Hasegawa F/A-18F, VFA-2 CAG bird

[eng]

This build should never have taken as long as it has, I started it in 2004 when the kit first hit the shelves and that was me just putting the finishing touches to it tonight!!

It's straight out the box, decals and all, so no real excuse for such a ridiculously long time to build it other than I'm a slow builder and stop and start new and old projects all the time (usually start more than finish!). I've kept the weathering to a minimum as I figured that CAG wouldn't be seen dead in a dirty jet, a subtle wash of the panel lines and a little bit heaver around the trailing edge surfaces, a few dirt streaks from the aft end of the wheel wells was the only other addition. Only faux pas, is the angle of the stab's and I never fitted the targeting pod, as for some reason it fouled on the mainwheel (probably down to my positioning of the attachment pylon though).

I have always loved VF(A)-2 markings and have the low vis boxing of this kit in the stash and also TwoBob's high and low vis decals for a couple of the Tomcats in the stash as well.

Here's a few pic's taken just now, will get a couple in better light tomorrow, all comments good and bad most welcome.

Rgds,

Eng

Edited May 25, 2009 by eng

[Seamus]

Very nice clean build there fella

Just finished this kit myself, it's a little beauty isn't it? Thought about doing the VFA-2 markings on mine, but in the end went for the VFA-102 CAG bird as I can't recall that scheme being done before. Having seen yours, I'm half regretting that decision now!

[Rabspat]

Nice build, i also have a soft spot for VF(A)-2 squadron, what scale is this? I have a F/A-18F to be built but not decided if i am gonna do Bounty Hunters or Black knights.

[Stephen]

That's terrific mate!

Stephen

[Angels49]

Now that's a very fine Super Bug.......very, very, fine work!!!

[atdb27]

Now that is a nice build eng,

Do like a 2 pit Rhino for sure!

Adrian

[Bandwagon 106]

Very nice build, I've got it's 1/48th brother to finish in these markings, along with another, which is anything but another boring grey jet...! Don't know about the 72 SHs, but the 48s are very nice kits.

Well done Eng

Joel

[chaoslord]

very cool super bug! good job!

is it 1/48?

and what colour did you use for the top surfaces?

for some reason i had a hard time picking the upper colour,

since every photo looked different and i ended up with a much darker

surface with higher contrast to the lower surface. i liked it but i don't

think i used the right colour - not by a long shot.

great build, keep it up!