Flyboy3394 Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 (edited) Decided to go for a 1/72 FA-18F SuperBug for my next build. Always been a fan of Naval aviation, and have really been enjoying the Academy new tool 1/72 kits as well. I know they're snap-fit (sort of), but the detailing is superb and the size is perfect for my shelf. I am going for a Fleet Interception/ Air to Air specific loadout. Payload will be 6-7 AIM-120s and 2 wingtip AIM-9Xs. I am using 2 resin dual LAU 115/127 launchers from Attack Squadron, and 2 single LAU 115 launchers on each side. An additional AIM-120 is possible for mounting to the lower airframe right next to the landing gear. Will likely forego this, but it is possible. Part 1: The build. Began with the cockpit and airframe: Intakes installed: Cockpit: Dark Gull Grey. Part 2: Final build and weapons. Had issues with the nose fit, so putty was a must. and after: Good fix, and looks solid to boot! Weapons and launchers: Weapons are from 3 different sources: 1/72 f15e eagle, Hasegawa Weapons V pack and this kit. I decided to use 2 dual resin LAU lanchers for the AIM-120s, to bring the real Air to Air/fleet interception mission to life. I think these came out quite well, and will bring the total possible number of AAMs on the bird up to 8-9 depending on if I go for 6 or 7 AIM-120s with the 2 wingtip AIM-9X's. Final pre-paint assembly: Part 3: Priming and paint. Primer is Alclad grey primer and microfiller: Paint: Bottom: Light Ghost Grey MM enamel. Top: Dark Ghost Grey MM enamel: Bottom: Impossible to note difference between primer and paint. Top: I purposefully did the top with some thick blotches of the dark ghost to give me a head start on weathering. The blotches are to simulate salt air eroding the paint unevenly. Next update will be post shading and further weathering (maybe salt crystals on topside). I will also try to finish weapons, and paint the LG bays, gear, and doors. Stay Tuned.... Edited December 11, 2017 by Flyboy3394 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Not seen the new Academy kits as yet, any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Enjoying this. I was keen to do a JR F/A-18F from the Hasegawa kit but will watch this closely, I could end up going thus way yet. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 On 12/11/2017 at 11:05 AM, neil5208 said: Not seen the new Academy kits as yet, any good? They are pretty good yeah. Fit is excellent, and detail is phenomenal. They are "snap fit" and i know that is a turn off for some hardcore modelers, but at the pricepoint, and for the detail, its an excellent kit. Highly recommend any of the new tool Academy 1:72 birds. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 (edited) Update: Cockpit is masked and ready for its semi gloss black: I also did some postshading but it did not go as smoothly as I had hoped: The top came out real crappy, and I ended up going over the lines with another coast of Dark Ghost Grey: The bottom postshading looks far better, and will remain: I also painted the landing gear bay doors: Next steps: Paint canopy and nose (in tan). Then after curing, give a coat of clear coat to prepare for decals and weathering. Also considering the salt weathering techique, but not sold on it 100% yet. Edited January 17, 2018 by Flyboy3394 addition 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Watching your brilliantly detailed build, think I may have to get one of these for the Carriers Ahoy GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Wreck Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Nice work. Looking forward to seeing the finished article. This kit is also in the mix for my possible Carriers Ahoy! build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 2 hours ago, Colonel Wreck said: Nice work. Looking forward to seeing the finished article. This kit is also in the mix for my possible Carriers Ahoy! build. Thanks Gents. It is much appreciated. Curious on your opinions about salt weathering on this. I want it to be a very dirty bird. Never done the salt technique before, so i am curious what you all think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I'm curious about this kit too, and this build thread is very helpful. I've only done a little bit a salt weathering, but I liked the results. There's a dedicated 'how-to' thread here on Britmodeller that I based my own attempts on. It's impossible to make a carrier based Hornet too dirty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Wreck Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Never tried salt weathering myself but plan to give it a go on the F-14D I currently have on the bench. You’re a little further ahead in your build than I am so I’ll get to learn from your posts! 😃👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) Update: Got the Canopy painted and curing: Radome done as well: Front gear bay painted as well: Sidewinders are ready for decals (post curing): And got the gear built: I know there is some kind of red striping on the front landing gear, but cannot, for the life of me, find any pictures that show the backside of the gear. Aside from this, I will likely go with some enamel steel to denote the suspension stanchions of the gear, and will do a black panel wash to give depth here, and the gear bays as well. Now I have to let this all sit and cure for a few days. Then, I think I will apply a coat of alclad aqua gloss as my first topcoat. I had better luck with the alclad than using future. Future kept bubbling on me, and I could not get a clean coat. Next: clear coat, then salt weathering? Edited January 18, 2018 by Flyboy3394 Addition 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Wreck Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Is Future the one that is milky before it dries clear? I usually use Alclad aqua gloss but have a couple of bottles of Pledge Floor Care Finish in order from the U.S. I saw it on Flory Models YouTube and he swears by it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 12 minutes ago, Colonel Wreck said: Is Future the one that is milky before it dries clear? I usually use Alclad aqua gloss but have a couple of bottles of Pledge Floor Care Finish in order from the U.S. I saw it on Flory Models YouTube and he swears by it. Future is the Pledge. Its name has been changed, but most modelers still call it future. I find that the Alclad, if sprayed too thick, will become milky. Have not had this with Future. Instead, it just seems to be very runny when oversprayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 On 1/17/2018 at 11:44 AM, Flyboy3394 said: They are pretty good yeah. Fit is excellent, and detail is phenomenal. They are "snap fit" and i know that is a turn off for some hardcore modelers, but at the pricepoint, and for the detail, its an excellent kit. Highly recommend any of the new tool Academy 1:72 birds. I agree, excellent kits. I have a WIP going for the Academy F-4J. Check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 Update: Landing Gear bay painted: Aim-9's painted: AMRAAMs also painted and awating clear coat: Clear Coat: First coat did NOT go on smooth, but as I am doing salt weathering, it shouldn't be such a big deal. Got the gun section painted in a custom mix of MM enamel steel, RN Dark grey and burnt metal: Next up will be salt weathering. No clue what I am doing with this, but it seems like if I take my time, I will be fine. Stay Tuned.... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealParkes Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Nice work thus far, I'll be keeping an eye on this one as I have Revell flavoured superbug in the stash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 Update: Decaling has begun, and I have found that the provided decals are extremely stiff, unwieldy, and prone to ripping. The large black decals shown below are extremely difficult to place correctly. Makes me wish I had just painted those sections black. These decals are Academy branded, and a far cry from the Cartograph branded decals included with the F15E strike eagle I build late last year. Those were easy to use and very solid. Decals: Will be continuing this tonight and until I finish. Also not going to do salt weathering after all, as I will likely just use washes to mimic weathering after decaling. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killingholme Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 I hope Academy haven't gone back to those terrible thick decals they were notorious for. A few of my recent Academy purchases have been driven by inclusion of lovely Cartograph decal sheets! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 35 minutes ago, Killingholme said: I hope Academy haven't gone back to those terrible thick decals they were notorious for. A few of my recent Academy purchases have been driven by inclusion of lovely Cartograph decal sheets! Will Well I hate to break it to you, but this kit has some pretty godawful decals. They do not want to be moved off the backing, and rip extremely easily. Pretty bitter about their omission of Cartograph. Seems like a big big miss on their end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killingholme Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Flyboy3394 said: Well I hate to break it to you, but this kit has some pretty godawful decals. They do not want to be moved off the backing, and rip extremely easily. Pretty bitter about their omission of Cartograph. Seems like a big big miss on their end. Darn it. I hope there's a pretty quick change of mind at Academy Towers. On the plus side, you seem to be doing a pretty good job of getting them on the kit! It's looking sharp. Edited January 31, 2018 by Killingholme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 Update: Decided to strip the crappy black decals and paint them. I used ALclad black gloss microprimer as it would level better than, and dry faster, than standard MM enamels. Came out nice and smooth, and I think I was able to keep it covered long enough to avoid debris getting imbedded into it too deeply. Meantime anyone have recommendations on a good 1/72 FA18E/F decal sheet? I ruined a few other decals in this process and need to replace them. Will begin decaling Missiles and other bits next. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Update: Got the Vertical Stabs Decaled. Though, without a base coat of paint or clear coat, the decals refused to stick. So I got them all on, and sprayed some spray can clear coat. Things have stuck, and I will apply a more refined clear coat after. Lesson learned about trying to put decals down on bare plastic. It just does not work. Gotta have some form of clear coat/base coat underneath. I did get some cracking/lifting on the left side (above orientation) black bit directly next to the cockpit, but was able to fill it in with some MM enamel in gloss black. I will be gloss coating it all tonight to protect the decals and paint I already have down, and to provide a smoother surface for the rest of the decals, as they currently are not wanting to be cooperative. Painted the black bits, and they came out quite well. Need to seal it up with clear coat, as it is just gloss primer. But so far, so good. Edited February 8, 2018 by Flyboy3394 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 That's looking sharp with its painted portions - much better than the faulty decals, well done indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy3394 Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) 24 minutes ago, Cookenbacher said: That's looking sharp with its painted portions - much better than the faulty decals, well done indeed. Thanks! Yeah it does look a lot better. Should have just done it to begin with. Edited February 8, 2018 by Flyboy3394 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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