NealParkes Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 (edited) Hello all, For my second build here on Britmodeller I have chosen something nice and easy. The 1/72 Hobby Boss F/A-18 Hornet A, the build will be straight out of the box (bar a canopy mask probably). I've always had a bit of a love hate relationship with the Hornet, I love it mainly because it's the Blue Angels bird and that scheme is one of my favourites, I hate it because it slowly replaced the F-14 Tomcat in US Navy service and the Big Cat is one of my favourite aircraft of all time. Anyway enough rambling here are the customary presentation photos. IMG_0006_zpsha5nbc7k by Neal, on Flickr Nice box art and a convient top opening box. IMG_0007_zpsrj1odkei by Neal, on Flickr Front page of the "comprehensive" instruction manual. IMG_0008_zpslwx8sltv by Neal, on Flickr A four step build, just about right for my skill level. IMG_0009_zpsomsiocjr by Neal, on Flickr I do like it when a sprue map is included. IMG_0010_zpsfi9jaafg by Neal, on Flickr Blue Angels scheme, more than likely the one I will go for. IMG_0011_zpsj2b7wh68 by Neal, on Flickr RCAF 425sqn 60 anniversary special scheme, I do really like this one too, so might be tempted and leave the Blue Angels for a later build. IMG_0012_zpsdiscec7b by Neal, on Flickr Blue Angels decals. IMG_0013_zps2xjnbegt by Neal, on Flickr RCAF 425sqn decals. IMG_0015_zpsjzpomxv8 by Neal, on Flickr Top half. IMG_0019_zpsdk7v6mmm by Neal, on Flickr Bottom half. IMG_0018_zpschrlo42k by Neal, on Flickr Sprue A. IMG_0017_zpsrew72cbi by Neal, on Flickr Sprue B. IMG_0020_zpsoakgnf62 by Neal, on Flickr Sprue C. IMG_0016_zpsi5aoqfu4 by Neal, on Flickr Sprue D. IMG_0022_zpscgivszol by Neal, on Flickr Sprue E. As you can see I'm quite keen to get this one underway, I've made a start on the cockpit. I'll spray that later then add the not very detailed ejection seat. I'm not bothered about the lack of detail in the cockpit, I think I will be putting a pilot in there and modelling the plan in flight if I can get round the undercarriage doors. Neal Edited July 23, 2017 by NealParkes broken links 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz23 Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Should be a good build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I like this kit quite a lot, and hope you have fun with it. I did mine a couple years back as the RCAF demonstration bird from 2006, using Leading Edge decals. Only detailing I added (beside Sidewinders borrowed from a Testors F-5E kit) was to reduce a small photo image of the inst. panel and paste it into the cockpit. I'm still holding onto the "Angels" decals, for another build someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted September 5, 2016 Author Share Posted September 5, 2016 (edited) So I've got some work done on this little kit, it is going together nicely as most of these hobby boss 1/72 kits do.IMG_0390_zpscp7nugof by Neal, on FlickrThe cockpit is pretty bare, I'll be using the kit decal and then try and fit a driver in there, I'm going to displaying this one in flight. IMG_0391_zps3fb5esjm by Neal, on FlickrTotal lack of detail in the wheel bays, but once again it's going to be gear up so no concerns there. The top and bottom went together without the need for any filler.IMG_0392_zpsygtvgvnf by Neal, on FlickrHaving to perform some minor surgery in order to get the gear doors into the up position, not a hard job but made easier with a small saw.IMG_0393_zpsqi1fdkdc by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0396_zpsc9qad4bs by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0399_zpsx80nrkqo by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0398_zpsyfadkroj by Neal, on FlickrIt is going to need some filler in order to make it nice and smooth around the gear doors, the air intakes will also need some attention.That's it for now, next step is break out the perfect plastic putty and fill, then sand, then my achilles heel rescribe. Edited July 23, 2017 by NealParkes broken links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 Looks good so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelglue Posted September 5, 2016 Share Posted September 5, 2016 I was viewing this on my small phone and subscribed to take a look once I got down to my largish desktop monitor. Nice work so far! I see there are a few hobbyboss builds going on, I didn't know their kits featured as much detail as this, so it is nice to see since they are a fair bit less expensive than contemporaries. Cheers, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted December 5, 2016 Author Share Posted December 5, 2016 So it has been quite a while since I've updated on the progress of the hornet. I must admit it got put on the back burner for a while as other things have been more important than modelling recently. However thanks to a dodgy shoulder and trapped nerve I've got some time at the bench, a painful tile though (thank the lord for the creator of codeine and diazepam!) Anyway enough waffle here are a few pics to show you what I've been up to. Well actually it looks like it is only going to be two piccies as I seem to have mislaid the others. I have filled and sanded all the gaps where I put the gear flaps up, I then masked the canopy using a combo of Tamiya tape and copydex. Then a coat of ye olde faithful halfords primer before hitting the spray booth. Here it is in the booth with the first coat of Vallejo Model Air 71.090 Blue Angels.IMG_0523 by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0528 by Neal, on Flickr I hope to carry on spraying tomorrow and then be able to gloss coat it soon. Neal 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted December 7, 2016 Author Share Posted December 7, 2016 So I got back into the spray booth today, I've put some paint down still using Vallejo Model Air, i have lightened the "Blue Angels" Blue with some white as I find their F/A-18A's always a bit lighter in colour compared to previous Blue Angels aircraft. I hope that it's not too light in the end though.Here are the photos fro the last session.IMG_0530 by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0531 by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0550 by Neal, on FlickrIMG_0551 by Neal, on FlickrNeal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark4700 Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Looking very nice. I love this scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 I've put a few layers of klear (old but not the original) formula on to prepare the hornet for some decals.IMG_0565 by Neal, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Nice work so far. Good to know this kit may have a few fans - I have one in my stash (came with some nice RAAF decals in the box, which was a clincher). No doubt it is not as good as more sophisticated/detailed kit options; but it suits me for a relatively quick build. Keen to see this as it progresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 So I'm not happy with the way the blue has come out and I've had some big trouble trying to get yellow right too. So the Hornet is currently sat in an re-sealable bag soaking in fairy power spray. Then I'll have a good rub tomorrow morning with a soft tooth brush, just hope that the Fairy power spray get through the klear coat. I'll see how it looks and then I may go to spraying it in the Canadian colour scheme.Neal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 So after a very long time on the shelf of doom I am trying to resuscitate this project and here is where I am up to. The Fairy Power spray didn't even touch the paint when trying to remove it, I think that was due to the gloss coat, so after asking for some advice I was told to try some IPA the stronger the better ( no no not the beer variety!). I purchased some 99% IPA and gave the kit a bath in ti followed by local application with a tooth brush the result was as follows: Just a few steps back... by Neal, on Flickr Just a few steps back... by Neal, on Flickr As the cockpit got battered a little during the pain striping I decided to pop a pilot in and a couple of straps in order to hide the misery: Untitled by Neal, on Flickr Untitled by Neal, on Flickr I replace the canopy and prepared for the masking using Tamiya bendy tape: Untitled by Neal, on Flickr Seeing this is now a rescue mission I'm going to give black basing a go, so hopefully tomorrow I'll spray it up with some AK black microfilmer and primer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 So I skipped a fair few updates on the Hornet, really lost the mojo for it to be honest but I will get it finished! I thought I would have a go at a sort of black basing, so I thinned down some Mr Hobby H308 and sprayed some random patterns on the Hornet:Untitled by Neal, on Flickr I then forgot to take any photos of the bird once painted up, but I did get some tonal variation at the end, I think I prefer that way of doing rather than preshading which I never get on with. I've since got the decals on, I had a few issues with decals disintegrating so it is not done to perfection:Untitled by Neal, on Flickr Untitled by Neal, on Flickr I'm going to let them dry down and then gloss coat it with the new Klear. I will then put a wash of Flory Dark Dirt all over it. I'll dig out some AIM-9L's and AIM-7's out of the spares box and put a centre tank on as well. Nearly there and light at the end of the tunnel. Neal 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 (edited) I had completely forgotten about this topic and whilst doing the photos of the kits I built in 2017 I realised that I never finished the topic here. So here are some photos of the finished kit:20180103-29.jpg by Neal, on Flickr20180103-28.jpg by Neal, on Flickr20180103-30.jpg by Neal, on Flickr20180103-27.jpg by Neal, on FlickrI'll pop a thread in the ready for inspection category too.Thanks for looking. Edited January 3, 2018 by NealParkes spelling 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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