NontasB Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Hello to all, this the current model that I am building. It's hasegawa's quite old F/A-18A from the mid 80s (the kit). I have made some modifications in order to represent it parked on an aircraft carrier. I have added a little detail in some areas of the kit and used eduard's PE set for the cockpit (not quite happy with this, as it is the very first PE sets of eduard), a true details SJU-5 and Microscale (really old) decals. First, added detail to the gear bays and the landing gears Reinforcements inside the fuselage The new entrance ladder The wings needed to be cutted Cockpit Dry fit Added weight Started painting of varius parts. (I wan't impressed with Eduards old PE...I wish i had bought the newer ones for Academy kit) Assembling (awful fit...) Masking the cockpit... Added some rivets and it's ready for painting... All critics are acceptable To be continued... 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatalbert Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Wow that's fantastic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 wow, excellent work there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 Good morning to all. Continue with the Hornet... Just before painting I made some extra work in a few places of the kit. Detail at the arresting hook Strengthening plates that F/A-18A had Fin tips that didn't exist in the kit Formation lights panels Prepared the loads, AIM-7M, AIM-9L, AGM-88A and two wing taks A look of how it will be at the end Started painting Then started weathering Also, apart from the decals of Microscale, I prepared a few homemade decals in order to depict ''107'' modex of VFA-131 85'-86' cruise in the Mediterranean To be continued 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Excellent, love the weathering. Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 NontasB Be still MY beating heart... That is AWESOME.. will be back to see this SUPERB model..LOVE the HORNET.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Wow, this is a great build! Wonderful work on the the flaps, wing fold and everything else. I've bookmarked it for later reference. Have you built the Academy kit as well? I'm wondering how they compare. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 Thank you guys for your kind words. The decals are set, but I must find a little time to photograph the model. Cookenbacher, thank you very much. I haven't build the academy kit. I do own 2 academy's hornets, 2 other hasegawa, 1 hobby boss and 1 fujimi. Best of all in my opinion is academy's kit as it is the newest on the market, but i love the Fujimi!! If you want to fold the wings it's easier with the Fujimi because the wings are two separate pieces (upper and lower), so you can cut them easier. Also it has much better detail in many places, such as full intakes, full cockpit etc. Academy's kit is very good but it is just an improvement of the hasegawa kit with just better detail and better fit (...I hope). I look forward to build all of them!! (...except the hobby boss) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirageiv Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 lovely painting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The James Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Great set of photographs there and impressive attention to detail! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 just dropped by to see how you are getting along... Thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Impressive details here, I like it a lot ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaia1984 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Great work! I also have a F-18 from Heller sitting in my stash to do a bit of scratch building on it but I will prob leave for a while later as the F-16 I am currently making has drained me a bit. This would be a great reference for when the time comes! Keep on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James G Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Wow, excellent work, especially in 1/72! Please say you are building a carrier deck diorama for it?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 Thank you all guys for the kind words!! The model is almost done. I just need to paint all these yellow, brown and red stripes to the weapons. I will soon post new pictures with a new camera. James G you are reading my mind. I want to build a carrier deck diorama with a small part of one of the starboard side elevators of Coral Sea , but we will see...other 1/72 projects are waiting too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted May 8, 2015 Author Share Posted May 8, 2015 New camera, new photographs and more progress to the hornet. Gloss Varnish done! Decals done! Gloss Varnish again done! Wash done! Satin Varnish done! The end is near... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBlack33 Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Looking rather splendid so far, very impressive. Would you care to share a bit more the pre-shading and weathering process you went through? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted May 9, 2015 Author Share Posted May 9, 2015 (edited) Thank you Matt for your kind words. The truth is that I don't use the preshade technique. I usually paint the base colours and then I start to weather the aircraft by spraying lighter and darker shades. In USN planes I first spray darker shades of base colours (very deluted) in larger areas, especially where technicians step on the airplane and then with 0,2 nozzle I spray lighter shades in varius panels of the airplane. I repeat the last process 3-4 times, using every time different shade. Then, after varnishing the model I do the wash technique (most times) with payness gray oil colour. It takes time, but I think it's worth!! Edited May 9, 2015 by NontasB 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBlack33 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Thank you Matt for your kind words. The truth is that is don't use the preshade technique. I usually paint the base colours and then I start to weather the aircraft by spraying lighter and darker shades. In USN planes I first spray darker shades of base colours (very deluted) in larger areas, especially where technicians step on the airplane and then with 0,2 nozzle I spray lighter shades in varius panels of the airplane. I repeat the last process 3-4 times, using every time different shade. Then, after varnishing the model I do the wash technique (most times) with payness gray oil colour. It takes time, but I think it's worth!! It's definitely worth it! I've not heard of that particular technique before. I might have to give it a try when I get around to building a US Navy jet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 The result cannot be argued with. Thanks for sharing your technique Nontas. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Can't believe I've only just come across this. Fantastic scratch building, it's looking gorgeous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaia1984 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Great job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavDoc Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Great thread for a USN fan ! What about a black base coat? Any thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Wow thats looking superb, nice work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NontasB Posted May 14, 2015 Author Share Posted May 14, 2015 Thank you all for your kind words. The Hornet is ready but I have to take a few photos in daylight. I believe I will post the final photos on the weekend. Great thread for a USN fan ! What about a black base coat? Any thoughts? Hello NavDoc, I don't use a black base coat because it is more difficult and takes more time to paint the gray shades. I have seen many people who have used this technique and they accomplished a very beautiful weathered effect on the plane. I haven't tried yet, but I feel more safe to paint the basic colours and then to weather the aircraft, as it's done in reality. The fact is that real airplanes first they get painted, then, nature, air flow and technicians weather the airplane and then they apply fresh paint on varius panels. I try to follow this order in every build. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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