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

I started the Revell F/A-18E last night.  I will get this kit caught up to the 1/72nd scale kits and paint them all at the same painting session....I hope.

The detail in this kit looks pretty good.  I may not need the Eduard PE set.  The fit so far is not too good but better than some other Revell kits out there.

Julez72

Kevin, Making good progress there, both builds are looking very nice

Thanks Julez72!  Much appreciated.

Daywalker

Kevin- Excellent stuff, they certainly do look like jets now!  What schemes are you planning to use?

Thanks Daywalker!  The kit includes markings for VFA-2 "Bountyhunters" and VFA-102 "Diamondbacks".  I will probably use one of each for these builds.  I like both schemes so it works out pretty good. 

Quick progress update.  Finally managed to get the seams squared away, or at least to where I'm willing to move on.  Reapplied primer and then preshaded.

Now that paint prep is finished, I can begin the real painting.  Painting the wheel wells, gear doors, landing gear and sundry white is next.

dupes

Frank - I hear you about those Twobobs sheets! 229 and 230 especially...according to Twobobs' Facebook page, there won't be many left after all of the preorders go through. Buy now before they go the way of the dodo like all of Twobobs' other awesome sheets!

Don't forget Fightertown Decals is also covering the Centennial schemes.

Linky

And so is Afterburner Decals.

Linky

Christian Theodotou

I have a question about using future.  Prior to this model, I have been using enamels then applying sealing coats with lacquers and using acrylics for darkening panel lines.  I wanted to do sealing with future this time because the little bottles of lacquer are starting to add up.  If I paint with enamel then coat with future, am I going to have problems with the acrylics reacting with the future?

No, you shouldn't.  Keep in mind acrylics are not "hot" like lacquers are.  Check out this tutorial on sludge washes over on Swanny's site.  Acrylics over Future, no problem.

I have a question about using future.  Prior to this model, I have been using enamels then applying sealing coats with lacquers and using acrylics for darkening panel lines.  I wanted to do sealing with future this time because the little bottles of lacquer are starting to add up.  If I paint with enamel then coat with future, am I going to have problems with the acrylics reacting with the future?

Kevin, Making good progress there, both builds are looking very nice

Frank yeah tell me about it i have an absolute boot load of spare decals as well...Thats what happens when we mailorder i guess...BTW the Queensland show is every September, guys come from all over the state it's always a good show...

Julez- Good luck at the show, I shall keep my fingers crossed for you!  When is it?

I agree, those tri-color jets are my favorites too.  I just ordered sheet 230 as well as a couple of others (like I NEED more decals LOL!)

Kevin- Excellent stuff, they certainly do look like jets now!  What schemes are you planning to use?

Ok.  The ejection seats arrived today for the 1/72 Super Bugs. 

Here are a few pics of where I stand with the pair.

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The instructions to say to paint the inside of intakes white but I did as per the F/A-18 in detail and scale book I have.

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I have installed the vertical stabs too.

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They're starting to look like airplanes!

Those are some cool looking decal sets!  I will second dupes on the 229 and 230 sets. 

I am making progress on the 2 F/A-18F's.  I intstalled the intake sections and the wings.  More putty and sanding are in order.  I will try and get some pics up tonight.  The Eduard PE set for the 1/48 Revell F/A-18E arrived today.  Looks good.  I will hopefully get to that soon too.

Frank - I hear you about those Twobobs sheets! 229 and 230 especially...according to Twobobs' Facebook page, there won't be many left after all of the preorders go through. Buy now before they go the way of the dodo like all of Twobobs' other awesome sheets!

Daywalker

arki- More excellent progress!  Those Wolfpack pylons look great, can I ask why you opted for those instead of the kit ones?  Was it accuracy, or were there none in the kit?

Better detail than the kit supplied pylons.  Actually, I would have been fine with the kit pylons but the Wolfpack pylons came in the same resin set that contained the nose and other updates I did need.  Might as well use them!

I have primer down, a few seams need some more work.  As usual.

Frank, yeah it gives me a headache doing it but this Hornet will be entered in this years QMHE show, hopeing to win best Australian with it...The category is fairly small, Australian subjects are very undermodeled even by Australians....

The decals sheets are very nice, particulary the the tri schemes from the WWII PTO fleet...very cool

Julez- Can't wait to see those pics!  I don't know how you guys do it with that PE stuff, it gives me a headache to even think about it!

Have you guys seen the new Two Bobs US Navy Centennial decal sheets?  I am really thinking of picking up a couple of them.

Moved forward some. Got the underwing pylons on along with a few other smaller details.

Was going to prime it today but I noticed some small gaps that I want to fill with putty before any paint goes on ... and I need to pick some putty up, go figure.

razordws

 

Resistance is futile! 

LOL, don't start Dave ok, it may have worked the last hundred times but not this timei mean itYou know the Arfix kit is really cool, 1/48, counter rotating prop, folding wing option.....Maybe after i finish the Hornet

Speaking of Hornets i have started mine and have the ejection seat finished, damn thing took 2 hours to do with the 600 eduard  bits all over it....It looks pretty good though...Will post pics when i've finished the office..

Julez72

 

Daywalker:

 

 

I dunno if I will!  I am finishing up a couple of other projects, hope to really get going next weekend.

 

 

Ahhh the Corsair over in the FAA GB....................Yes i'm lurking, i fear if i post my Seafire will find it's way to the bench.....

Resistance is futile! 

arki- More excellent progress!  Those Wolfpack pylons look great, can I ask why you opted for those instead of the kit ones?  Was it accuracy, or were there none in the kit?

Julez72

 

Daywalker:

 

 

I dunno if I will!  I am finishing up a couple of other projects, hope to really get going next weekend.

 

 

Ahhh the Corsair over in the FAA GB....................Yes i'm lurking, i fear if i post my Seafire will find it's way to the bench.....

hahaha!  Yes, you got me!  Had the gnawing urge to build a Corsair again, no matter how many I build I want MORE!!!   If you fancy an FAA aircraft, that GB is the best you will find.

Stumpjumper70

Daywalker, you're killing me. I was just wandering through the forum trying to find your Stuka GB and came across the Hornet GB. I had a 109 lined up now the Dora is done but I always had a liking for the Hornet so now I have the impossible choice!

Now that I have you here, why not go for a Hornet?  As my bench is filling up fast, I think the Stuka GB will be a while yet.

Ok, So I finally got to work on the F-18A "Blue Angel." Starting by working on the office. I have a great Hasegawa Pilot/ground crew that I plan on using.

Hopefully I can post some pics.........as soon as I found out where the wife put the camera!

Travis

Tried to do a wash in the gear bays, mixed up the paint and thinner, spread it in there and then started to wipe it out. Turned out like CRAP. I just don't understand washes at all. Luckily I only did it in one bay so I'll just repaint and keep it clean.

I ordered some AM stuff for my builds here.  I ordered True Details seats for the 1/72 scale Hasegawa F/A-18F kits. 

For the Revell 1/48 F/A-18E I ordered the  Eduard interior set  along with True Details seat and FighterTown's VX-9 Rhino Vampires decal sheet.

Daywalker, you're killing me. I was just wandering through the forum trying to find your Stuka GB and came across the Hornet GB. I had a 109 lined up now the Dora is done but I always had a liking for the Hornet so now I have the impossible choice!

If I do get a Hornet, it'll have to be the F in Fightertown colours, I think. How is your Hasegawa coming on as that's probably the one I'll get if you're recommending?

Great work on here as usual - VERY high standards fellas!

FastasEF,

If you'll go to my fotki site, I have pics of that very aircraft.  I would have posted them for all to see, but photobucket was acting up and taking forever to upload a file less than a meg.  address is

http://public.fotki.com/lewbud/aircraft/fa-18a/162904/162904/

If you want more Hornet pics go here and just scroll down most of the planes are listed by type and tail number.  http://public.fotki.com/lewbud/  I haven't gotten around to listing all the a/c I have pics of so if you've got time to kill rummage through the albums and see if there's something you like.  Hope ya'll enjoy.

Christian, the office looks great.  Keep up the good work!

Arki30, those weapons pylons look awesome!  Great detail on those.  The landing gear looks pretty well detailed already.  Adding brake lines would make them look stunning.

 I was gonna try to add some brake lines to the gear on my builds too.  I haven't tried doing that yet.  Although it is 1/72 I may give it a go.  I got the seams on the fuselage smoothed out....I think.  Now I gotta work on the intakes.  The gap on the top is pretty bad.  I will try to use putty to fix it.  If that doesn't work I will just cut a piece of sheet stryene to fit and cover the area up.

Progress update:

Slats and flaps are on.  Fussy fit, and delicate as heck.  Wolfpak pylons are installed as well.

Wolfpak center pylon is installed, and I've installed some of the kit-included PE such as the chaff dispensers.   Slightly out of focus picture...

Kit PE slime light frame on the tail sections.

Kit landing gear is an interesting mix of white metal and plastic parts.  I've assembled all the bits together, may take some additional time and thread some wire for brake lines.

And I've begun some work on the exhausts by assembling the can halves and putting some Alcad Jet Exhaust down.

Cheers

FastasEF

Does anyone have any good shots of the inside of the gear bays? I can't seem to find any...

Check out the walk-arounds on Aircraft Resource Center and Prime Portal.  Lots of good shots on each site.

Thanks Frank

Daywalker

 

I dunno if I will!  I am finishing up a couple of other projects, hope to really get going next weekend.

Ahhh the Corsair over in the FAA GB....................Yes i'm lurking, i fear if i post my Seafire will find it's way to the bench.....