Shaun Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 (edited) After poking my Hornet nest, I've selected my Bug. With only a three month build time, I can't really build the whole stash LOL Book collection to go with the kit projects After a bit of thought,I'm going with a VF-12 F/A-18C Aggressor schemed Hornet. Here's the kit, and the aftermarket for the project P26 Hasegawa F/A-18C Wolfpack F/A-18 Update set Royal resin wheels Fightertown Blue bandits VFC-12 Ambush decals I am going to build 164647, as Ambush 07 of VFC-12. http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7380161&nseq=17 The reason for building "07" will be explained later in the build. VFC-12 where the only complete unit using the F/A-18C as there mount in the aggressor role, although currently they are now equipped with A+ aircraft,with their C models going back into fleet service. Shaun. Edited June 22, 2013 by Shaun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 Hi Shaun will be watching your build Im doing the grey F18 B VFC-12 Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Hi Shaun will be watching your build Im doing the grey F18 B VFC-12 Les Cool, are you doing the Mig-29 look a like scheme?. Be interesting to see how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Looks good, nice choice! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I like these Aggressor schemes, looking forward to watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Well I've made a start, Last night I started to glue the rear fuselage together. I'm going for a multi visit approach which will hopefully result in a nice tidy join with no steps along the rear parts as some people have said it can be an awkward part of the 1/48th Hasegawa build. It looks good at the dry fit stage so hopefully my approach will work. I will try and explain my method later on tonight with a few photos'. Shaun. Edited June 4, 2013 by Shaun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Here we go and I hope this makes sense and helps other builders,But I think this is a great way to join the rear side fuselage pieces. Take your time and a nice neat join can be achieved with very little clean up required. Tools required are the excellent Berna clamp, super glue and Tamiya extra thin liquid glue. Step 1 Check and dry fit side pieces against the area to the rear of the undercarriage bays, apply small dabs of super glue along joint to get a hold. Once this has set use the berna clamp to hold the side pieces tight while applying Tamiya liquid glue to the inside of the fuselage along the long joint(do not let glue run up the vertical joint) allow to set.Leave the area near the intakes clean from glue at the moment Step 2 Once the above stage has dried, you can add two rods of scrap sprue to the inside of the fuselage to strengthen the seam/joint. Next to tackle the vertical joint on the fuselage sides. Cut a small section of plastic card to fit along the inside of the joint. Again using the super glue, stick this piece of card to the inside faces while aligning the vertical join, the super glue will set quite fast so plan your alignment before committing to glue.Once happy with the set joint apply Tamiya thin on the inside of the joint seam and allow to dry. Step 3 Once this has dried you can do a similar approach to the join near the intakes. You may find this process has resulted in the lower fuselage to become pinched slightly and won't align with the upper fuselage section. Again using a pieces of scrap sprue, you can force the lower fuselage component outwards to the correct width to allow a neat join with the upper wing fuselage section. This process/method has resulted in a very tidy/clean rear fuselage area which requires almost no sanding or rescribing Hope this helps Folks Shaun. Edited June 4, 2013 by Shaun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter W Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 That's a good way to approach a fiddly area of these kits Shaun. It's all about being patient on this part of the build and it will pay dividends later when you're not sanding away all the nice detail. Great start and looking forward to seeing this one progess. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Thanks Shaun nice tip Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breaker Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Gosh darn it, I wish I'd seen this two weeks ago when I started on my Growler which I ended up wiping out all the engraving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Cheers folks, I hope that sharing these tips can help other Hornet builders While the rear fuselage was drying I started work on the cockpit area. I'm using the Wolfpack SJU-17 seat for this build (with my jet being a late production "C"), this looks good with the molded seat belt detail. The Hasegawa kit side walls have no detail but the real aircraft has a few items located around this area. I spent a little time adding some plastic card items to busy up the side walls but I'm planning a closed cockpit so 100% accuracy is not needed but the area looks a lot better for it. A pic of the unpainted pit. The base colours are now on and it's time for the detail painting, I might finish the painting tonight if I can get myself away from the BBQ,beer and patio Shaun. Edited June 6, 2013 by Shaun 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 That's a nice seat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 That's a nice seat It looks great when painted, I'm very happy the way its turned out. Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 (edited) Last night I finally got the cockpit done. Shaun. Edited June 11, 2013 by Shaun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 (edited) A few more pics,showing the added sidewall detail. Now to get the fuselage closed up and make some progress on the airframe Shaun. Edited June 11, 2013 by Shaun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter W Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Looks good Shaun and the sidewall detail definitely improves a poor area of the kit. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Hi Shaun, Very nice work so far mate. By the way, I was wondering from where did you got the Hasegawa F/A-18 "TOP GUN" in 1/48. I had a look at Hannants website and they didn't have it. Looking forward to see the next steps of your build. Cheers Sernak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 Hi Shaun, By the way, I was wondering from where did you got the Hasegawa F/A-18 "TOP GUN" in 1/48. I had a look at Hannants website and they didn't have it. Cheers Sernak I picked up the Top gun kit a few years ago, its one of the Hasegawa limited release specials. I've never come across another one since. Got a little more done last night, main fuselage together now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I picked up the Top gun kit a few years ago, its one of the Hasegawa limited release specials. I've never come across another one since. Now, that's a shame, I mean for the rest of us!! But thanks for the info. I keep my eye on Ebay just in case one of these kits "pops-up"! Cheers Sernak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Now, that's a shame, I mean for the rest of us!! But thanks for the info. I keep my eye on Ebay just in case one of these kits "pops-up"! Cheers Sernak The A kits are pretty rare, but their are loads of aftermarket decals to keep you busy for years. As far as I know all the kits have the same plastic, just the decals change. Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Great work on the pit and the seat is very nice Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Nice work Shaun. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The A kits are pretty rare, but their are loads of aftermarket decals to keep you busy for years. As far as I know all the kits have the same plastic, just the decals change. Shaun. Yeap, you're correct. Actually, it's the kit's decals that I want!!!!! But, like I said, I'm gonna wait and see if I manage to find one! Looking forward to see more pics of your progress. Cheers Sernak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 Yeap, you're correct. Actually, it's the kit's decals that I want!!!!! But, like I said, I'm gonna wait and see if I manage to find one! Looking forward to see more pics of your progress. Cheers Sernak You can get the schemes in the Top Gun boxing from aftermarket sources, both Two Bobs and Fightertown have done these aggressors. Maybe worth an ask if anyone has any spares? Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 (edited) A little up date- Main airframe now together and time to tidy up the joins and do a little modification work. A point missed in the Hasegawa F/A-18C instruction is that you need to remove the ECM blisters the are ahead of the main U/C bays. These blisters are only found on A/B Hornets, on the C/D a different ECM fit was installed. So out with the knife- I've closed the airbrake on my model as its quite rare to see it deployed on the flightline and should give the model a better look. The fit was quite good when closed. Another point missed on the kit instructions are the tail fin reinforcing brackets, on the F/A-18A/B there are 6 L shaped brackets fitted to the inside of the fins to provide more strength. These are not found on later C/D Hornets as the reinforcing was done to the internal structure on this later model. So a little bit of plastic card was added to the slots before being sanded smooth. I'm making slow but steady progress on this one,But with it being my first fathers day I'm not sure how much bench time I will get this weekend? Shaun. Edited June 14, 2013 by Shaun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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