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1/48 EA-18G Growler VAQ-132 'Scorpions'. Finished 19/05


DaveJL

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Hello all,

 

Missed this group build so a later entry from me; Hasegawa's 1/48 EA-18G Growler in the markings of VAQ-132 'Scorpions' during Operation 'Odyssey Dawn' over Libya in 2011.

 

Kit:

 

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Aftermarket:

 

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I'll be using a Wolfpack Designs cockpit set and Steel Beach intake covers.

 

Decals and paint scheme:

 

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The jet back in 2011 - EA-18G

 

Been in the stash for a few years so will be good to get it built and displayed alongside the several F/A-18E/Fs I've built over the last 2 years.

 

Dave

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5 hours ago, Hockeyboy76 said:

@DaveJL, what colours does your instructions say for the camo tail?

Tan for the overall colour, 4 parts Brown FS 30219 with 1 part white for the lighter of the browns and Dark Earth for the small bits of darker brown.

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On 4/2/2019 at 7:21 PM, DaveJL said:

Tan for the overall colour, 4 parts Brown FS 30219 with 1 part white for the lighter of the browns and Dark Earth for the small bits of darker brown.

I did a little colour test for the tail fins using Humbrol enamels

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Comparing them to photos of the real a/c I think that Hum 250 desert sand is the best match for the overall colour, much better than the 118 or 83.  with Hum118 US Tan as the second colour. I have decals for the smallest brown parts. 

HTH

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Made a start on this over the last couple of days. Cockpit built up and painted:

 

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The intakes were built up and attached to the lower fuselage. Once dry, the cockpit was popped into the upper fuselage and then the lower half attached. As is normal with Hasegawa's Super bug kits, the fit around the LERX is a bit of a sod and requires plenty of tape and clamping (and eventually filler):

 

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Note some of the lumps and bumps specific to the G model that have been added. Some of the sub assemblies:

 

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The ECM pods, tanks and ordnance were also built up:

 

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The AIM-120s are from an Academy F-15 kit and the AGM-88s are from a Tamiya F-16; the ones provided in the kit just didn't look right to me.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

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all looking nice!
 

those weapons look the part! :) especially the HARMs are crucial here! :) 

no Aim-9Xs on the G.... only on Aussi ones.... wonder why the US Navy thinks there is no need for them....

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4 minutes ago, exdraken said:

all looking nice!
 

those weapons look the part! :) especially the HARMs are crucial here! :) 

no Aim-9Xs on the G.... only on Aussi ones.... wonder why the US Navy thinks there is no need for them....

Thanks Werner.

 

Tamiya AGM-88s are definitely better than the Hasegawa examples.

 

Wasn’t aware the Australian jets carried the Aim-9x in place of the wingtip pods, maybe a different mission set than the ‘package’ that the USN would employ. 

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1 hour ago, DaveJL said:

 

Wasn’t aware the Australian jets carried the Aim-9x in place of the wingtip pods, maybe a different mission set than the ‘package’ that the USN would employ. 

Actually not instead, but additionally on the outer wing pylon! Similar to the Swiss Hornet pylon for light loads aka single AAMs

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1 hour ago, exdraken said:

Actually not instead, but additionally on the outer wing pylon! Similar to the Swiss Hornet pylon for light loads aka single AAMs

Ah, so the pylon that would carry the AGM-88s?  USN E/Fs routinely carry the AIM-120 there but don’t recall seeing the sidewinder 

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A bit more done over the last couple of days. Fuselage was cleaned up (note the cannon vents in the nose have to be closed up) and the wings with pods fitted. One of the wings has a bit of a gap between it and the fuselage which will need a bit of a clean up:

 

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Also had to order some decals for the ordnance; TwoBobs happen to do a sheet for both the AMRAAM and HARM:

 

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More soon.

 

Dave

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Cheers Rich!

 

More done over the last 2 days; remaining control surfaces added to the wings along with the pylons and rest of the antennae.  

 

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Tail fins dry fitted:

 

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That's her pretty much ready for the painting process. The black areas of the cockpit need a respray before masking and priming.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

 

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9 hours ago, BerndM said:

Looking good so far.

Thanks mate.

 

Re-sprayed the black areas of the cockpit and added the HUD:

 

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Windshield has been added, masked up and left to set. I'll mask off the rest of the cockpit tomorrow before getting a lick of primer on.

 

Dave

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4 hours ago, mirageiv said:

Great work Dave, I look forward to the paint job!

 

David

Thanks mate. It's been primed, ready for top coat.

 

Talking about paint, I'm thinking of trying the Mr Paint range. I've read good reviews for them. Anyone used them?

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Now that's a splendid looking Growler!

Regarding MrPaint, I've tested them a few times.

They are amazingly thin, dries fast and gives a quite hard surface that you can sand. Since they're lacquer, they're also smelly so I'm not allowed to use them when the family is nearby...

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Thanks mate.

 

I've ordered about 15 of the Mr Paint colours including their gloss and matt varnish. After reading and watching so many reviews I thought it would be madness not to try! 

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  • 2 weeks later...

More done, mostly on sub assemblies. Ordnance, tanks and ECM pods all painted, decals added and a panel wash applied:

 

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Landing gear and exhausts:

 

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Ejection seats:

 

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Tail fins camouflaged up with decals and a wash added:

 

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Colours are Model Master Tan, Dark Tan and Tamiya Nato Brown, all applied with brush.The kit decals were very thick and took an age to separate from the backing paper. The airframe itself is primed with some pre-shading (something that I've never really tried before- first time was on the Mig-25 I built before this):

 

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I've also taken the plunge and ordered a load of Mr Paint from HM Hobbies:

 

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I've had a few practice sprays and I have to say they are excellent paints.

 

More soon.

 

Dave

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