Giorgio N Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 I know, it's not strictly a Hornet but since the rules specifically mention this aircraft, I've decided to go for it. Afterall with so many Super Hornets showing the latest evolution of the type it would be interesting to have a model of the aircraft from which this evolution started. Yes, while it's not strictly a Hornet this is where everything started from: Northrop's entry for the USAF LWF competition, the final evolution of a line of designs aimed at developing a successor to the very succesful F-5 series (and that started when the F-5 had just entered production). No need here to go into the details of why the YF-17 lost to the YF-16 (that spawned an aircraft that is today among the most produced jets ever) and no much need to retell how the loser of the USAF context ended up winning a context for a similar light fighter for the US Navy... where really the term light must be taken with a pinch of salt or two. In any case the YF-17 is a fascinating aircraft, yes looks like a Hornet but it is svelter, pointier, gives the impression of a real light fighter (again, light up to a point...). It's hard to tell if the USAF should have chosen the Northrop proposal insted of what became the F-16, the huge success of the latter probably means that the Cobra was not as good. That the Cobra led to the very successful Hornet is however a testament to the soundness of Northrop designers ideas. There are only two ways to build a YF-17 in my favourite 1/72 scale: the Anigrand resin kit or modifying a Hornet kit. None of the two is easy but in my case I will follow the one that needs less work, even if it may not lead to a very accurate model... I've been searching for a kit of the Cobra for many years and when I found this kit on sale here on the forum I immediately grabbed it. The kit does not have a good reputation and I believe that the modeller who sold it did it because he realised how inaccurate certain parts of the kit are. Still, I knew what I was getting and I'll be building this kit, good or bad. Of course I may try and improve a few things... we'll see. Nothing to say about the box, no fancy box art but it's very sturdy and protects very well the content, content that is mainly resin: All parts are still in their original bag, that I never opened. With kits like these I tend to not open the bags as in case I decide to resell them this may be seen favourably by the potential buyers. I know, kits should be bought to be built, not be resold, but with resin kits I've given up more than once for one reason or the other... well, not this will be built ! Also in the box are a one piece canopy, that looks to be in plastic, and a very small decal sheet None is special, fortunately the subject I have in mind carries very few markings. Speaking of the subject, I'd like to build prototype Nr. 2, in the camo scheme carried during the LWF evalutations. A great picture of this aircraft adorns the cover of the book that I bought together with the kit, book that will be one of the most important references for this build: Yes, she's not strictly a Hornet but she's a beauty !!! Speaking of references, the other most important reference will be July 1998's issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling, that includes a great article on how to convert the old Esci F-18 kit into an YF-17. Since I have an Esci kit in the "broken down models" box, I may decide to reuse parts of this kit should I find the original Anigrand parts to be excessively inaccurate. My plan is to try and improve on the problems in the kit, however I'll also try to not lose sanity. Working with thick resin parts is not the same thing as working with plastic ones and certain corrections may result too much for my taste. I'll try to strike a balance between getting a better looking model than the original Anigrand parts make into and the need to finish the model within the GB limits. We'll see how it goes... 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vppelt68 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 It's a lot more like a Hornet aeroplane than a grub is like a Hornet insect! It will be nice to have the venerable ancestor included in the GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 21 minutes ago, Giorgio N said: Yes, she's not strictly a Hornet but she's a beauty !!! Such a great looking jet. Looking forward to watching your build, good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Niiiiiiceee! Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Yeah, I'm really glad to see this one. I'd also love to see that conversion article, if convenient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Brilliant choice Giorgio, we couldn't really have a Hornet GB without the aircraft that directly led to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Nice subject! Sure will learn a lot about it here! First thing: I never noticed the connection: Cobra- Viper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anatol Pigwa Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) Good old, Gorgio, always coming up with a very special build. I am really glad you are building the YF-17. While it is not a true Hornet, it is the cornerstone of the F/A-18 success story. This one will surely draw a lot of attention. Edited January 7, 2022 by Anatol Pigwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 @Giorgio N I don't wish to nag, Giorgio, but I was just updating my "tally" on the Chat thread, and realized we hadn't heard from you. I'd very much like to see this one get built in the GB! bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 (edited) On 1/7/2022 at 12:20 PM, Giorgio N said: Speaking of references, the other most important reference will be July 1998's issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling, that includes a great article on how to convert the old Esci F-18 kit into an YF-17. Great choice, Giorgio! There would never have been an F/A-18 without the YF-17. I assume the SAM article is on the model that I built many years ago. 🙂 I still have it in my model cabinet. I would like to build another YF-17 model some day. But next time I would need some proper decals... I have the Anigrand kit, but I think the nose is a bit too big. Nils Edited February 27, 2022 by Vingtor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 Looks like the curse of Village Photos again, the pics aren't appearing inline with your post... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 It does when I open the thread. It might be one of those http/https issues, that some browsers blocks http URLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 22 hours ago, gingerbob said: @Giorgio N I don't wish to nag, Giorgio, but I was just updating my "tally" on the Chat thread, and realized we hadn't heard from you. I'd very much like to see this one get built in the GB!I bob My fault Bob, I got stuck with some non-hobby related things and I'm way behind schedule on all my builds... even the Matchbox Sea Harrier is taking me ages ! I have started checking things on the Anigrand kit, that confirmed the vairous reviews I read, and I'm trying to put together a plan to improve the shapes. Hope to make a start sometime this week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 16 hours ago, Vingtor said: Great choice, Giorgio! There would never have been an F/A-18 without the YF-17. I assume the SAM article is on the model that I built many years ago. 🙂 I still have it in my model cabinet. I would like to build another YF-17 model some day. But next time I would need some proper decals... I have the Anigrand kit, but I think the nose is a bit too big. Nils Yes Nils, that is exactly your model ! I've had that article for years and I consider it one of the best examples of modelling I've seen. Loved how you converted the old Esci kit. I agree with your view of the Anigrand kit, the whole front fuselage is way too deep. The problem is how to reduce this, the way the parts are moulded do not make things easy. I'm now considering removing the whole front lower fuselage section (from the intakes forward) and see if I can then modify and reattach. Not easy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 16 hours ago, Alan P said: Looks like the curse of Village Photos again, the pics aren't appearing inline with your post... Yes, they are hosted on Village... I can see them on my computer but not on my mobile and I understand most can't see them. I'll move them to flickr, that's where I'm posting all my new pictures. Problem is that I haven't moved the old ones yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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