Well I have not posted here for quite a time, so I will try to make it up these following months :-). Today I wish to present you with a Revell/Monogram 1/48 F/A 18A Hornet.  

The model from RM has been around for quite some time, but in my opinion is besides Hasegawa, the best on the market today. Plus you can buy 5 of the RM for the price of one "Gawa". By reading around the forums here and seeing the galleries, I decided to extend the number of aggressor aircraft. Their paint schemes are a lot more attractive, than regular gray over gray.

So I bought the TwoBobs NSAWC Hornets sheet, and the model. The model was the Blue Angels edition (and on sale :-)))). When I opened the box, something was not right. The plastic was blue, that much was expected, but the nosecone shape was odd and some parts were not injected well. I have built that F18 before in regular grey plastic, and did not have these issues. Anyway, it was too late to return the model, so I started the build.  

Needless to say, this is also the first model that I decided to rescribe the complete kit. The ARC tools and tips were a great guide. So using dymo tape, templates, needle in a pin-vise, Tamiya scriber (tuned to my liking) I started to rescribe the whole thing. Not a bad experience, and not as time consuming as I expected. Granted, I left some access panels raised, and missed a few panel lines, but for a first timer I was pretty satisfied.  

After the main rescribing was done, I started the construction as normally.

Cockpit is OOB, Monogram did a great job for making an A model instrument panel. The seat is fine too, so I added only masking tape belts and wire buckles.  

The rest of the construction was pretty straight forward; just a lot of filling and sanding on the bottom of the LERX and the wings. After I saw the air intakes, I decided to close them with FOD covers made of toilet paper (new TP :o)), not used).

Painting was done with AGAMA acrylic paints and the exhaust with AGAMA METAL paste. I first primed the model with the gray on the wings and painted the rest of the camo on top of that coat. After the paint was finished I took gray chalk powder and toned the whole aircraft down. Gloss coat, decals (I use Future as setting solution besides the canopy dipping), oil wash, flat coat, and the "BUG" was finished.  

The ACMI pod was made from an old sidewinder missile. The dummy AIM-9 is from the kit. I used the older all blue body to add more color to the already pretty colorful aircraft. I have my doubts about the under-wing pylons, but it was too late to fill the holes for them so I added them. In some cases they would put them on I hope.  

I took the model to Czech Nationals, entered it into a HOBBY category since I am far from entering with the IPMS Championship guys and to my great surprise the model took 4th place, which made me feel pretty good. Some people even thought it was a "Gawa".  

Well, I hope that you enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoyed building the model.  

Cheers,

Jarda ( Prague , Czech Republic )

Click on images below to see larger images