Jabba Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 (edited) This is my project for this group build. It is the Academy kit, with markings from Authenticdecals to make a F/A-18+ from VFMA-142 when operating in Iraq in 2005. This was the first time that a reserve Sqn from the US Marines had deployed to a combat zone since 1953. I also have the Dr Pepper in takes for this model and a Wolfpack Design wing fold on order. The kit. The parts and instructions. The extras so far. Some reading material. Also as I am not that hot on the F/A-18 is it possible for some to tell me the main differences between the A, A+ and the C versions of the aircraft. Many thanks. Edited August 30, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 (edited) Here is a quick update of where I am so far. I have put the lower back fuselage parts together and added the Dr Pepper resin intakes. I have also put together the lower parts of the fwd fuselage parts and what a pain they are to line up. I have also added the inserts into the Lerx area of the upper fuselage. No matter whos kit I am using I can never get these parts to fit coerrectly no matter how much time I take I always need some filler so that this area is smooth. Theis picture shows the tail sprue that I have taken from an Academy F/A-18A kit, as I have found out from other sources that this is the major external difference between an 18C and an 18A+. There are some other slight differences that I will do later, or as they are too small in this scale to notice ignore. This picture also shows the Wolfpack Design wing fold. Edited June 16, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Nice scheme Mark and good start. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Welcome to the build ,Mark , nice choice of scheme Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 23, 2013 Author Share Posted June 23, 2013 (edited) A quick update on what I have done this week. The main fuselage parts have been fitted together, filled and sanded down, as can be seen by this first two pictures. As I am using the wing fold set from Wolfpack Designs I have started to look at fitting the non folding part. I have noticed that they do not fit that well, and as a result I have added two small bits of plasti-card to the fwd fitting area to aid better fitment and also as one wing fitting tab is a bit short something to lay some filler on. Hopefully you will be able to see what I am on about in the second and third picture. The wings at this point are not fitted just placed there so I can see what needs to be done. Edited June 23, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charley420 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 looking good buddy, i've not seen the wolfpack set before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 (edited) A quick update on where i am with this one. It is all together and now awaiting painting. This picture shows the palstic parts from the kit added to the resin from the update set. Since these pictures have been taken i have sprayed the U/C bays white in preparation for the paint scheme. Edited July 17, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 She`s come on very nice good work Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJL Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Good work so far Mark. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charley420 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Coming along nicely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 24, 2013 Author Share Posted July 24, 2013 A slight paint problem has occurred. I painted the underneath and a few other parts in FS36375 by Model Master, and then went to my so called trusty newHumbrol paint converter, which said tha the paint that I wanted FS36320 was 127.So I got a tin out and started to apply the paint, oly to find that it was a lot lighter than the lower colour. I then went to the older Humbrol converter which said that the paint that I required was 128. So I am going to apply this tonight and hopefully it will be darker than the lower colour. i did try the Model Master 36320 on the upper surfaces, but this came out almost the same shade as the lower colour. I think that I had a similar problem when I was making a F-15C earlier this year. Oh well the trials and tribulations of modelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) I have now got the model painted. i was hoping the get the U/C and wheels sprayed last night, only to find that my Halfords primer had run out. This will now have to wait until Friday or the wweekend when I can get down to my local Halfords. Then I shall get the U/C built so that I can start putting Klear on the model and so onto decalling. Edited August 1, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charley420 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 looking nice buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Looking good nice clean build Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 (edited) A small update on my progress. I have applied the decals from the Authentic sheet, which were a little thicker than I am used to, and could be a bit brittle even after they were fitted to the model. The rest of the decals will come from the kit decal sheet, but I am not sure which style of walkway markings to apply as the sheet has three styles. Can anyone help? I have made up the fuel tanks, but still have to paint them, and I still have all the weaponry to build so still plenty to do. Any comments are very welcome. Edited August 9, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Coming on very nice good work Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 (edited) I have now finished the decalling and have applied a little weathering and matt varnish, but there is some silvering in some off the decals. I have only done a small amount of weathering as this is the bosses aircraft and the US reserves do have a pride in keeping the bosses aircraft clean althoug I will do a bit more in the wheel bays. I have also made up the weapons and they are awaiting their own decals which I will do them this week, along with fitting some of the smaller parts. New weapons set that arrived. The wepons minus fule tanks. Edited August 19, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 (edited) Almost there. I have now added the weapons to thwe under wing and fuselage pylons, plus the flaps to the wing trailing edge. I have also added a few of the more breakable parts such as aerials, and I have put the sidewinders on the folded wing parts before I add them to the model, which will hopefully be tonight. The ejection seat is painted and ready to be fitted, plus I shall also be adding the rest of the parts tonight hopefully, so that it should be finished by tomorrow, all things going well. Edited August 28, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Very nice build looking good Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) Here is the completed model. Any comments are very grateful. Edited August 30, 2013 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 A very attractive scheme, very well executed. Well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellzy Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Very nice Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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