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F/A-18C, Academy 1/72nd scale, USMC 'Lancers'...


John Masters

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OK.  I have about two weeks to build this one.  My version of a 'Weekend Build'...I am not sure which Lancer aircraft I'll build, but I want to build the aircraft first and then update the title.  Right now I am leaning towards #1 on the aftermarket sheet.

 

Sorry.  No sprue.  We all know what it looks like. 

 

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Some bits started...

 

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--John

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There's the spirit!  (I was in a "bit of everything" shop yesterday and they had some F-18Es (Top Gun 2 tie in), and I admit I felt a slight twinge.  It is the 1/24 Land Rover (long body) that I'll probably go back for, though!)

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Well, it happened again.  I got carried away this evening (Pub Quiz was cancelled due to inclement weather--9 Beaufort tonight--time to model) and forgot to take pictures.  Lots of little pieces went on and some big ones too.  Tomorrow I'll take care of the undercarriage.  I am building this one with a full payload.  And since there is no fancy Swiss paint job here (USMC grey on grey) I can add all the hard points now.  I will have to give the stabilizers an off-white coat, but anyway...

 

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--John

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Just a side note...The USS Harry Truman will continue its patrol of the Mediterranean all summer as NATO support.  Here's a picture fro the news...actually it is from the USS Truman archive.  I think it's public domain.

 

Looks like mostly Hornets on deck...

 

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--John

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I did a fair amount of work on the Hornet this morning, mostly painting, priming, some assembly...

 

Primer is on...

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Painted the white bits white...

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I'll give the underside some more Light Ghost Grey, aka Primer, later.  These are my two grey tones...

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I assembled the ordinance.  This one will be bristling.  It may not be accurate but I want a full payload.  Three fuel pods, four Paveways and two Sidewinders.

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Some black areas...in the background, soft focus, you can see I have masked the canopy sections.  It'll be open canopy as usual.  Deployed air brake too.

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The stabilizer fins will get a different tone.  The decal booklet shows something like this.  I am not sure.  Should it be less tan and more off-white?  Some advice here would be appreciated.  Meanwhile, I'll investigate too.

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--John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Here's another shot of the decal profile for the stabilizer colours...

 

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I did some research and some photos look white, some off white...simulator skins are white.  I split the difference.  My first go-round was a lightened version of that pale sand colour...

 

Mask first...

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Then some colour...

 

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After that had dried, I went back over it with some more Flat White.

 

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Looks good from here.  Not pictured:  I used the LT Ghost Grey Primer on the ordinance and the unmasked areas of the canopy, some Tire Black on the rubber...I'm essentially ready for the Dark Ghost Grey topside.  I think I'll give it some shading first.

 

--John

 

 

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I added some pre-shading but neglected to photograph that.  I think it shows through the Dark Ghost Grey well enough.  Also, the fins really are much whiter than in the other photo.  More accurate.  

 

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--John

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There is something to be said about suddenly being wide awake at 02:30.  Yes, I would have rather been asleep, but I went to the bench and sorted out some building on this aircraft.  I think it might be time for decals!

 

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Underwing stores...

 

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I still have 5 days!  I might make it!

 

--John

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13 hours ago, Wings unlevel said:

Blitzing it!

Almost.  This is as close to a 'Weekend Edition' as I get @Wings unlevel.  I must tip my hat to the Academy kit, however.  Like all well engineered kits, it almost builds itself.  

 

Decals went on smoothly and without issue.  The PrintScale decals are superb and I highly recommend them.  And I still have three other USMC F/A-18C USMC Hornets left on the sheet...I imagine the USMC GB next year...A Hive of Hornets!  In fact, this is sheet #3 from PrintScale.  The other two are a USN sheet and a Golden Dragons sheet.

Anyway...decals and final bits...

 

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For these kinds of thin and awkwardly shaped decals, I usually cut them in half for easier handling.  The was no different and caused no fuss.

 

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Easy-peasy...

 

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Paveways and Sidewinders...I used the too-thick kit decals for the these.  Took about 45 minutes to soften them up so they would wrap around.  

Small decal + thicker decal film = pain in the butt.

 

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And just a bit of perspective.  I tidied up the bench a bit today.

 

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I predict I will also finish the Mig-21 in the next 48 hours.  That will give me some space to work a bit on both the Vulcan (BBGB), the M31 (M3 STGB), the Korean Corsair (GAGB) and begin the Argentinian Mirage III (Falklands GB).  Then there is this list...I'm a busy monkey.

 

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--John

 

 

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This one is finished and I must say I am pleased with the result.  The AK Matte spray worked very well and the whole thing is really looking very 4th Gen.  

 

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A brace of Hornets...

 

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Thanks for the very fun GB folks.  And to think I still have a few days to go before it ends!

 

The rest are in the gallery.

 

--John

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