AIM-9M	Mk.83 LDGP	Mk.83 LDGP	AIM-7F/M	Fuel tank	AIM-7F/M	Mk.83 LDGP	Mk.83 LDGP	AIM-9M

That looks like the answer I was looking for. 8 Mk. 83s that is a lot, but the hornet is beastly. I seriously don't know why the majority of modellers like WWII planes better. Modern Jets rule!

My question is though, where do the AIM-7F missles go? I don't know where the fusalage pylons are.

Again thanks Frank!

H

Ah, no not quite, Andrew.   That's a single Mk. 83 bomb on four stations, so only four Mk. 83's total in this loadout.  MER's aren't cleared for Mk. 83's on a Legacy Hornet so that's out.  I wonder if a TER could be used however?  Not sure on that, I'll dig around and see what I come up with. 

Here's a link to MAW decals Hornet info.  Great site, click the ordnance button to see a nice diagram of the stations.  The AIM-7's would go on stations 4 & 6.  Ordnance loadouts here are all USMC, fyi.

Edit:  Speaking of USMC loadouts, there are several schemes which have 2 Mk. 83's on a station.  They must be using TER's then.

Thanks for the info, good to know the Hasegawa kit is typical Hasegawa.  Decent fit but a fair bit of smoothing to get them to look nice.  Thanks for the head's up!  Good catch on the loadout, thanks for the advice on MAW's site.  I forgot about that one!

arki30

 

Deadmau5.

That guy ROCKS!

Glad to help. 

Andrew, you could tackle this loadout from Franks link.  That's six Mk. 83's, plus the Sidewinders, and the fuel tank you wanted.  If you don't have the AAR-50 sensor, I might have an extra.  I think.

Just a thought.

Lol I knew it was too good to be true! Thanks man! I am obviously a green jet modeler, but that loadout looks suitable. Does anyone know where I can get pylons for the outboard wing single Mk.83? What do they even look like? More research I guess. What is a MER? What is a TER? Much for me to learn master   masters!

LOL, isn't that one of the best parts of modeling?  Learning new things along the way, best part IMHO.

The MER is a Multiple Ejector Rack

The TER is a Triple Ejector Rack

I got the pit all painted and finished up tonight. Gonna try and finish the pilot tomorrow morning and then move on to the tedious fuselage halves fitting tomorrow night. One of my least favorite, and most favorite parts of the build, lol.

I will try and get photos up tomorrow too.

Things are moving forward on my 2 SuperBugs.  I got the forward and main fuselage sections together.  The fit is pretty bad though.  Lots of putty and sanding will be in order. 

The decals for the cockpit were not good.  One decal decided to break up and I was able to save about 2/3's of it.   I little black paint to replace the lost decal should make it look ok.  I guess I know which plane will have the closed canopy....

The panel lines are so fine and well done I hate to sand them away.  I tried to rescribe the ones that have already been lost but the look too heavy handed when compared to the surrounding detail. 

I was able to borrow a camera so I will have to post some pics tonight.   Keep up the good work everyone!

Here are a few progress pics

The wing sections

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

I tried to get a close up of the cockpit with no avail

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

The belly

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

I only took pics of one of the models but I am doing 2 both of which are at the same point in the build.

I will throw some putty on a few spots and smooth out some areas tonight.

I just noticed this group build and as I am currently working on a 1/48 Hasegawa Super Hornet I was wondering, is it still possible to get in on the group build?

Hey guys, I think I have decided to do up the plane in this scheme:

https://www.aviationillustration.com/shop/images/f_a-18c.54.jpg

I have two sets of decals coming and this one seemed more interesting and colorful. Question though, what color(s) were their flight suits? The plane is from VFA-201 `Hunters' which started flying the F/A-18 in 1999 and was deactivated in 2007.

The flight suit schemes I've seen are tan, tan camouflage and the typical green. Any info or even photos would be appreciated, thanks!

Oh, and here are some crappy cell phone pics of the progress:

That red really pops on the gray.  Looks sweet!  Nice choice. 

FastasEF, awesome job on the cockpit!  Nice detailing!  BTW, for a cell phone camera those are pretty good photos.

I found this pic of a pilot from VFA-201 flying.  Looks like a green flight suit.

http://www.pbase.com/keith1959/image/58024866

Christian- to the GB!  I added your name to the roster on page one.  Which version of the Super Hornet are you building?

Great looking work guys, I really gotta get my behind in gear!

That's a great website! Thanks for the photo mac!

F-18F, I'm doing one from  the VFA-41 Black Aces

Daywalker

 I really gotta get my behind in gear!

You and me both Frank... i'm quietly confident i'll finish on time though

Alright guys, I got the pilot done and also have the fuselage halves mated up along with the intakes.

Question, what all should I attach before the overall gray? I know that the vertical and horizontal stabilizers should be on, but what about the landing gear covers and the center line fuel tank? Or the wing pylons?

And would you guys paint the gear bays before or after the overall paint scheme?

Thanks!

Fastas, if it were me i'd attach all the pylons before painting but leave off the disposable stores until the final coat of flat clear, that way they're not in the way during decals, washes ect.... I personally would paint the gear bays first and mask them off with blutac, the Hornet i'm doing has red on the edges of the gear bay doors so that makes 3 colors on each gear bay door so i'll be doing mine seperatly and again attaching before it's final coat...

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