This is a model that
I completed 2 years ago, and this is my second submission to ARC. My first
was back in December 2007.
This model represents a Royal Australian Air Force
F/A-18A Hornet of 3 Squadron. This was converted from the Hobbyboss 1/48 F/A-18C
kit. My inspiration came from reading about Operation Slipper.
Overall this was not a bad kit, only a small amount of
putty was used in this build. I guess for the price at the time it was
actually a good kit to buy then convert. I apologise for the bad
photography.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The
"bird slicer" antennas were scratch built from plastic card then fixed
in place with potent liquid cement.
A Quickboost
resin seat was the only thing added to the rudimentary cockpit.
A Wolfpack
F/A-18A+ resin kit was purchased for this kit from ebay, but I basically only
used the antennas, which was a waste. The new nose section was too narrow to use
as this resin update set is really meant for the Hasegawa F/A-18.
Hawkeye decals
were used to represent a 2002 aircraft operating from Diego Garcia in
Operation Slipper which forms part of the small Australian contribution to operations
in Afghanistan.
From OzMods I
purchased ASRAAM missiles to replace the Sidewinders.
The 2 GBU-12
bombs came from a Hasegawa weapons kit.
The flaps and
slats were supposed to be retracted but I wanted them extended.
The lone AIM-7
was cut up in an attempt to resemble an AMRAAM.
Eduard masks
were used to keep the paint from going where it shouldn't go.
Gunze and
Tamiya acrylic paints were also used, and the weathering was done with
artists acrylic paints diluted with water, which is the way I now do all my
models.
Some crude
intake covers were made from foil, tissue paper and diluted white glue then
painted red. These were needed to hide the rather nasty looking 1/2" long
intake trunks.
The sensors on
the upper part of the vertical stabilisers were removed to represent an
"A" model Hornet. I made an error and forgot to add
strengtheners to the vertical stabs.
The drag link
on the nose landing gear was shortened, but not enough, and the launchbar was
modified, as the RAAF Hornets have different type to the USN version.
Another
landing light was added to the nose gear leg.
In honour of
those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces,
Lest We Forget.
Phillip Roache
Click on
images below to see larger images
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