John Masters Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 I didn't even see that this one had begun. Luckily there is no rush as I am only building this one aircraft for this GB. I will build it OOB and enjoy that simple pleasure. I think it will be a decent looking build and my first F/A-18. More to come... --John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 I really do like Italeri kits. They are almost always well-moulded with a decent level of detail. This kit looks to be no exception. Here are the sprue... Nice detail on the small bits. Here's an example... I have been given a choice between 'open' or 'closed' canopy. As of now, I am going for an open look. Maybe I can improve the innards a bit. And the striking Swiss markings will stand out for sure. Looks like I get some IP decals also. That'll help. 100 Years of Swiss Air Force patrolling the skies of neutrality... There's a GB in there somewhere... I'll jump in after supper and see what i can do. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 It's amazing that Switzerland is long enough for a Hornet to get up to speed before it has to turn round. What does STBY 121.50 mean? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Bertie Psmith said: What does STBY 121.50 mean? I looked it up... " it is a message to an eventual plane intercepted by the Hornet to switch the radio on the 121.50 MHz, the international emergency frequency, for air-to-air radio comms with the fighter jet." https://theaviationist.com/2013/01/29/wef-davos/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 8 minutes ago, John Masters said: I looked it up... " it is a message to an eventual plane intercepted by the Hornet to switch the radio on the 121.50 MHz, the international emergency frequency, for air-to-air radio comms with the fighter jet." https://theaviationist.com/2013/01/29/wef-davos/ Fascinating. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 And so I begin this one... Basic cockpit, decent detail. It'll look good with the open canopy. There are parts for a training variant included. I really thought I had taken more pictures. I snipped off the relevant pieces and abided them the way the sheet suggests. This piece I cut up verrrry carefully... Here I am now... Question...what colour are the harness straps? Blue? And should there be brightly coloured ejector handles on top of the headrest? Not sure what kind of seat this has...I could look it up... --John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: Fascinating. Thank you. I guess calling on the radio would be an option before they shot you down...😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Striking scheme! Bit like if Swissair flew Hornets! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 3 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: It's amazing that Switzerland is long enough for a Hornet to get up to speed before it has to turn round. You obviously haven’t seen a Hornet accelerate or turn! AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 26 minutes ago, Andwil said: You obviously haven’t seen a Hornet accelerate or turn! AW Not at full speed. Actually I’ve never seen one at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Actually, this reminds me of a story I heard when my wife and I were travelling in Croatia and Slovenia (beautiful country, if you’ve never been I strongly recommend it). Our guide in Slovenia joked that the Slovenian airforce were considering buying F-16s (I don’t know if that’s true or not) but then realised they wouldn’t be able to fly them at top speed without entering the airspace of neighbouring countries. AW 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 @Andwil I have traveled extensively through the Balkans. Beautiful places certainly! Yes…Slovenia is very tiny indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 15 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: It's amazing that Switzerland is long enough for a Hornet to get up to speed before it has to turn round. The smaller the country the more powerful the asset should be (reaction time). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 4 minutes ago, Sam said: The smaller the country the more powerful the asset should be (reaction time). Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 22, 2022 Author Share Posted January 22, 2022 Ok folks...there's some building going on here now...😉 Khaki painted masking tape for a harness. I looked it up. Nothing flashy about this seat. And I glued the IP to the front section here...but I did not photograph it. More anon... --John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Some people are not liking this Italeri kit. So far, I have not encountered any issues that involve blue language or hair loss. Perhaps later... The IP... With the little green screens added... And buttoned up... --John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Ok. I see what some people don't like. The kits feels a bit...how shall I say it...hmmmm....flimsy?... In this next phase I was able to put together the fuselage and, yes, there will have to be putty involved, but I'm not scared. I think once I have finished the build it will suit the GB and sit well upon the shelf. --John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 23, 2022 Author Share Posted January 23, 2022 Ok...what am I supposed to do with these? I mean, they don't fit inside one another in anyway and they detail is not so great. I suppose it is one set or the other? In each case it just leaves a big empty hole to paint black... And I see what everyone means. This is not really a very good kit at all. And I'm here now... However, my local hobby shop in Athens has several F/A 18 C-D, etc...in stock in the Gentleman's Scale, and from Academy, which other folks swear by. I think this Swiss aircraft is a 'C' variant. Should I feel shame in binning this current incarnation, buy a new one and push on with my Swiss Hornet? I'm not married to this kit... --John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Maas Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 The exhausts are one or the other. Typically the smaller for a shutdown aircraft (or one at full military power), the larger for one with the engines running at idle (or full afterburner) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Not only all the problems you have found John, look at the nose where the gun port is meant to be.....Italeri have left it off entirely! I say bin it and get the Academy kit. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I was thinking you should persevere... Until I saw that step gap in the spine! Hope you'll still make the swissair version if you decide to get the Academy. Perhaps you can use this as a paint mule instead of recycling binning it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 3 hours ago, arfa1983 said: Hope you'll still make the swissair version if you decide to get the Academy. Perhaps you can use this as a paint mule instead of recycling binning it! That's an excellent idea...I'll keep the decals and build the other kit. 7 hours ago, Andwil said: Not only all the problems you have found John, look at the nose where the gun port is meant to be.....Italeri have left it off entirely! I say bin it and get the Academy kit. I didn't even see that...egads...Ok. I feel no shame. I can order the Academy F/A 18C from Athens and it will be here by Wednesday. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 Notice from the bench: As of today I will be setting this kit aside and I await the deliver for an Academy F/A-18C kit. I will still build the Swiss aircraft so everything is the same except that "Italeri" has been swapped for "Academy." This kit... Just looking at the instructions makes me realize I have made a better choice... https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/7/9/7/1003797-63-instructions.pdf Thanks for the support! --John 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Wow, there are gaps and there are gaps… Glad to hear the Swiss scheme will live on, on a more deserving bird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 The Italeri looks as though they rushed it out as soon as possible and based the kit on the prototype, hence lack of gun ports. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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