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

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!

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.

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

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!

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 been plodding along with the Hobbyboss 1/48th F-18D, I just have not had the opportunity to post any pic's yet for it's been one thing after another as usual on this end which requires my time. So with the exception of the Eduard ejection seat detail set, I'm just doing an out of the box build this time.

 I bought the kit from Squadron during one of their sales and glad I did, I would have been upset shelling out around $80 for the mfg listed price. There are a couple of nice features like drop flaps and slats but I would consider buying the Hasegawa kit if I were to add another 'D' to the collection. I been tempted to pull out the Academy 1/32 F-18D but would not be able to finish it in time.

Scott

arki30

Filling and sanding....

Sanding and filling....

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

Filling and sanding....

Sanding and filling....

I am having some trouble with the camera.  So I will just tell you what I have completed so far. 

I got all the fuel tanks and AIM-9 and AIM-120's assembled along with the wings and main fuselage's.  The forward fuselage containing the cockpit tubs are together.  I just need to place the decals used to represent the instrument panels and side console areas and glue them to the main fuselage parts. 

I had to use some putty and CA glue to the the upper and lower fuselage parts together.  I have to do a little rescribing to replace lost panel lines. 

All in all these kits are going together pretty good.

I hope to borrow a camera so I can snap a few pics for the GB.

Daywalker

Very impressive!

Especially that area behind the seat, wow!  Are you going to put the screen over it as supplied, or anneal it and fold it to make it partially open?  I love the way that looks when done.  Great progress there!

As supplied.  Once the canopy lift mechanism goes in place plus the canopy there won't be room for the screen to be folded open.

Thanks gents.

Daywalker

Very impressive!

Especially that area behind the seat, wow!  Are you going to put the screen over it as supplied, or anneal it and fold it to make it partially open?  I love the way that looks when done.  Great progress there!

  That looks awesome!  Nice work 

I started work on the 2 Hasegawa F/A18F's.   Typical Hasegawa fare with a lot of parts and mediocre fit.  I will post some pics tomorrow I hope....

Very impressive!

Especially that area behind the seat, wow!  Are you going to put the screen over it as supplied, or anneal it and fold it to make it partially open?  I love the way that looks when done.  Great progress there!

Progress update with pics.  As noted last update, intakes are installed and I've begun the dreaded filling and sanding.  Little bit more work to do on the underside.

Meanwhile, I've also turned my attention back to the top to finish the area behind the cockpit.  That requires some surgery first.  The colored areas have to be removed for future Aires resin and PE.

Some quick work with the Dremel and sanding sticks...

Behind the cockpit is an avionics storage area.  I believe it's called the "hell hole" on F-15's, no idea if the Navy calls it the same.  It's also where the canopy mechanism sits.  First up for this area is the Aires resin top glued to the piece I just modified.

Here is the Aires resin avionics detail.  This will be glued to the underside of the Aires top portion.

There is a mesh screen represented in PE that goes in last, but I need to paint it first.  I'll install it toward the end of the build.

And lastly install the completed assembly onto the fuselage.  Now I can finish the seam work on the top of the aircraft.  Joy.

Cheers

Oh, there's a break-down of AM manufacturer's for this effort back on page 17 with pics.

Sorry that you have to leave John, but I understand!  Family ALWAYS comes first.  If things level out, we would love to have you back.

Hi Frank ,

I'll have to withdraw from your GB .

Some family health issue's have come up .

Good luck to everyone with their builds .

Kind regards ,

                         John .

Hey Guy's ;

I've been struggling to get things going on my two prototype Hornets .

I was trying to find some cockpit decals for both aircraft , without much luck but I wasn't really happy with both cockpits on the Airfix and Idea kits anyway ;

So I'm now thinking of backdating two Hasegawa [F/A-18C and F/A-18D] Hornets ?

Interestingly both sprue frames are maked as "F/A-18A TF-18A" ; included is a seperate sprue with the 'C' and 'D' tail fins .

I don't think it would be too difficult to drill and file some LEX slots and add some plastic strip to the outer wing leading edge . I also noticed that in Squadrons F/A-18 Hornet in action book it shows the "Dog Tooth" leading edge extends past the outer wing hinge fold line but on the Airfix and Idea kits it stops at the hinge line [too short]

I'm not 100% sure  but it looks like the TF-18A didnt have the dog tooth leading edge ;

I wonder if the LEX slots were filled in on the two seat prototype ????

Anyway , I have built some of Hasegawa's 1/72 Hornets in the past and have been quite happy with the results , I'm fairly confident I can drill and file some slots and add a strip of plastic to the wing leading edge .  I feel a lot happier if I go in this direction , the Airfix and Idea kits are rather crappy and wouldn't make for two nice prototype's .

                                            John .

I should be finished with the B-1 tonight....Finally.  Here are a couple pics of the kit I will be build for this GB.  I will attempt to get 2 built.  I picked these up for $10 each at Dragon Models USA.

The box art.

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

Here are all the sprues.  All the gray sprues are in one bag and the clear parts are in another. 

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

Here is the decal sheet which was tucked inside the instruction sheet.

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

In my opinion, these kits look quite good.  There are over 100 pieces per kit which seems high for a 1/72 scale kit but that is Hasegawa for ya.  I heard the canopy doesn't quite fit in the closed position though.  I was going to have one canopy open and another closed. 

arki- Lucky on the fit of that nose, could have been a real bear if it had shrunk.  Who makes that one?

Sorry to hear about the paint on those intakes, not an easy place for repairs.

Andrew- Good to see you!  No progress pics yet?

Andrew, nice to see you checking in.  Thanks for the kudos.

Progress update, no pics for the moment.  Intakes are repaired, assembled and installed on the fuselage.  I've assembled the flaps and slats, but will hold off on installing until I complete the next step.  One of my least favorite activities, filling and sanding.  Thankfully fit has been good so far, but there is some work to be done.

Cheers

Nice work so far Arki and John.

Great Super Hornet Steve!

I have not left. I have never signed up for a GB I didn't finish on time(this one is no exception). I have been so dang busy!

I am going to start to work on the weapons first. I will post questions soon.

Other than that, I hope to see more work!

Very nice work Arki,that IP looks terriffic in the pit

Steve

Arki30, cockpit looks great all buttoned up.  Too bad on the intakes   At least you had that to deal with early in the build.

A little progress on my end.  Cockpit is installed and fuselage top and bottoms are together.  I also removed the casting blocks from the resin nose section and attached it.  Thankfully no resin shrinkage, great fit, only a little filling work will be required at the joint.

Started assembly of the intake sections.  Decided it would easier to paint the white portions of the intakes at this stage rather than later, so primed each intake and sprayed my preferred white, Floquil Reefer White.  I then masked off the white portion from the rear with Tamiya tape and sprayed the underside color, Light Ghost Gray, into the front portion of each intake.  All went well...until I removed the masking tape.  Clearly the primer didn't adhere as nearly all of the white came up.  !!  So, I have to redo the intakes.

Cheers

Looking good guys, a lot of nice work going on. I know I finished a while ago but I have a pic of my new F-18 with my very old blue angels version. I may be on a slippery slope with these Hornets now that I have two and may have to fill in the gaps and build the rest of them.

Just a few shots of the photobooth pics I took today

Steve

Looking good guys! I better get my butt back to the bench.

Thank's Frank ;

I'll paint up both cockpits today , I'll use some cockpit decals from a Hasegawa F/A-18B Hornet for the Idea TF-18 .

                                John .

John- to the GB, glad to have you!

I added both kits to the roster on page 1.  Looking forward to those pics!

Is it too late to join this Hornets Nest GB ?

I was going through some storage box's and found a Airfix F/A-18A [FSD Hornet No.3] and a partly completed Idea F/A-18 [TF-18].

Both kits have the LEX slots and notched leading edge wings .

The decals I have are similar to these two pic's ;

Is it okay to join in with these two Hornets .

                                        John .

Thanks gents.

Great job on you Hornet Jeff!   

The cockpit looks awesome arki!  Keep up the good work!

I will get to this GB soon enough.  I promise.