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

I glued part of the nose section on and am dry fitting parts at this point.

This may take some putty for sure as Revell designed the nose/fuselage connection a little odd.

Alright! I broke everything out of the box (s) and the parts look good. I have the Jolly Rodgers F-14 + F-18 set, and then the "take off" carrier base. The base looks great, but I'm not sure about the raised panel lines on the deck. might have to sand those down and leave just a little to look like tar.The hornet looks pretty sick, I'm planning the cockpit out now. I was going to raid the F-14 kit for pilots but they look like they were sculpted from gumdrops... anyone have an idea how I can get 2 decent pilot figgies? in 1/144th? The F-14 looks like a piece of junk, I'm wondering what to do with it...

Is it too late to get in on this one? I am not currently committed to any group builds and winter is coming so this seems like the perfect time.

Since I can't really justify going out and buying a kit when I already have one in the stash, go ahead and put me down for the Academy 1/32 F/A-18C. Yes, Frank, it's the same one I grabbed off the table from MIke in Madison a couple of years ago...

Anyway, 8 months seems doable and every review of the kit is glowing so I'm in.

Regards,

Jeff

OHHH!!! I want to see that!I really want to build a 1/32nd jet... ah, someday.

The only thing that has me intimated is the ordnance. I am good at seams on aircraft but horrible when it comes to ordnance.

Regards,

Jeff

Bill, awesome pics again!!!

Boba, if the tomkitty is that bad, throw her together and use it as a test bed.

Jeff, look at ordenance as lil fuselages, and treat accordingly.

bondo- Mmmmm... Glad to see the USN making a presence at the races!  Did they let the Supa Hornet play there?  I am going to keep my fingers crossed to see you here later, maybe we'll be able to twist your arm?

Graham- I have the same kits you have!  The Jolly Rogers tribute with the "F" Hornet and Tomcat, and the 1/144 F/A-18C with carrier deck.  I too was surprised at how rough the Tomkitty looked in the kit.

Jeff- Great to have you aboard, welcome!  I was wondering if you ever got to build that kit.  I have one I have worked on from time to time.  There are a couple little things I noticed while working on it- the wing parts in mine are badly warped (heard others say the same thing, still others had no warpage at all) and the main wheel axles need to be shortened a bit, as supplied they stick too far out from the gear leg.  Just thought I would mention it!  Also, if you run into any ordnance issues, I got your back!  I have plenty of Hornet ordnance in 1/32, and I still owe you one for those 1/32 AIM-9M's!

Daywalker

bondo- Mmmmm... Glad to see the USN making a presence at the races!  Did they let the Supa Hornet play there?

Looks like it's on the backstretch doing an outside turn around the course

So wer'e starting eh, i'll cut sprue this weekend then

Yeah, I'm definitely in on this one. Winter building season is here! (Well, not quite, but pretty close)

Put me down for a 1/72 Hobby Boss A model - bought it because of the Blue Angels cover art, but it comes with some insanely cool Canadian Aerobatic Team markings that are calling my name!

Daywalker

Graham- I have the same kits you have!  The Jolly Rogers tribute with the "F" Hornet and Tomcat, and the 1/144 F/A-18C with carrier deck.  I too was surprised at how rough the Tomkitty looked in the kit.

Awesome! Yeah, and I just read that Revell (of all manufacturers) has one of the best F-14's in 1/144th. Maybe I should get one of those and use the decals on that... I'll figure out something to do with it... Now, the hornet. The detail in the cockpit is SICK! obviously, they can't mold switches and dials in there (well, they could but it wouldn't be worth it) So I think I'll leave it be, up the deail on the side consoles and control panel, find the pilots, and it should be in great shape. I'm also tempted to try my hand at vac-forming a new canopy, but I'll see. The Dragon piece is pretty thin itself. I've been working on my MH-60 a lot recently but I should have some progress on the hornet tonight. I'll try for pics tomorrow.

Imagine that a Frank group build starting early. Just in time as I just ordered a set of decals for my build which will be a VF-31 CAG bird

Steve

sidure

Imagine that a Frank group build starting early.

LOL!

Glad to have you aboard dupes!  Do you have any photos of the plane you are modeling?  I'd love to see some.

The detail on this thing is amazing! Got the cockpit assembled, ready for detail.

Boba she's looking good already!!!! It does have a nice office for it's size for sure!!

Boba, if you want to get really into the Revell 1/144 Tomkitty, Goffy Models makes a resin and photoetch cockpit, along with dropped leading slats and a Bombcat conversion.

Boba, Great start, looking good

Looks like we are off to a good start. Nice work Mike and Boba,

Here is what I have so far. The 'Pit and nose-gear bay are done:

Someday I'm going to stop taking crappy pics.

On a side note, I made a deal with my wife, her job is to pester me into finishing this thing in a timely manner. So far she is doing her job splendidly...

Thanks for looking. As always, any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

Jeff

OOOOOOOOO Smacker your out of the blocks and runnin mate!!!! Love the office and nose gear bay!!!! Great detail work!!!

Great start Chaps!

I too have ripped in my Hornet-literally!! I have cut out the flaps and slats this morning and plan to begin work on the office very soon. I get some pics up later.

Cheers!

WARNING: GRAPHIC PICTURES OF PLASTIC SURGERY BELOW, PLEASE LOOK AWAY IF YOU ARE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITION.

"Yes! It begins!" "Bring me ver scalpel!!"  

"Now we cut zer plastic...................................MUHAHAHAHUUUUHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Und now............der result!! Hee! Hee! 

"Zis is scary stuff! Do not try zis at home!!"

AND NOW BACK TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING............

"Holy Cow America! This Group Build has caused F/A-18 kits all around the world to run like away from this maniac!!!"

Kick-Ass, Darren. Good to see another person revved-up and jumping into it. I got quite a bit done myself but Football is on and I've had a few beers. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Regards,

Jeff

firesmacker

Kick-Ass, Darren. Good to see another person revved-up and jumping into it. I got quite a bit done myself but Football is on and I've had a few beers. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Regards,

Jeff

I feel you , Bill. I am in no way a Niner fan but I really thought they would be a lot better this year. Unless you meant the Raiders. They suck too...

Yes, but that's the expectation. But the Niners. well, I think that Singletary is worthless. They always seem to think "old school" is the way to go. But look at Harbaugh the Stanford coach, gawd he'd be wonderful.

Great to see you guys enjoying your kits!  Jeff- not sure if I mentioned this before, but check the wing parts on your kit to see if they're warped.  The ones on my kit were warped quite badly, with the upper panel bending skyward and the lower panel going down.  Also had a weird twist to them.  I got some replacements from Academy (took 6 months) and they are better but still need work.  Just a head's up!

Alright... who let the maniac play with the saw so close to his kit?  Holy crap Darren, that is some severe conversion work there.  That poor little kit, what did it ever do to you LOL!

I have done a little on mine, mostly cleaning up the cockpit and landing gear parts.  Nothing photo worthy yet though!

Hey if it's not too late and you don't mind a partially started Hornet, I'm in.

I've started a Hasegawa -A model. It's about halfway there, and it's going to be dressed in TwoBobs decals to make this beauty:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-F-A-18A/1142247/L/&sid=b5743f76357ce6613b7807f8fa30cc7f

aboard Jon, we'd love to have you!  Sweet looking scheme, which scale is it?

Oops, forgot to mention that... it is 1/72!