Revell F/A-18 Super Hornet (04994) - 1:32 Revell

[Julien]

 F/A-18 Super Hornet (04994)

1:32 Revell

 

 

The Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is the second generation F/A-18 following on the the F/A-18C. The F/A-18E was developed from the original Hornet and while it may look alike its very much a new aircraft which is 25% bigger. The US Navy managed to keep the F/A-18 designation partly to make the US Congress believe it would be a low risk development from the original aircraft (not the first time in US Aviation this has happened). The new aircraft was ordered in 1992 with a first flight in 1995. The aircraft introduced a new era in electronics including an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, bigger displays and a helmet mounted sighting system. To date the Super Hornet has replaced the legacy Hornet in all US Navy operations apart from the USN Aerobatic Team The Blue Angels, and even they will have transitioned by 2021. As well as the E model there is the two seat F model, and the latest development the G or "Growler" Electronic Warfare Aircraft. 

 

 

The Kit

This is a new tool kit from Revell for 2019. It arrives in a rather large box which is packed with mainly rather large sprues. The bigger ones being 60 cms across! The first job on the build is to construct the full length intake and exhaust trunking. Fan fronts and exhaust ends are placed in the trunking and its all buttoned up. The underside of this trunking forms the topside of the main wheels wells and they are built up onto the trunking. The lower main fuselage and lower parts of the intakes are then attached, followed by the fuselage sides (which also contain the top of the intakes). The exhaust nozzles can then be placed on the back of the fuselage, a choice between open and closed nozzles is provided.  The lower parts of the main wings (left & right) are then attached to the main fuselage. Once these are on the large single part top wing/body part can be attached but only after first putting in the inserts for the topside airbrakes. 

 

 

 

We can now move onto the cockpit (normally where we start!) The bottom of the cockpit section forms the roof of the front wheel well and the sides for the well are attached first followed by the front bulkhead. The cockpit tub can then be placed on the top. To this is added the instrument panel and the control column. The ejection seat is then built up and added, The seat is a mulitpart affair, however the belts are moulded in, and in this scale the seat would really benefit PE belts. Once the seat is in the instrument coaming can also be fitted and the cockpit placed into the forward fuselage halves. The nose cone can be fitted and then the forward fuselage joined to the main body. A main top spine part behind the cockpit is then added. 

 

 

 

 

The vertical tails with their separate rudders are then made up and added to the main fuselage with a scrap diagram showing the correct angles for these. Once on the arrestor hook parts can be fitted under the main body.  We now move to the undercarriage which is quite complex for the Hornet. The front unit and its wheels are built up and fitted to the front bay, the doors and their retraction struts are then fitted.  Both sets of main gear get the same treatment. The main gear doors are supplied as one part and must be cut up into their components for the gear down. 

 

 

The outer wings can either be down or folded up as they would be parked. For these the correct hinge assembly needs to be selected. The outer wings can then be built up and added. The main wings are then finished off. While the centre sections are already there the leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps are fitted. The exhaust nozzles are then fitted to the back. Up at the front the glazing is added. For the main canopy the clear parts fit into a normal plastic frame, An integral boarding ladder is provided if wanted in the lowered position. To finish of the tail planes are added along with a few aerials.

 

 

 

 

 

Revell provide us with a whole host of things to hang under the wings. As well as the pylons a centre line tank, and wing fuel tanks are in the box. Wing tip missile rails are included as well as AIM-9M and AIM-9X missiles for them. AIM-120C missiles are also provided. In term of things which go bang when dropped 2 x GBU-12, 2 x GBU-31-3B, and 2 x GBU-38s are provided. An AN-ASQ-228 ATFLIR sensor pod is also included. 

 

 

 

Decals

The decal sheet from cartograf (so no issues there) provides markings for two aircraft.

 

F/A-18E Bu No.166957 - "Vampires 111" Test & Evaluation Sqn VX-9, NAWS China Lake.

F/A-18E Bu No.166651 - "Gunslingers 401" strike Fighter Sqn VFA-105. USS Harry s Truman 2010

 

 

Conclusion

This should make up to a good looking if rather large model, highly recommended for those who like to go big!

 

 

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

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[spfparker]

At last - thought this had slipped by the radar as haven't seen (m)any reviews of the kit in the magazines or any built up yet.  :)

[Julien]

19 hours ago, spfparker said:

At last - thought this had slipped by the radar as haven't seen (m)any reviews of the kit in the magazines or any built up yet.  

Cheers the pics dont really do the size justice, the bigger sprues are 60cms wide and the main top sprue is about 50cms. As my photocube is only 50cms wide it was a challenge to get the sprues done. The decal sheet on its own is 34cms!

[spfparker]

3 hours ago, Julien said:

Cheers the pics dont really do the size justice, the bigger sprues are 60cms wide and the main top sprue is about 50cms. As my photocube is only 50cms wide it was a challenge to get the sprues done. The decal sheet on its own is 34cms!

I have one in the stash - just waiting to see how someone else tackles it - its gonna be big....

[pacificmustang]

On ‎9‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 8:07 AM, spfparker said:

At last - thought this had slipped by the radar as haven't seen (m)any reviews of the kit in the magazines or any built up yet.  

check here https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/79865-revell-bug/ for a bit of discussion on the accuracy

the consensus seems to be, not one of their better ones

 

Bruce

[The_Lancaster]

On 9/23/2019 at 5:04 AM, pacificmustang said:

check here https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/79865-revell-bug/ for a bit of discussion on the accuracy

the consensus seems to be, not one of their better ones

 

Bruce

I'm currently building it and I've got to agree, it is a bit rough, fits poor the shape is questionable in places 

[DarrenH]

Quite possibly the worst kit i have ever tried to build in 40 years of modelling.

Makes the engine sections on the 48th B-1 look great.

horrendous and hard to believe to gorgeous 262 single seater in 32 is from the same company.

What went wrong...?

[ocatlub]

2 hours ago, DarrenH said:

Quite possibly the worst kit i have ever tried to build in 40 years of modelling.

Makes the engine sections on the 48th B-1 look great.

horrendous and hard to believe to gorgeous 262 single seater in 32 is from the same company.

What went wrong...?

As above, it seems to have been desgined by a committee of whom either did not meet or talk to each other! To get it to fit there is alot of trimming and adjustment of plastic to get it together. (Hacking about). Tamiya it is not, but it could have been so much better given some recent Revell releases. I have one part built on the shelf of doom at the moment most of building done.