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1/48 F/A-18E, VFA-87 Su-22 'Killer' 2017 - Finished 28/6


DaveJL

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Hello all,

 

Going to attempt this in the GB timeframe, though i'll need to complete my Typhoon FGR4 for the RAF GB first, but here it is; 1/48 Hasegawa F/A-18E, BuNo 168912 of VFA-87 'Golden Warriors' during their Operation Inherent Resolve cruise in 2017 (this squadron flew alongside VFA-213). This jet shot down a Syrian Su-22 on the 18th June 2017.

 

Kit:

 

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Extras:

 

41682931182_fc0245367b_b.jpg

 

I'll be using an Aires cockpit (in the bag), Steel Beach FOD covers, Pavla seat, Quickboost ECS pipes, Furball decals and 2x GBU-32s from an Academy F-22.

 

Here's the decal option:

 

41723109681_73db6266fc_b.jpg

 

Can't find many images of the jet itself during the cruise, but it'll be armed with 2x AIM-9x, 2x AIM-120, 2x GBU-32 and 3x GBU-38. It'll be another heavily weathered jet too :) 

 

Not the jet in question, but here's one from the same squadron with the load out i'm going for (minus one GBU-32):

170625-N-JC445-092.JPG

 

Dave

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23 minutes ago, Wafu said:

Good on ya Dave, a swarm of Hornets, ideal.

Thanks mate. I'll hopefully get to it, but as I say, want to get the Eurofighter completed before tackling this! Suppose we've two and a bit months to go :lol:

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nice to see another build started and a great subject (being politically correct an "interesting" subject :D ).

 

It looks like you have some nice goodies to go with her as well.

 

Good luck with this build, it should be a nice straight forward one for you. 2 1/2 months should be plenty of time for you.....for me I'm worried! :frantic:

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On 4/27/2018 at 12:34 AM, trickyrich said:

nice to see another build started and a great subject (being politically correct an "interesting" subject :D ).

 

It looks like you have some nice goodies to go with her as well.

 

Good luck with this build, it should be a nice straight forward one for you. 2 1/2 months should be plenty of time for you.....for me I'm worried! :frantic:

Thanks mate. I'll try my best to get this one done, though i'm away for 2 weeks to the far east so that may affect the progress! Was close to entering an F-14 but plumped for this!

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  • 2 weeks later...

surely modex #302 from the Golden Warriors - the ONLY Western jet to achieve an air-to-air victory in the 21st century?  I've already scaled up the markings from the 1/48th sheet in case the Revell 1/32 F/A-18E ever gets released this year :)

 

you realise that because of your excellent posted builds, that my Greyhound has taken 2nd place to me working on my Trumpy Super H - attempting some of your shared weathering on her this afternoon - thanks

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Thanks mate, hope the weathering goes ok!

 

There are a few jets that have shot down UAVs, but I think the only other shoot down of a piloted aircraft was the Turkish F-16/Russian Su-24 incident.

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Made a start on this today. Cockpit painted and given a light wash (as always, I took too much of the casting block off with the saw - the seat covers it anyway :lol:

 

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Fitted into fuselage (again, as always, I sliced off too much of the plastic around the kit's coaming, easily fixed):

 

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Upper and lower fuselage halves attached, nose section ready to go on:

 

42041664332_3232a9fee8_b.jpg

 

Ordnance:

 

40279749430_3972e6da57_b.jpg

 

The GBU-38s, AIM-120s and AIM-9s are from an Academy F-15 (much better detailed than the kit's examples) and the GBU-32s are from an Academy F-22. The above image is how the ordnance will be fitted to the hard points.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

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nice work Dave, I seem to do the same thing with my resin cockpits as well! They should give you cutout guides and stop making the resin plugs so big!

 

She looks all set for hunting bear! 

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loving your Hornet builds (and you already know your build of the "F" has influenced my build schedule here !!) 

 

please in your next post make a comment on how easy (I hope!) the quick bost ECS pipes fitting goes

 

I was lucky enough to get onboard the GW Bush last Summer when she parked just off the beach where I live. Sadly the UK Summer Weather was so awful, I only got a couple of pictures of jets in the hangar (& then mostly with my son n the foreground). My dream phot would have been my son & I stood in front of #302 of the GOLDEN Warriors - especially considering our Surname. 

 

I'll see if I can post a build-in-progress of my 1/32 "E" on the other section later today to show you how I have copied your weathering

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4 hours ago, trickyrich said:

nice work Dave, I seem to do the same thing with my resin cockpits as well! They should give you cutout guides and stop making the resin plugs so big!

 

She looks all set for hunting bear! 

Thanks Rich, couldn't agree more about the resin! 

19 minutes ago, FIGHTS ON said:

loving your Hornet builds (and you already know your build of the "F" has influenced my build schedule here !!) 

 

please in your next post make a comment on how easy (I hope!) the quick bost ECS pipes fitting goes

 

I was lucky enough to get onboard the GW Bush last Summer when she parked just off the beach where I live. Sadly the UK Summer Weather was so awful, I only got a couple of pictures of jets in the hangar (& then mostly with my son n the foreground). My dream phot would have been my son & I stood in front of #302 of the GOLDEN Warriors - especially considering our Surname. 

 

I'll see if I can post a build-in-progress of my 1/32 "E" on the other section later today to show you how I have copied your weathering

 

Thanks mate, glad the thread are of use you. I had a bit of a hiccup with the ECS pipes - I cut one far too thin and the other too thick, so neither will match up and be the same thickness regardless of the amount of sanding. I do have a set of Steel Beach ECS pipes here so I'll just use those; they're not as detailed but don't require any cutting etc, just a straight fit.

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More done after finishing the Typhoon. The Steel Beach ECS pipes:

 

41605185344_1171310547_b.jpg

 

Not as detailed as the Quickboost examples but easier to fit. Wings were added to the fuselage and the filler needed around the LEX was cleaned up:

 

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Tail fins and pylons assembled:

 

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Next up will be to add the flaps/slats etc.

 

Dave

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More done. All the flaps and slats were added along with the pylons:

 

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A few areas just need cleaned up with the wet and dry, then it will be off for masking and paint. I'm off to Asia now for 2 weeks so will be a while before i'm back at the bench.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

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More done on this. All the ordnance painted, weathered and decals added where necessary:

 

42138108924_2f74d573f6_b.jpg

 

The tail sections are a slightly darker shade of grey, though it's hard to make out in the pictures. Once the final application of weathering goes on it will be nearly impossible to make out anyway. All grey bombs always seem a bit odd to me :lol:. Fuel tank with squadron mark added:

 

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Further weathering will be added to the tank when the airframe is being seen to. Ejection seat and exhausts:

 

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Front landing gear:

 

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Will hopefully get the airframe painted during the week.

 

Dave

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Washes on today. First up was the Flory Models dark dirt panel wash:

 

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Excess removed after about 20 minutes. I then added some of my home made grey washes, in random patterns across the airframe:

 

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Tail fins and stabilisers:

 

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As per my last  Super Hornet build, i've been using this thread as references for the weathering patterns. Landing gear has been added and will be left for a few days to cure.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

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More done. Landing gear, tail fins, ejection seat, horizontal stabilisers, FOD covers and fuel tank all added. More weathering on also:

 

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Once that had all dried, I added a flat coat then once cured after 3-4 hours, the ordnance and exhausts went on:

 

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For those interested in the weathering, the way I apply is as follows:

 

1. Flory Models 'Dark dirt' panel wash. Remove excess, but leave some random patches across the airframe.

2. Add home made grey washes - mixed from the base colours, a drop of washing up liquid  & heavily watered down. Apply in random patterns, allowing it to run.

3. Add various oily patches of Tamiya Smoke.

4. Once the flat coat is on, add some soot stains etc with Tamiya weathering sets.

 

As per the post above, I use numerous images to get the weathering ideas. The Hornets on recent cruises have been very grubby, much like F-14s of old.

 

Just need to add the canopy parts now and that'll be it done.

 

Dave

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