2006 F/A-18 Super Hornet GB

Hi all

Matt, looking good there.

I apologise for my absence over the last while, modelling has taken a backseat at the moment.

I'm hoping to get some work done on the superhornet this weekend but no promises.

SeaBee wrote:

Have received mine, but while you're on the topic, Matt... As stated above, I have not built a plane recently and thus is not up-to-date with all the ins and outs. What is a realistic payload for VF-103 on a F version? Or is it up to your imagination? (Not that I'd think so...)

To be honest I really dont know what a realistic load would be.  However I would recommend that you look for some pics on the net and perhaps even pose the question in the aircraft forum.  I guess that it would also have to depend on the mission that the bird was slotted for as well.

Matt

looking good john. both of mine are at a stand still right now. no time to work on them . my other addiction has fully over taken my modeling now. i have 11 days to try and finish my 2 hornets. but with me being  in the woods every free day. looking and listing for ol mr tom turkey  and his ladies not much time spent on modeling..i hope to get some modeling time in this week . alll i have to do is paint the fs 36375 and put all the nick picky stuff on along with the decals and thier done.

Another progress update: both birds have the TwoBobs decals put on, and I must say that the decals are awsome!!!  My VFA-102 decals cracked in a few places (the larger wing markings ) but with some Micro Set and a bit of Testors decal solvent they sat down nicely and when dry look amazing!!!

I highly recommend them!!

I also slung the weapons on my "E", I went with the 2 AIM-9x on the wingtips, the two AIM-120s on the outer pylons and then a load of 2 GBU-12's on one wing with one GBU-16 on the other.  The innermost pylons are empty as is the belly pylon.  Looks plenty mean to me!!!

Pics will follow soon!!!

well guys i have finally gotten the mojo back to finish the hornets. have painted both hornets  top cover so far and i hope to have the under sides done this weekend. i have decide to drop the 1/48  E bird from the build and the G. i am still waiting for the G and other stuff for the E to come in. i hate haveing unfinised models. i have 3  hornets that are waiting for things to arrive. and i am running out of time for all my builds. i have at least a month to get them all finshed before i start chasing turkeys in march

17-02-06

Hi Guys.

My Hornet is nearly at paint-barn stage. I remember someone saying that there was area underneath the fuselage fillets that needed filled, probably where the upper half and the lower half joined. Anybody got pictures to show the area to be filled?

Liam

Hey guys

Nothing much has been happening with my bug. Tried to use CA as a filler and it didn't turnout as planned. Hopefully finish fixing the intake seams this week and add the pylons on over the weekend. Then some painting can begin.

Hi SeaBee

Its never to late to join, there is no end date as yet so if you want to officially join, let me know.

Most of the members of this group build have either started the 1/72 hasegawa kit or 1/48 revell kit. Don't think anyone has started a 1/48 hasegawa kit yet.

Can't accurately comment on PT38 since I don't have one but from what I've heard the actual fit isn't up to hasegawa's normal high standard. I would guess that the problem areas would be around the intakes and the nose/fuselage join. If you go back a page, u'll see the intakes on my revell kit to give u an idea.

Here is a link to a complete build and how to for the Hasegawa kit built by Massa Narita from Japan: http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/F18F/photo_frame.htm

Unfortunately the comments are in Japanes but the pictures can be used as a guideline.

Hi all

As promised:

Since those photos were taken, the nose has been assembled and attached to the fuselage as well as the wing tips.

I picked up my replacement part from LuckyModels on saturday morning allowing the completion of the nose. I thought my GreatModels orde rhad arrived as well but it turned out to be a RevellAG parcel. Yes, they sent a replacement part, no email to tell me that they were sending it.

So now I have a spare part number 97.

As you can see I have a lot of work ahead with those intakes

GA.modelmaker wrote:

hi john and matt  well i know how you feel about that matt. i to have been having the same problems with the gap on were the fusualage goins with the cockpit section,but here is how i over come the bad fit. get it close as possible and the place a thin bead of super glue on top then spray it with a acceleraror let dry for a few seconds then start sanding.. so far this way has been the best for me in  removing those small gaps. i havent worked on mine in afew days but i will post some pics for you matt. i am still watig for my 1/48 phot etch set from great models were i can start on my big hornt again . other than that evry is coming along slow

Hi all

Not to much to report except that my replacement part has arrived, picking it up at the psot office tomorrow morning.

Another RM kit has also arrived from GreatModels (won't even go down this road), which I'll pick up tomorrow as well.

The intakes have been assembled and attached to the lower fuselage, the upper and lower fuselage parts will be attached tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Have to do some sanding and minor filling on the intakes and some filling once the two halves are together but not a lot.

Since its weekend, I'm guaranteed to take photos.

My biggest problem is what loadout to put on the kit(s)?

hi john and matt

 well i know how you feel about that matt. i to have been having the same problems with the gap on were the fusualage goins with the cockpit section,but here is how i over come the bad fit. get it close as possible and the place a thin bead of super glue on top then spray it with a acceleraror let dry for a few seconds then start sanding.. so far this way has been the best for me in  removing those small gaps. i havent worked on mine in afew days but i will post some pics for you matt. i am still watig for my 1/48 phot etch set from great models were i can start on my big hornt again . other than that evry is coming along slow

Hey all

Matt, I can't really compare as mine are from revell and in 48th but some of those forward fuselage seams actually exist on the real aircraft. Just check you references before you sand them away.

I sprayed the intakes with Tamiya white primer (I hate airbrushing white) and started the assembly. This kit is taking longer than I anticipated. Once the intakes are done things should move along rather rapidly.

I've been promising photos for awhile so hopefully I can fullfil this promise during the course of the week.

I might build my plane as VX-31 instead of VFA-143, still not sure.

Hi all

My apologies for my absence lately. January has been a rather busy month for me, got engaged, got my drivers license (should have done that 7 years ago) and now i'm busy purchasing a new car.

Modelling has taken a back seat for the last week or 2.

Will glue the cockpit tub in tonight (hopefully) but need to sand the bottom of the seat some more. While dry-fitting the canopy in the closed position, I noticed that the seat is too high. A few more swipes with sandpaper should solve the problem.

My replacement part should arrive this week sometime, then I can finally finish the nose assembly.

Rob, whats the secrect you discovered with ur photo-etched parts? Ordered the Eduard cockpit set for my F-4G and can't wait to start. If all goes well, I might order a set for my next SuperHornet.