Canadian DEMO HORNET

thorfinn · March 29, 2018

With your indulgence...another 'golden oldie' dredged up from old Photobucket files.

This is the simplified 'easy build' Hobby Boss F/A-18A Hornet, from the 'Blue Angels' boxing...dressed up with the excellent Leading Edge Canadian Hornet 2006 Demo markings. I spruced-up the very basic kit with added LEX fences on the wing roots, and a tail hook and assorted sensors and antennae from rod & strip stock. As a Canadian bird of that era, it also needed the characteristic nose-mounted searchlight, so I drilled a shallow hole and added a disc from clear acetate.

The featureless interior tub needed the most help. I reduced a color internet photo of a Hornet instrument panel to size, printed several copies and used them as “layers” to make a semi-relief panel, attaching it in place with craft glue. Bits of styrene worked for seat features, and painted tissue for harnesses and chute pack. Another bit of clear acetate made up the the HUD.

The kit came with three drop tanks and pylons...as well as some additional weapons pylons and racks...but no ordnance whatsoever. Since in my mind a Hornet looks 'nekkid' without something on the wingtip rails, I snagged a pair of Sidewinders from an old Testors F-5E, and painted them as inert practice rounds.

A nice bit of color for ordinarily-drab grey birds.